Menu Ideas

Jenn Anne · May 2010

My fiance' and I were thinking about a few things. We're having a mid day wedding (1:00) and we thought about doing the following
- Ham
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Pineapple Escalop
- Corn
- Rolls

But we're not sure if we should do more... less... idk! Any ideas?

bbyckes · May 2010

What about a salad? What exactly is Pineapple Escalop? What about a starch? Like a rice or a potato. Cheese and fruit trays? What kind of wedding are you having? Honestly, I would not want to eat any of that at a wedding.

Jenn Anne · May 2010

Pineapple Escalop is a family recipe served with ham. We have considered potatoes but we're not sure yet which kind we would like to do. I dont really know what the type of wedding has to do with it, but we're having a traditional Catholic wedding so I'm making a dinner out of the reception. I'm not doing salad because both of our families are very picky when it comes to salad. I'm sure there will be meat and cheese trays, possibly fruit but not at the main food table. The reason for the food choices thus far is that one, its going to be inexpensive and relativly easy since we're doing it ourselves and two both of of families like the food chosen thus far. I was attempting to fill in the gaps. But thanks for the reply

UDscoobychick · May 2010

I'm having a tough time envisioning how those all fit together in a cohesive menu (i.e. what's the theme?), but if they're foods you like, then whatever. A pasta salad and/or potato salad might round it out nicely...do you have any vegetarians coming? You may want to throw something more substantial in there for them for a main course. And some other vegetable side would be good...baked beans or cucumber salad or broccoli slaw or something?

kaesha · May 2010

Yeah, you definitely need a veggie tray if the thought of salad sends your families into a tizzy. Surely you have more guests coming than just the picky-eaters in your families, and most of them are going to want something veggie based for a side. If you at least offered a salad, people can always refuse to take it, but those who want it can have it, you know?

You don't need to please everyone with every dish, you just need to have enough dishes that everyone has a good selection of food.

How many guests do you have coming? Because that affects my answer too.

Jenn Anne · May 2010

I think you're both right. We thought about pasta salad but again we're just toying with the menu now. We dont have a theme. Its just kind of traditional Catholic I guess, we didnt want to have to worry about incorporating a theme. We have almost 350 people we're inviting, I dont think we're setting anything in stone until the RSVP's start coming in. But those are all things to consider Thank you!

Sue-n-Kevin · May 2010

I might add a pasta dish, any type of pasta with a tomato sauce.

I also see that it's a long time until your wedding. To be honest (and I'm old enough to be your Mom), that is a heck of a lot of food preparation for that many people. If you've chosen a hall or outdoor site where you can bring in your own food, PLEASE consider hiring an inexpensive caterer! I would hope by searching you can find someone to put together a menu like the one you are considering, for less than $10-$15 a person, which is probably what it would cost you to do it yourself.
When my parents got married 60 years ago, my dad's mom made all the food for their wedding. She was Polish, and made HOMEMADE kielbasa & saurkraut for dozens of people, plus ham, etc. Because it's so hard to keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold without the proper equipment (that caterers have), my Mom spent her entire wedding night puking into the garbage can in a hotel room. Other guests got ill as well.

Trust me, I'm not criticizing your decision to have homemade food. I just know that if you want your wedding day to be stressfree, and have your family enjoy it all day, you might want to search longer online for a reasonably priced caterer. I'm doing this myself, and found some for less than $15 a person, and that includes the set up (skirting of tables, proper buffet service with sterno cans, etc). It's a tough time financially for a lot of businesses, and I'm sure you could negotiate price with the caterer. You could even supply the hams and they could prepare it and serve it, the other foods you have listed are not expensive.

Good luck.

katmstrange · May 2010

Yes, I agree about hiring an inexpensive caterer. I own my own catering company and I know how sometimes it seems like a job will be really simple but once you get into it there are so many components that take up much more time that you could imagine. I am having my staff cater my wedding, but I will not personally be there. I want to enjoy the day of and day before without getting elbow deep in reception food.

Maybe look into hiring a culinary school student or someone who is just getting started with a catering company? They might go for a cheaper rate if they are desperate for exposure.

There should be something green. Who cares if your family is picky about salad. A nice simple mixed greens salad would be great since the rest of the menu is really heavy.

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