When it comes to a wedding, every couple wants it to be the best day of their lives. That includes the perfect photographer, the right music, the best venue, but what about the food?
Wedding food trends in 2017 include things like brunch, comfort foods and fun items.
Farm fresh
Locally sourced, organic foods are big in the food industry now, and wedding receptions are included in that. According to websites like Delish and CBS News, farm-to-table items can be implemented in a couple’s reception dinner easily.
If couples want to hold a wedding and reception at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center, 2773 290th St., in Orient, they can also get meals provided directly from the center’s farm.
“All of our vegetables come from our farm, and then the rest, like the protein and some other things, we get either from a local grocery store or a local meat producer,” said Diane Weiland, CEO of Wallace Centers of Iowa.
The center hosts between eight and 12 weddings a year, and of those, 90 percent include food from the center.
“We provide everything from a three- or four-course meal to sandwiches and salads,” Weiland said. “The only thing we don’t do are wedding cakes.”
Weiland said she sits down with couples to hash out details of the wedding reception. There, they discuss what foods the couple wants, or what foods go with something specific. If the couple has a specific meal in mind, that can be accomplished, as well.
“We grow vegetables out here. It’s what we do. It’s part of honoring the history of the Wallaces,” Weiland said. “Some people are committed to purchasing local. They have that commitment in food choice in their households and they want to replicate that when they’re doing a celebration. The other thing is, we think that having things right out of the garden provides great flavor.”
Comfort foods
Another trend this wedding season is the appearance of comfort food. Comfort food can come in many shapes and styles, such as cheesy potatoes, hamburgers or fried chicken.
Hy-Vee has catered wedding receptions for quite a while, and with spring here and summer around the corner, weddings are occurring more and more.
“For wedding receptions, usually it’s timely for the year,” said Matthew Guy, Hy-Vee kitchen manager. “Obviously, spring, summer and late summer, those are your popular times and people prefer to have outdoor receptions.”
Hy-Vee helps cater more than 10 weddings a year by making all or part of a meal. The kitchen staff cater year-round, and travel all over.
To help the couple prepare and decide what hot or cold foods they want, employees at Hy-Vee offer a tasting, especially with the cakes. The couple can try different foods and cakes until they decide if they want chocolate or vanilla cake, or hashbrown casserole or macaroni and cheese, for example.
“We want to have the freshest product for our customer,” Guy said. “Our process for preparation depends on timing. So, on the weekend is our busiest time, a lot of things we prepare ahead of time and then the day of.”
With at least a 48-hour notice, couples can make sure they get a variety of foods to taste, even those in the comfort category: fried chicken, chocolate cake, macaroni and cheese or meatloaf.
“We actually have insulated carriers that we use so we can take a tray out of the oven, put it in the carriers while it’s still piping hot,” Guy said. “We want to have the freshest product for our customer.”
Other trends
Another popular wedding food trend is having a late-night snack. According to Delish, while the party continues late into the night and early morning, couples are offering little snacks after everyone has eaten their fill of cake. Snacks can include miniature donuts, pizza bar or milk and cookie shots.
Brunch is a popular trend seen this year, as well. Couples can enjoy having breakfast foods for dinner, and can also include various cereals, waffles or a mimosa or Bloody Mary bar. These can be seen in the afternoon and evening, but can also be seen in the morning, as daytime weddings can be less expensive.
Here is a list of other popular trends for 2017 weddings:
• DIY food bar
• Dessert and candy tables
• Unique or signature cocktails
• Food trucks
• Food stations
• Beer flights
• Finger food
While there are plenty of ideas for any couple to choose from when it comes to the food to be served after their nuptials, it all depends on what a couple wants to feel like their special day is even more special.