Looking for creative food ideas for my wedding reception!!

Pretty new to FohBoh but I am really liking the site. It seems like a wealth of knowledge that I would love to tap into. My fiance and I are planning our wedding next June and I of course being in the restaurant business was like "Don't worry honey I'll plan the food!" Well I didn't quite realize she was going to require an immediate response and now I'm under the button for an answer. I did some banquet coordinating and menu design for my previous employeer but I feel kind of out of touch now. We are looking at between a hundred to a hundred and twenty people. I want to keep it reasonable financially but I also want it to not be the typical pasta buffet. Just wondering if anyone had some cool ideas for which way to go with it or even some catering places that you would suggest in the Columbus, OH Area. All responses appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Debra Straka on September 18, 2008 at 9:19am

Congrats on your upcoming wedding. Two years ago I was the "official" wedding planner for my daughter wedding (funny how hospitality employees feel that this will be a piece of (wedding) cake to plan their own or their families :) I do not live in the Columbus area, but as my daughter and her husband are vegetarian I had to be very creative. She wanted her menu to reflect their lifestyle (no meat). How to do this and still satisfy all the meat eaters and stay within budget? Accompanying the pasta "action" station we included a mashed & sweet potato bar (in martini glasses), and a very large side station which included: Panzanella, a watermelon boat, pickled mushrooms, pickled beets, etc. We also included two chocolate fountains and a gourmet coffee bar with the wedding cake. Hors d'oeuvres were kept simple: Imported cheese and bread platters and fruit kebobs. The money we saved by not including any meat was used to bring in wines from the Pacific NW where they live and to upgrade the bar. All guests raved about the menu and not one complained that there wasn't any meat on the menu.
Hope you can take some of these ideas, but I am certain with the wealth of insight here at FohBoh you will receive even more. Good luck!!

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Permalink Reply by Adam Zwerling on September 18, 2008 at 10:54am

Anthony,

Where will the reception be held??? I am Corp. Chef for Evo Inc., we manufacture indoor and outdoor action cooking stations (see evoamerica.com). We have our equipment all over the nation, from Disney, Hiltons, Ritz-Carltons to catering and equipment rental facilities. Everytime I do a catering event which involves an Evo the customer as well as the guests are blown away by the "performance" aspect, but also the capability of the variety of foods that can be prepared on the Evo Flattop Grill. I have extensive menu ideas and recipes if you do plan on using an Evo at your reception. Congradulations and Good Luck! Adam Zwerling azwerling@evoamerica.com

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Vroom on September 19, 2008 at 10:21am

Congratualtions! We got married this year in June, you will have great weather!

I have to second the whole mashed potatoe bar...it is definintely fun! Also consider doing a signature cocktail during your cocktail hour, one that is a refection of you both! OR maybe consider a mojito bar...yum!

Think about what foods you both love...mac & cheese? Try it deep fried for a different twist on a classic for a fun hors d'oeuvres.

Food can be whatever you want it to be, it's your day! Have fun, think outside the box...

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Permalink Reply by Paula Smith on October 6, 2008 at 12:00pm

Congratulations, I have been a wedding coordinator in hotels for over 15 years. I love it when the couple wants to customize their wedding menu. Do you love a certain place? My husband and I loved New Orleans so we did our menu with New Orleans in mind. We did a station wedding, so everyone interacted. Jambalaya, Crawfish ettouffee,Shrimp Creole, we also had a Turkey Carving so anyone who did not want to try something different, I can tell you there was left over Turkey.

I have seen people do the Mashed Potato Bar, seems to be a huge hit, or bananas foster station for after dinner with quite a show. I have been in Maine, so I had one of my brides do a Lobster Station, with different variations on serving it.

Basically, if you like something specific some region see the type of food and weave it into your wedding to personalize it more.