Macaire House

The flavors, textures, aromas, colors and presentation; all these elements must harmonize so that the wedding menu is perfect and the guests have the best experience.

But since there are so many factors to consider, it's important to choose your wedding menu carefully and carefully. Check out these tips to help you find the perfect wedding reception.

1. How to choose a wedding menu?

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Budget

The budget you allocate to the wedding menu will depend on the modality that suits you best. On the one hand, you can hire the banquet in conjunction with the rental of the event center. In this case, you will be charged a total per person that includes the location and the banqueting. On the other hand, you can hire the catering service independently of the hall, either by bringing the ready-made dishes or by bringing the food to the event center.or preparing them on site.

Regardless of the modality they choose, they will be menu values for weddings per person range from $20,000 to $80,000. Therefore, if you are looking for an economical wedding menu, it is essential to be clear about the approximate number of guests.

How to choose a supplier

Since the food will be a very important item in your celebration, it is essential that you choose a supplier that guarantees quality, efficiency, punctuality and flexibility, basically, a professional and prestigious company.

If you don't have references, you will have to do a first search on the internet, for example, through the Matrimonios.cl directory. There you can filter banqueteras according to location, number of guests, cuisine (international, Chilean, signature, etc.) and type of menu (vegetarian, celiac, etc.). And when you click on each provider, you will find complete information about the service.

Then, when you have a few options in mind, do some research on your social networks, review comments from other clients, request a quote and ask for portfolios to see the assembled dishes. This way you can compare between the possible options and then, when you are already inclined to choose one of these providers, schedule a meeting.

It will be a key instance to solve doubts, among them, if they can make modifications in the wedding menu or incorporate a special dish.

You should also clarify your questions about the drinks and especially about the open bar, since some companies charge a separate amount for this service. Also, find out about the number of waiters and bartenders they work with, ask what is the deadline to confirm the exact number of guests and clarify all your doubts about the item payment method.

Finally, if you want total exclusivity, don't forget to check if the caterer provides services to more than one wedding or event during the same day; this way you will be calm in case the celebration is extended and, in that case, ask for the additional cost of extra hours.

With all this solved then and satisfied with the service offered, you can proceed to sign the contract.

Javiera Vivanco

How to calculate the amount of food

To ensure that there is neither too much nor too little, it is important to make a rough estimate of the amount of food that will be offered at the banquet.

If it will be a three-course lunch, around 2:00 p.m., we start with a starter for the couple, and then give way to the main course. 250 grams per person if it is beef, a piece of up to 350 grams if it is chicken or about 320 grams of fish, plus the equivalent of a cup and a half per person.

Or if there will be two side dishes, one cup is calculated for the heavier ones and half a cup for the lighter ones. Finally, a piece of dessert is offered.

If it will be a three-course dinner, around 8.30 p.m., we start with the starter, followed by the main course, and for this we calculate 200 grams if it is meat; a piece of up to 300 grams if it is chicken or about 275 grams of fish, per guest. In addition to a cup and a half of side dish which, unlike lunch, in the evening is usually lighter, for example, a mix of vegetables or quinoa. It will beculminates with a dessert.

Whether you're hosting a traditional lunch or dinner, you should start with a cocktail menu for weddings that includes an average of six bites per person, hot and cold.

If the banquet will be a mid-morning brunch, an average of 8 appetizers per person is calculated, for example, an omellete, a croissant, two empanaditas, two crostinis, a fruit brochette and a piece of cheescake. Meanwhile, if it will be a mid-afternoon cocktail, between 12 to 16 appetizers per person are calculated, including mini quiches, ceviche spoons and meat balls.

Finally, if the banquet will be a buffet, in which the guests choose their portions, we tend to estimate 300 grams of meat, and two and a half cups of side dishes, since people are enthusiastic about the different options and tend to take more than they end up eating. If the desserts will also be buffet style, we estimate three pieces per person, if they are small.

Timing

The timing refers to the organization of time, that is to say, to the administration of the hours by means of deadlines and specific plans, which in a marriage go from the arrival of the guests to the end of the party. And among them, the banquet has also its timing particular.

Whatever format you choose, allow twenty minutes between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception, or more if your guests need to travel from the church to the reception hall. You will be able to estimate how long it will take to get there beforehand.

The wedding cocktail, on the other hand, usually lasts about an hour, while for both lunch and dinner, two hours are contemplated, usually starting with the toast of the bride and groom.

If it will be a traditional meal, during that time the guests will taste the appetizer, the main course, the dessert and the tea or coffee service, in some cases. And there is also the option of replacing the dessert for the wedding cake, which can be ordered from the same caterer, or choose it on your own in the bakery of your choice.

2. Tasting of the wedding menu

The Barbecue

Once you have selected the dishes for your wedding menu, the next step is to attend the tasting.

This is a service offered by the caterers, after the contract is signed and the reservation is paid, in which you can try all the preparations and get ideas for the wedding menu, from the cocktail snacks to the appetizers, main courses and desserts, including the wines of the contracted plan.

This will be a key instance, as you will know exactly what you will be offering to your guests, and in case you wish to suggest any changes (a less spicy dish, for example), the caterer will be happy to do so.

But in addition to tasting the dishes, you will be able to observe how they are assembled and, if you wish, take photographs.

Although it will be relative according to each supplier, the general rule is that two to four people can go to the menu tasting. Ideal, for example, if you have an amateur cook friend who can accompany you.

3. Wedding menu styles

Petite Casa Zucca Weddings

Buffet

A wedding buffet menu is one in which the food is presented on different trays, separated by type and temperature and clearly identified. In this way, the guests themselves will choose what they want to eat, either by serving themselves on their plates or with the help of the kitchen staff. The buffet includes different types of meat, fish and side dishes,Vegetables and desserts, all at the free disposal of the guests, who will eat seated at their respective tables.

Three times

This is the classic wedding menu, either a lunch or dinner, which is served by waiters at the table, and as the name suggests, this style of banquet is composed of three courses:

A starter, which can be a fresh dish with salads for summer, or a soup or cream for winter. A main course, which is usually meat (beef, pork, chicken, turkey) with side dishes, fish with side dishes or pasta. And a dessert, to close the wedding menu with a flourish. The ideal is that there is harmony between the three times and not repeat flavors. It is noteworthy that this isa favorite choice for those looking for an elegant wedding menu.

Cocktail

The wedding cocktail menu is based exclusively on offering the guests different snacks; hot and cold, salty and sweet, with a careful presentation. And another requirement is that the food must be comfortable to eat.

The cocktail is eaten on the skin, although you can always place some high tables and stools for support, especially if there will be older adults in the celebration. It is recommended to have a waiter for every 15 guests.

Brunch

This style of banquet, which usually takes place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., combines a variety of breakfast and lunch options. It is similar to a buffet format, as one or more tables are set up with all the food on display, so that diners can take what they want, but eat it standing up.

Brunches usually incorporate gourmet sandwiches, pancakes, sausages, omelets, fruit pieces and kúchenes, among other flavors, and the food is accompanied by tea or coffee, juices, beverages and soft drinks.

You can request a simple wedding brunch menu, or one that incorporates more elaborate dishes.

4. What the wedding menu should include

Petite Casa Zucca Weddings

If you are thinking about a three-course lunch or dinner, here you will find different wedding menu ideas However, if you are planning a wedding with dancing at dawn, then you will ideally need to add a late night service, which some caterers include within the budget and others charge separately.

Depending on the season in which you are getting married, check these proposals to configure your own menu.

Wedding cocktail

• Sesame poultry skewers with thai sauce
• Rolled beef carpaccio with bay leaves
• Chard and sautéed mushroom quiches
• Beef roast kebabs with Dijon sauce
• Beef and bacon meatballs
• Ecuadorian shrimps breaded in coconut
• Cuts of octopus with purple olives sauce
• Tomato and mozzarella bruschetta

Wedding tickets

• Fish and squid ceviche with leche de tigre (tiger's milk)
• Oysters in pilpil sauce
• Beet Soup with Ginger
• Eggplants stuffed with minced meat
• Tuna timbale with Italian pumpkin
• Baked asparagus rolls with serrano ham

Main for marriage

• Tournedó of beef fillet with mashed potatoes rustic
• Pork tenderloin with sautéed vegetables
• Baby lamb chops in rosemary sauce with creamed potatoes
• Duo of tenderloin and turkey medallions with cabernet sauce, with green leafy mixum
• Salmon with almond coast with spinach mouse
• Sea bass in apple sauce with white rice
• Meat and ricotta lasagna
• Ravioli with smoked salmon and walnuts

Desserts for weddings

• Chocolate volcano
• Crème brulée
• Sigh of Lima
• Tiramisu
• Brownie with ice cream
• Tofu and fruits of the forest mousse
• Macedonia
• Wedding cake

Drinks

• Flavored waters
• Natural juices
• Lemonades
• Soft drinks
• Appetizers (pisco sour, vaina, sparkling wine)
• Wines
• Coffee, tea and infusions
• Beers
• Distillates (pisco, vodka, whisky)

Late night

• Sandwiches
• Hamburgers
• Hotdogs
• Pizzas
• Tacos/burritos/quesadillas
• Sushi
• Consommé

5. Wedding Menu Ideas and Proposals

Kathy Majestic

Chilean Menu

A Chilean wedding menu will be ideal for country celebrations or, in general, outdoor weddings.

You can start with the cocktail by offering mini empanadas de pino, mini pastel de choclo, choripanes con pebre, anticuchos and sopaipillas. For the main course, the ideal choice would be grilled meat or a traditional asado al palo, accompanied by many salads, including Chilean and potato mayo. For dessert, delight your guests with a buffet of mote con huesillos, ice cream ofcinnamon and snow milk, among other typical recipes.

As for drinks, you can't miss the pisco sour, the wine, the terremoto and the ponche a la romana, while, if you add a late night service, the caldillo de congrio, in smaller portions, will be great to regain strength.

Menu Alternatives

An increasingly popular trend is to request special menus for guests with celiac, vegan, vegetarian or any particular allergy. Regardless of the condition, the caterers will surely have an alternative for each case and at the height of a wedding banquet.

For example, if you have vegetarian guests, you can offer them sesame tofu cubes and chickpea croquettes at the cocktail party, a lunch or dinner consisting of beet hummus as a starter, chard and basil cannelloni for the main course, and strawberries stuffed with mint mouse for dessert. You'll look great with this vegetarian wedding menu.

Or, if you have a family member or friend with celiac disease, all you have to do is ask the caterer for a gluten-free menu, that is, one that does not contain products or by-products made from wheat, barley, rye and oats.

A three-course dinner might be, for example, caprese-stuffed avocado for starter, braised beef short rib with vegetables for main, and rice flour chocolate chip muffins for dessert. Be sure to find out this information from your guests ahead of time.

Petite Casa Zucca Weddings

Seasonal and sustainable menu

A seasonal wedding menu The seasonal food will arrive fresh to your table and you will be assured of an economical wedding menu, since there will be more availability of products.

In autumn/winter, for example, take advantage of seasonal vegetables to offer soups, creams, stews, omelettes and purées. For example, a pumpkin cream with Parmesan cheese for the starter. For the main course, you can accompany the meat with a purée of aubergines. And if it's about taking advantage of seasonal fruit, surprise your guests with a quince cheesecake.

Meanwhile, spring/summer fruits and vegetables will guarantee a lighter and more colorful menu. For example, you can opt for artichoke bottoms stuffed with tuna for the appetizer; accompany the main course with a wide buffet of salads; and close with a watermelon and melon granita for dessert.

Now, if what you want is a sustainable wedding menu that generates the least impact on the environment, there are some tips to put into practice. For one thing, prefer a three-course menu over a buffet menu, since the first one will serve the right portions, while the second one will have more waste.

Also, choose food that comes from a distance of less than 100 kilometers, thus contributing to its preservation and avoiding further contamination during transportation. And choose food that is typical of each region and in season, making sure that it does not contain preservatives or colorants.

A pillar of sustainable cuisine, in addition to the rational use of resources, is to encourage the consumption of local foods, respecting the culinary traditions of local producers. For example, if you are getting married on a plot of land on the outskirts of the city, find out what foods are harvested in the area to incorporate into your country wedding menu.

Interactive menus

Another increasingly popular trend, ideal for relaxed weddings, is interactive menus, which have to do with leaving formalities and protocols aside, giving diners the freedom to choose what they want to eat, how much they want to eat and where to sit.

Therefore, the seating plan is dispensed with, so that each person can place themselves wherever they want, and buffet-style menus or themed stations are favoured. But there are also proposals that fit in perfectly with this style of banquet, such as the show cooking or live cooking, which will allow guests to interact with the chef.

And food trucks will also add points to an interactive wedding menu, since, just like the buffet, the guests will be the ones to choose what to eat. Ideal if you're looking for a rustic, boho-chic, millennial or, really, any wedding menu that takes place in an outdoor space.

Children's menu

Finally, if there will be children at your wedding, there are certain considerations you will need to make. First, find out if any of your little guests have any food intolerances or allergies so that you can alert the caterer when you present your children's menu options.

How do you know which one is best for you? Although you probably won't find many differences between the supplier's suggestions, try to choose a menu that is simple and easy to eat, based on food with a massive taste and with a careful presentation. However, for practical reasons, it is recommended to skip the starter and go straight to the main course, to close with a dessert, if it is going to be a meal.traditional.

Breaded chicken fillets with french fries, fish nuggets with mixed salad, sausages with rice, and ham and cheese croquettes with mashed potatoes are some ideas for a menu for a wedding with children.

6. Wedding menu trends

Macaire House

In the wedding menus of 2022, vegetarian and vegan options will have a strong prominence. Beyond the fact that there are certain guests who do not eat meat, the truth is that vegetarian and vegan food is becoming more and more valued. In general, healthy wedding food and sustainable food which will also make its way onto wedding menus next year.

However, since the Covid-19 pandemic still remains, the tendency will be to opt for classic menus served at the table, in order to respect more easily the social distancing. This, for massive marriages, where the purpose is to avoid crowds.

But if you are planning an intimate wedding, then you can go for a more casual wedding menu, for example a buffet with a distance marker on the floor. The good news is that outdoor wedding receptions will dominate in 2022.

The options are diverse, so you're sure to find a wedding menu that fits you perfectly. From a brunch with show cooking or a Chilean-style buffet, to a three-course dinner with seasonal products, among other possibilities.