Now you have set a date for the big day, it is time to organize your wedding buffet menu. After the bride and groom have said their vows, it’s time for a celebration! The wedding reception is an opportunity to eat, drink, dance, and celebrate your marriage with friends and loved ones. One of the most important aspects of planning your wedding reception is deciding on the food that will be served during this event.
Wedding buffets are becoming increasingly popular as they allow you to offer guests a wide variety of options so no one leaves hungry or unsatisfied. However, finding the perfect menu can feel overwhelming, as options are seemingly limitless. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve put together 5 classic and unique food ideas for your wedding buffet menu.
Read on below to find out more about our tasty suggestions.
1. Traditional Aussie Buffet Ideas
One of the easiest buffet ideas for your wedding is serving iconic Australian cuisine. This includes traditional dishes such as lamb casserole, canapes, pavlova, and fish and chips. You could also serve other quintessentially Australian foods like kangaroo fillets and barramundi. For drinks, try selecting local wines from different regions in Australia.
Sample Aussie buffet food ideas:
Soups – pumpkin soup, minestrone soup, potato and leek soup, pea and ham soup, lentil soup, chicken and corn soup
Salads– classic potato salad, peach tree pork salad, bacon, lettuce and tomato salad, roasted eggplant salad, classic tabbouleh salad
Finger foods and appetizers – canapes, loaded tater tot cups, puff pastry, prawn cocktail, avocado toast, fish and chips, salt and pepper calamari, dagwood dogs, chiko rolls, crab sticks
Main course – braised lamb shanks, lamb leg roast, barbecue snags, Aussie chicken, kangaroo fillets, crocodile skewers, barramundi with lemon butter sauce, potato-meat pies, hamburger with beetroot
Desserts and sweets – pavlovas, lamingtons, iced VoVos, chocolate crackles, neenish tarts, fairy bread, jelly slice, vanilla slice, Anzac biscuits, pecan pie, salted honey macadamia tart
Drinks – Shiraz, Jagerbombs, Cascade Ale, Hippocampus vodka, ginger beer, Bundaberg brewed beverages
2. Italian-Style Buffet Ideas
Italian fare is another great option if you’re looking for a classy wedding buffet menu idea. Many people associate Italian food with pizza and pasta, but there are plenty of other options to consider too. This includes antipasto selections, bruschetta, parmigiana, cold cuts, and cheeses. It’s also possible to serve a selection of fresh seafood dishes, including acqua pazza, cacciucco, and fritto misto. If you want to give your menu an authentic flair, consider serving Italian-style desserts, such as tiramisu and cannoli. Don’t forget to stock up on Campari and other Italian liquors if you plan to serve cocktail-style drinks.
Sample Italian buffet food ideas:
Antipasto platters – stuffed olives, gorgonzola cheese, tomatoes, marinated artichokes, prosciutto, salami, spicy capicola, mortadella
Breads – focaccia, ciabatta, sourdough bread, rye bread, seeded rolls, Italian flatbreads
Salads – Insalata di finocchi e arance, caprese salad, panzanella, insalata russa, insalata di riso, giardiniera
Cold cuts and cheeses – prosciutto, mortadella, capocollo, salame formaggio, bresaola, buffalo mozzarella
Main course – acqua pazza, cacciucco, lasagna, Italian meatballs, spaghetti bolognese, and risotto, shrimp scampi with pasta, pizza, chicken parmigiana, pesto
Dessert and sweets – tiramisu, cannoli, gelato, panettone, maritozzo, bussolai, babà napoletano
Drinks – Campari, Chianti, Grappa, Prosecco, Limoncello, Chinotto cocktail, Cedrata Tassoni Soda, Crodino
3. Asian-Inspired Buffet Ideas
If you love the oriental flavours, then an Asian-inspired buffet could be perfect for your wedding reception. There are many Asian dishes you could choose from, depending on what type of cuisine you prefer. Chinese food is perhaps the most popular choice, due to its wide array of delicious options. Other Asian cuisines that could work well include Thai, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. For drinks, serve beers, sake, sherry, gin, and whiskey.
Sample Asian-inspired buffet food ideas:
Salads – Vietnamese chicken salad, miso coleslaw, pumpkin and coriander salad with crispy pork, Thai beef salad with nam jim
Finger foods and appetizers – spring rolls, tempura, sushi, dim sum, prawn rice paper rolls, gyoza, sticky pork san choy bau, sashimi, kimchi
Soup – wonton soup, miso soup, Chinese noodle soup with chicken, ramen vegetable soup, udon soup, Japanese clear onion soup
Main course – grilled Vietnamese pork sausages or nem nuong, satay pork or chicken with peanut sauce, sweet and sour pork, chili crab and prawns, beef teriyaki with noodles
Rice – nasi goreng, Yangzhou fried rice, shrimp paste fried rice, pad Thai fried rice, adobo rice
Desserts and sweets – fresh tropical fruits, Vietnamese snow balls, mango coconut sorbet, matcha ice cream, pineapple tarts
Drinks – sake, soju, baijiu, rice wine, shochu, awamori, Japanese highball
4. Mexican–themed Buffet Ideas
Mexican cuisine is known for its bold flavours, which makes it an interesting choice if you want to go for something a little different. A typical Mexican buffet often consists of a variety of colourful, tasty dishes and delicious dips. From tacos and burritos to enchiladas and fajitas, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from. You could also consider serving tequila shots and cocktails at your reception to complement your menu.
Sample Mexican buffet food ideas:
Salads – guacamole salad, Mexican chopped salad, jicama mango salad with cilantro, Mexican shrimp-and avocado salad, Mexican grilled-corn salad with citrus aïoli, tangy tomatillo salad
Finger foods and appetizers – quesadillas, jalapeño poppers, tortilla chips, nacho supreme, chicken taquitos, jicama fries, chicharon
Salsas and dips – salsa verde, Qdoba queso, refried bean dip, mole blanco, chamoy, salsa chipotle, pico de gallo
Soups – pozole, walnut soup, chicken soup, tortilla soup, birria, chicken tinga, caldo de camaron, caldo de pollo
Main course – chicken fajitas, carnitas, tacos, chimichangas, tortilla pie, chili con carne, Mexican pizza, burritos, cuete mechado, chorizo, bistec, carme asada, aguachile, menudo
Desserts and sweets – alfajor, tres leches cake, flan, dulce de leche, churros, brazo de gitano, cocada
Drinks – tequila, palm wine, Mexican wine, corn beer
5. Mediterranean Buffet Ideas
Mediterranean cuisine is one of the oldest in the world. It focuses on using fresh ingredients, such as olives, vegetables, wheat, herbs, and spices, to create delicious salads and dishes. This is ideal for vegans or if you’re looking for a light and healthy buffet for your reception. Some couples also choose to have this type of buffet because it’s more affordable than other options and looks romantic.
When we talk about Mediterranean food, we don’t just mean Italian, Spanish, Greek, and French. It also includes Middle Eastern and African dishes too. If you decide to host a Mediterranean-themed buffet, make sure you serve plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables alongside some tasty salad dressings and dips. Also, wine is a must!
Sample Mediterranean-inspired buffet food ideas:
Salads – Greek salad, Mediterranean salad, Tuscan salad, balela salad, spinach salad, tomato salad, mixed green salad, Lebanese fattoush salad, harissa salad, salade niçoise
Finger foods and appetizers – Mediterranean appetizer pinwheels, moussaka, dolmas, halloumi cheese mezze, antipasto skewers, spanikopita, Greek bruschetta, hummus crostini, fougasse, mini frittatas, falafels
Dips and salad dressings – moutzouki, hummus, 7-layer Mediterranean dip, hummus, baba ganoush, tzatziki, Greek fava, cacik, lemon parmesan dressing, honey Dijon vinaigrette
Soups – Greek minestrone soup, Tuscan white bean soup, zucchini basil soup, chicken leek soup, Greek Easter lamb soup
Main course – ratatouille, Moroccan tagine, shakshuka, skewered pork, chicken, beef and lamb kebab, grilled fish, Moroccan kofta, ful medames, couscous, paella, tapas, pizza margherita, risotto
Desserts and sweets – crema Catalana, macarons, fougasse monegasque, pastéis de nata, imqaret, kremna rezina, tufahija, madarica, baklava, kanafeh, halvah
Drinks – red wine, sangria, zest tea, chamomile tea, fruit juice, smoothies
Pros and cons of wedding buffets
The Good | Guests love buffets because it allows them to pick and choose exactly what they want to eat. It also avoids the hassle of waiting for each dish to be served, or having to wait in line. Lastly, this ensures that all your guests get to try as much food as they can.
The Bad | The cost of buffet catering is higher than preparing a plated dinner. Buffets are also prone to wastage, especially if you don’t plan ahead properly. Plated dinners are typically less messy too because the servers can easily clear away plates and bowls after each course.
The Bottom Line | Choosing between a buffet or a plated meal is entirely dependent on your preference and budget. Whichever one you choose, it’s vital to include a range of dishes to satisfy all of your guests. In addition to this, you’ll need to consider whether your venue has the facilities to accommodate buffet meals.
FAQs
Can I combine two or more types of buffets?
Yes, of course. If you’d like to serve both Australian and Mexican food, for example, that’s absolutely fine. You need to consider your guests’ preferences, so try to mix up the various cuisines whenever possible. This will help ensure everyone enjoys their meal. You can include several buffet stations to make it easier for them to choose their preferred dishes.
Do I need a caterer, or can I do it myself?
Catering companies are definitely worth hiring if you’ve never done this before. Most offer a wide range of menu choices, which means you’ll find something to suit every guest. They’ll bring everything you need to serve a wide variety of dishes, drinks, and desserts. However, if you want to save money, you could try making some of the food yourself. However, keep in mind that cooking for large groups takes time, so it’s probably best to hire someone else to prepare all of your food.
What should I do if my budget is tight?
If you’re short on cash, there are lots of ways you can cut back without compromising on the quality of the food. For example, you might be able to get rid of some of the items from your main courses and sides, or eliminate certain dessert offerings. You may even want to ask your friends and family to contribute to your wedding reception by setting up a wedding reception cash fund.
How can I avoid food waste?
It’s important to think carefully about what you’re serving and how many people you expect to attend. For example, if you know most people are vegetarian, then it’s wise to provide meat-free options. Otherwise, you risk wasting money and food. On top of that, you’ll upset guests who won’t be able to eat anything.
PRO TIP: After the reception, provide containers for your guests to take some leftovers home with them. This helps avoid any waste, and allows them to enjoy the meal again at a later date.
How long should the buffet last?
You can decide for yourself how long you’d like the buffet to go on for, but try not to make it too short. Guests appreciate having enough time to sit down and eat their fill. As a general rule, it’s usually best to limit the length of the wedding buffet to around three hours. This gives everyone enough time to socialize, enjoy the food, and move on to dancing and other activities after eating.
Final thoughts
So, there you have it! We hope this list has given you plenty of inspiration for planning your own wedding buffet menu. Remember, if you’re still stuck for ideas, don’t hesitate to contact your caterer. Here at Crave Catering, we’d love to help you create an amazing buffet for your big day.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
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