Want to know some easy and unique wedding reception food ideas that will make your guests smile? These 5 options are some of the best ideas to choose from and will make your life a lot easier. You have so much to think about and plan as you are preparing for your wedding. Don’t let the wedding reception food become a complicated decision.
Finding simple wedding reception food ideas that everyone will like, and that aren’t super expensive can be challenging. As a soon to be bride, you need to be able to choose something that will feed a lot of people, isn’t too expensive, and that tastes good. Sometimes browsing unique wedding food ideas causes more stress than you need.
Having just gotten married last year, I remember the time and effort it took to come up with wedding reception food ideas, and then to choose one. If you’re anything like me, you want to figure out how to make choices easier and quicker. My hope is that by giving you these 5 simple wedding reception food ideas, you’ll be better able to make your choice with WAY less stress.
In this post, you’re going to find some amazingly simple wedding reception food ideas, from wedding food ideas for buffet, wedding reception food ideas on a budget, self catered wedding menu, unique wedding food ideas, and more! My hope is to help make your life easier. If you are looking to save money on your wedding reception food, and need some easy wedding reception food ideas, this is your lucky day.
This post is all about the best and most simple wedding reception food ideas that every future bride should know.
Wedding Reception Food Ideas
1. Sandwiches
You can go a lot of different ways with sandwiches, which is why they are such a great idea. Without a ton more effort or money, you can provide your guests with a variety of food options!
At my wedding, we served chicken salad sandwiches, and that was such a win! Our guests really liked them! If I could do it over though, I would probably give my guests a few other types of sandwiches for them to choose from.
This could mean you have some meat sandwiches, some cucumber sandwiches, even some peanut butter and jelly would be fun! You get to choose the options, and your guests decide which they want to enjoy!
The best thing about serving sandwiches is that they are easy to make, and easy to eat. Everyone appreciates finger food at wedding receptions! The other nice thing about this as opposed to other wedding reception food ideas is that you don’t need any silverware for it! Forget the cost of knives, forks and spoons! Yeah that rocks.
All around, sandwiches are yummy, versatile, and most people really like them. They are really easy to eat too. If you give your guests enough choices to pick between, you’re bound to please most of your guests. And they are easy!!
Another tip, pair your sandwiches with a fun drink or punch. Add in a simple dessert like brownies. This will round out the finger food for your wedding reception.
2. Kolaches
Ok, do you know what Kolaches are? Don’t worry, I didn’t either until recently. They are SO GOOD though, and if you live in an area that has someone who sells them… you are blessed.
Kolaches are little dough balls that are stuffed with various yummy things. They can be sweet or savory. Savory ones usually have some sort of meat, cheese, and sometimes a vegetable. Sweet ones usually have some fruity jam inside.
If you are up for the challenge, you can find a recipe for some sweet ones here. If you don’t want to try to make them yourself, and you live in Utah, Hruskas Kolaches caters, and they make the best ones! However, if neither of those options apply to you, then you may luck out and have another Kolache maker in your area that is willing to cater for you.
The best part about kolaches among the many wedding reception food ideas, is that you can have the exact same pastry be sweet or savory. It can cover both “dinner” and “dessert” options for your guests!
Kolaches are easy to eat, and much like sandwiches, allow you to save on silverware. If you want something simple for your wedding reception food, then finger food really is the way to go. Kolaches check that box!
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3. Tacos
Maybe it’s just me, but tacos are probably the best food of all time. So why not serve them at your wedding reception?! Ok, so if you’re not totally sold on the taco idea, let me tell you some of the reasons why tacos are such a great idea for your wedding reception food.
First off, most catering companies have a taco option. Since tacos aren’t super fancy, catering companies often don’t charge as much as they would for, say… crab cakes. If you decide to do tacos on your own, again it’s not a difficult food to pull off. If you make the meat well, everything is set out for your guests to put in their taco themselves.
Another reason that tacos are so great for your wedding reception is that they are pretty. I know that probably sounds weird, but since you have pico de gallo, guacamole, cheese, and sour cream, you have a lot of colors going on. With all the bowls filled with these pretty colored food, it adds a whole new, fun visual experience for the guests to enjoy as well.
Finger food is clearly the theme of all of these foods. Tacos are easy to eat, and you don’t have to get the silverware, yay!
If all of that hasn’t convinced you yet… let me just say this. Tacos are yummy. Seriously, just ask your friends if they like tacos. They probably do. That means your guests probably do too. That means they are probably going to be excited to have tacos at your wedding reception!
4. Cupcakes
Thus far all of the wedding reception food ideas that I’ve given you have been more savory. Nothing wrong with that! But if you’re anything like me, you are probably like, ok Brynn, give me some sweets ideas!
That’s why I had to add cupcakes in here. Well.. also because I love cupcakes, but that’s beside the point.
One of the best things about cupcakes is that you are able to bring in such a wide variety of flavors and options for your guests, they are going to love them! Cupcakes also don’t have to be super fancy, this is a great DIY option if that’s what you’re looking for.
Weddings are the perfect setting to eat cake, and when you have cupcakes, everyone gets to enjoy.
Most catering companies make cupcakes, which is great. Another idea could be to ask a local cupcake business if they cater. This could give you some more gourmet options. You could also see if whoever makes your wedding cake also makes cupcakes. They may be able to match flavors!
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5. Caprese Kabobs
This option is probably the fancies of all the wedding reception food ideas I’ve thrown your way.
Caprese salad is SO yummy. If you aren’t familiar with this type of salad, it’s basically cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Usually there is a balsamic vinaigrette or glaze served over it. Seriously good stuff.
To incorporate this into your wedding reception, you can create little kabobs with all of the ingredients on them. Start a skewer with a cherry tomato, add a basil leaf, add a mozzarella ball, repeat, and then drizzle all of your kabobs with the balsamic, and YUM!!
This really is a total winner when it comes to wedding reception food ideas. Not only is it simple and easy to prepare if you choose to DIY you food, it also is beautiful to display. It smells amazing too.
Your guests will absolutely love this option, and they can eat it (you guessed it) with their hands! This is a fresh good that will leave your guests feeling great, ready to party and dance! No issues with feeling gross from too much bread or sugar.
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