Photo Credit: Al Elmes on Unsplash (CC0 License)
The wedding meal is what some consider the most important aspect of a wedding besides the ceremony itself. It’s a big part of the day – and something everyone will remember – and it begins with your wedding menu starters. I’m sure you’ve been to weddings with stunning menus that you’ve remembered for years. Likewise, you never forget a bad meal. If your wedding is remembered for its terrible menu, it casts a cloud on such a special day.
In short, don’t rush the menu! Begin with your starter selection. This kicks things off and sets the tone for the rest of the meal. Ideally, you need to give people a few options to choose from before the big day. This will allow the caterers to prepare things ahead of time, avoiding long delays.
First of all, what is a starter? And how is it different from an appetizer or an hors d’oeuvre? Actually, they’re all quite similar. A starter is the same as an appetizer, and is the first course served while seated at a table, whereas hors d’oeuvres are ‘finger foods’ and are meant to be eaten while standing and mingling, such as during a cocktail hour.
Picking The Best Wedding Menu Starters
What starters are perfect for weddings? We won’t pinpoint any specific dishes that you must include on your wedding starters or wedding appetizers. Instead, here are three types of starter/appetizer options you should have available for your guests:
Soup
Always include a soup option as it’s an easy thing to please fussy eaters. The soup should be vegetarian (or come with a vegetarian option) to keep everyone happy. It’s a classic way to begin a meal, (which makes it a perfect option for one of your wedding menu starter choices), and you could also be a bit creative. Perhaps you should opt for something like Italian wedding soup or a delicious minestrone? People love a good soup, especially one they’ve never tried before.
At the same time, you can’t go wrong with the classics. If the other starter options are a bit “out there”, go for a simpler soup to offer balance.
A Meat/Fish Option
There should always be a meat/fish option on your wedding menu. This appeals to the meat eaters in your wedding ensemble, ensuring they don’t moan that everything is vegetarian. It also allows you to try some really cool and exciting ideas.
Remember, this is a starter, so it shouldn’t be something too crazy. Fish starters are very popular if you’re serving a meat main course – like a roast dinner of sorts. Pick one of the two options and add it to the menu.
A Vegetarian Option
As nice as it is, the soup should never be the only vegetarian option on your menu. You need to add another selection for any veggies in the audience. To be honest, some meat eaters may opt for a vegetarian starter as well; particularly if it sounds appealing.
The trick here is to not be boring. Don’t list a mixed salad as a starter; nobody will want to eat it. There are loads of great vegetarian entrees and starter ideas out there to draw inspiration from.
The secret to a good set of wedding starters is to offer diversity. Ideally, you don’t want more than three options. Pick a soup, choose between a meat/fish starter, and add a vegetarian one in too. If you think your soup is adventurous enough, you might be able to get away with having it as the only veggie option – but only if it is adventurous! In which case, you could then have a fish and a meat starter. Here, everyone will have something to choose, ensuring they’re all satisfied and the menu gets off to a flying start.
What wedding menu starters are you (or did you) have at your wedding? What starters did you see at other weddings (and did you like them)? Let us know in the comments below!
* This is a contributed post
I hope you found this information useful!
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
For assistance and unique ideas for your wedding call or text me at 937-581-3647, or email me at [email protected]!
Starters are tricky. They need to be appetizing but shouldn’t get in the way of conversation.
I love when they have a cocktail hour with finger foods. It’s a perfect conversation accompaniment!
Cocktail hours are great to get the guests mingling. Easy, one-bite foods is key.
I love the suggestion not to have soup as the only vegetarian option. Even though I’m not a vegetarian, I don’t eat a lot of meat and really appreciate having vegetable options. Great post!
It’s so important to have options available, yet the choices should strike a balance between something different and something familiar.
I think you can go a bit more adventurous with a starter because it’s not the main course, so I like to see new combinations or food that reflections the venue/region. Starters are a place where you can surprise and delight your guests!
Foods that reflect the venue or region. Hmmm. I like that idea. Especially if many guests aren’t local. Thanks for that tip.