You’re in the midst of planning the perfect wedding. You’ve got the venue selected, your dress fitted, invites sent, and photographer booked. But one of the most important aspects of the perfect wedding is having the perfect food. 2013 saw the rise in food trucks, dressed up comfort foods, theme parties, and statement wedding cakes. Some of these trends will carry on into 2014, while others will fizzle out. Here’s what’s hot for 2014:
Nostalgic Comfort Foods
One of the most popular current wedding food trends is recreating childhood favorite comfort foods and dressing them up into classy hors d’oeuvres that guests of all ages will enjoy. Mini grilled cheese sandwiches served with shots of tomato basil soup are a hit amongst children and adults alike. You can add a personalized touch by serving sandwiches with different kinds of cheeses and toppings, such as bacon or tomato. Sliders and waffle fries are also a great option, as well as mini mac and cheese.
Photo Credit: We Love Weddings
Photo Credit: Full Circle Eventi
Offering nostalgic finger food on the menu also creates a great opportunity for guests to walk around and mingle versus the traditional sit-down dinner. Serving gourmet classic comfort food in a bite-sized package adds a hint of creative nostalgia to an otherwise formal occasion and is a trend that will continue in 2014.
Theme Parties
With the release of the blockbuster hit The Great Gatsby, it’s no surprise that 2013 was flush with Gatsby-themed parties. However, it’s not just Gatsby that’s taking the wedding world by storm. Rustic themed, ethnic themed, and even bacon themed weddings were extremely popular this year. Though the Gatsby/roaring 20’s theme will fizzle out, custom theme weddings are here to stay.
Theme weddings are hugely customizable, and the chosen theme can be implemented as little or as much as you like. From colors to table settings to attire, each aspect of the wedding can be personalized to fit the bride and groom’s passions. If you’re not ready to commit to a fully themed wedding, why not try out a flavor-themed dinner? Choose your favorite flavor and incorporate it into each menu item. For example, a bacon-themed menu could include bacon-wrapped scallops, bacon-wrapped chicken breasts served with Brussels sprouts with bacon, and maple glazed donuts with bacon bits for dessert.
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Whether it’s serving ethnic food to stay true to your cultural roots, hosting a traditional British tea party, or choosing a favorite food to be featured in the menu, such as bacon or truffle, themed menus and weddings are a trend to keep an eye on next year.
Brunch
A very important aspect of the perfect wedding is staying within the budget. One way cost-conscious brides are achieving this is by having a morning wedding and serving brunch at the reception rather than lunch or dinner. Weddings in the afternoon or evening are generally more expensive, so many brides are embracing the idea of brunch instead. Brunch is the perfect opportunity to allow your guests to customize their own meals while also keeping the budget in mind. Why not include a bloody Mary bar with all the fixings, or mimosa stations with different types of fresh squeezed juices? Omelet bars and pancake or waffle stations can be as simple or gourmet as you’d like. These types of DIY bars create an interactive experience and guarantee that your guests will love the food since they’ll be able to choose the ingredients that they like. The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving brunch, and this is a trend that will surely take off in 2014.
Photo Credit: Bklyn Stitch
Wedding Desserts
2013 was a big year for statement cakes, especially with the rise of the ombre trend. Hand-painted cakes, extravagant ruffles and decorations, and bold shades were very popular this year. However, more and more brides are shying away from the traditional wedding cake and opting to serve different kinds of desserts instead. If cake isn’t your dessert of choice, there’s no reason to include it on the menu for tradition’s sake.
Similar to the extremely popular cupcake wedding “cake” from previous years, macaron cakes and crepe cakes are trending this coming year. You can take your favorite dessert and turn it into your perfect wedding “cake” or dessert station. Doughnut cakes and brownie cakes served with coffee or ice cream, or a s’mores bar or cookie decorating station are all great ways to break away from the traditional wedding cake and add a personalized touch to the dessert portion of your wedding.
Photo Credit: Ellyb Events
Photo Credit: OneWed
Whether you choose to keep it casual by serving classic comfort food in finger food form, or take a trend full-on by hosting a themed wedding, keep in mind that this is your special day and everything can be customized to fit your tastes. Let us know what you think of these trends and which ones you’ll choose for your wedding!
