Need helpfor with Lite Refreshment Menu (all cold!!)

JeniBug82

I need some suggestions of what we can serve at our "mini" reception...Our ceremony will be over around 1pm and we are looking to just do lite refreshments, punch, and cake. I don't want to over or under do it with the food...I would like to serve all cold food so we don't have to keep anything hot. The other thing is I would like to serve (mostly) food we can buy at Sam's, and put onto trays the day before, just pull out and serve. Any help you guys can give would be wonderful! We are going for a romantic childhood sweetheart theme, and we will be having cupcakes as our wedding cake...so I really want to keep it all very simple! Thank You
Jeni

CA2MT4EveR

Why are you calling it a "mini" reception?  A reception is a reception regardless of the time of day, people in attendance, or reason behind it.

And keep in mind that cold food needs to be kept cold just as much as hot food needs to be kept hot.

corastacy

  My Aunt does something she calls " Pinwheel Sandwiches"

1) take a flour tortilla
2) fill it with yummy combos ( salsa and cream cheese,   tuna salad, ham and cheese, hummus and veggies.. pretty much whatever you want)
3) roll up and cut the long wrap into  bite size peices, or "Pinwheels"
4) arrange the sandwich circles on a plate to look pretty.

AbbeyS2011

Fruit/cheese trays

Meat/cheese trays (Ham/Roast Beef/Turkey)

Split Rolls to make sandwiches

Vegetable Tray with Dip (Radishes, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Peppers, Mini Dill Pickles, Olives

Potato/Macaroni Salads

FYI:  Since you say your ceremony is over at 1 pm, guests will assume it is a lunch reception, unless you state specifically "lite refreshments" on the reception invite. 

kaesha

I agree, just be clear and say something like "Light refreshments immediately to follow" or something along those lines. Heck, you could just do punch and cake (or champagne and cake if that floats your boat) - again, just say as much.

I'm a little leary of mayo based things being made in advanced. Those definitely need to be kept cold. The challenge with sandwiches tends to be that the bread absorbs too much liquid and that lettuce tends to wilt. So, dealing with the moisture thing might be a challenge.

What about doing somethng like an English tea? That could fit your sweet romantic vibe. Scones with jam and cream, finger sandwiches (cucumber, smoked salmon, ham and cheese), small pastries...

baboox

I love grapes, and like to serve them to guests in the 2 following easy ways--use BIG purple grapes:
--wet them and freeze them solid--they are like a frozen dessert
--roll them in gorgonzola cheese
No plates or utenils needed

nicleep

Baboox- I too love frozen grapes (I opt for the green ones though)...such a yummy treat and much better for me than ice cream/sherbert.  (everyone I know looks at me funny when they find out, so it's good to know I'm not the only one lovin' frozen grapes )

pindert

Go to the olive bar at your local "gourmet" grocery store (Whole Foods Market, or a locally-owned store), and take a look at what the display.  They usually have a wide array of olive for all "tastes" (even people who don't really like olives, like me), as well as marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, peppers, pickles, onions, marinated cubes of cheese, etc.  If you can't justify the cost of those actual items, then take those ideas and purchase similar items at Sam's or Costco.  You should be able to get all kinds of pickled items at Sam's.  Then, you can set them out in rows of bowls, in a manner similar to the way the olive bar is set up in the gourmet grocery, and you have an instant "upscale" olive station.  Remember to include tongs or slotted spoons or some way for people to fish out the items the want.

RNLurker

Perhaps you could have a dessert reception with wedding cake, cookies, pastries, doughnuts, and other types of cake. Then serve coffee and tea.

JeniBug82

Thank you for all your help and suggestions! I actually really like, along with my fiancee, the idea of doing only desserts! My dilemna that comes up now is... both of my parents and his father are diabetics! So I would need to serve a little something that they can eat too...however, I want it to be balanced, and I think all desserts plus one meat and cheese tray would be a bit odd! Do I do a little something else on the sly for the parents? What if there are other diabetics?

AKSGRL

Regarding the diabetics, maybe you can do simple finger sandwiches. Such as ham and cheese. Cucumber sandwiches. You can poslowsibly serve desserts catered to diabetics or people with a low-cal/lo w-carb diet. No one has to know as long as they taste good. Are you baking yourself or is someone else going to nake?