Got wedding appetizers on the brain? You’re not alone. These small, delicious treats are an easy and convenient way to feed your guest in between activities. From the rehearsal dinner, to cocktail hour, and even the reception, everyone likes an appetizer! But the question remains – how do you choose the right appetizers for your wedding? We reached out to industry experts to get to the bottom of it! Here are five of our very best tips to serve up everything your guests want on your wedding day (and nothing they don’t)!
Wedding Appetizers Tip #1: Make it Meaningful
A super easy way to elevate your guest’s culinary experience at your wedding is to make it mean something. Sure, lobster bisque is delicious. But it tastes a lot better to your guests knowing you and your honey first exchanged I love yous while on a trip to Maine! Whenever possible, use your wedding appetizers to tell a story to your guests.
Did you meet your significant other on a work trip in Texas? [If so] mini BBQ sliders are a great way to represent that on your wedding day! Are the two of you saving up for your dream vacation to Paris? Serve up miniature éclairs with your dessert display! Food is often involved (or nearby!) for many special memories, so take a moment with your partner to look back on some important milestones and see if there are a few that stand out to you. This would be the perfect way to share a small part of that special moment with your friends and family! – AJ Williams, Founder & Creative Director, AJ Events
Tip #2: Throw It Back to Your Childhood
Perhaps you spent a lot of time at the fair growing up and fell in love with the various fried foods that were available. Or maybe you indulged in a bunch of hot dogs with your siblings every summer! Either way, take this opportunity to give your wedding appetizers a grown-up twist on your childhood favorites. Cocktail hour is a great time to incorporate these goodies!
Small bites are my favorites, whether it’s at the cocktail hour, during dinner, dessert, or even late-night treats! I love to incorporate childhood favorites with an adult twist like boozy freeze pops, spiked milkshakes, or mini grilled cheese and tomato soups. – Nora Sheils, Founder Bridal Bliss + Co-Founder Rock Paper Coin
Tip #3: Tell the World Your Love Story
You won’t get many chances in your life to have all of your loved ones in the same room. Since you have that chance on your wedding day, take advantage of it! Use this opportunity to tell your guests what your relationship with your new spouse is like. Do you go to the bakery together every weekend? Great! Share a few of your favorite treats as wedding appetizers for your guests.
Catering is one of the biggest ways you can impact your guest experience, so it’s rarely taken lightly. I love when my clients choose to tell a story with their wedding appetizers and the meal they serve. Rather than the standard banquet fare, how can we incorporate their love story into each bite a guest takes? I ask questions like, “where do you guys go for dinner or dessert regularly?” and “what’s a special memory you have surrounding a meal?” to get the creative juices flowing. – Ashley Lachney, Owner of Alston Mayger Events
Wedding Appetizers Tip #4: Don’t Shy Away From Creativity
Don’t think your wedding appetizers have to fit the status quo! Feel free to break the mold, and even take some cues from cuisine you’ll find in fine dining establishments.
Small plates are such a great way for foodie couples to really get creative for their wedding day. Our chef team has designed some delicious and beautifully composed small plates that really ‘wow’ guests. Presenting wedding cuisines this way allows for chef interaction and highlights a roaming, progressive dining experience. Not only is it a great way to serve all different types of food, but it can also connect the reception to the couple in a neat way. – Sarah Kuhlberg, Creative Director, Colette’s Catering
Tip #5: Turn an Everyday Fave Into a Special Treat
You don’t have to abandon your everyday favorites when it comes to choosing your wedding appetizers, either! There’s no better time to incorporate your weekday rituals in a fun and fresh way than on your wedding day.
Your wedding day is supposed to be about you, so use your food as a way to showcase something that represents you! Is your fiancé known for making the best margarita in town? Serve up individual duos of salsa and guacamole with freshly made chips to kick off your reception meal – the perfect pairing to go with a margarita signature cocktail (and totally representative of the two of you)! Do your friends know that Friday nights in your home are reserved for a movie and a great bottle of wine curled up together on the couch? Offer guests individual cheese boards as a nod to your weekend ritual – and bonus points if you gift everyone with custom engraved cheese boards to take home! – AJ Williams, Founder & Creative Director, AJ Events
We hope you enjoyed these tips from top wedding industry experts! In no time, you’ll be serving up the best wedding appetizers your guests have ever seen. In the mood to read some more tips? We’ve got you covered with creative bachelorette party ideas and our favorite wedding planning apps!
Time and time again I fall in love with these types of weddings. Hopefully we see more again this year in Vancouver.
Love the last one: everyday treat made special. These are great appetizer ideas indeed. Easy to make, meaningful, and fun.