Winter Wedding Tips
10 Winter Wedding Menu Ideas Your Guests Will Love
For anyone planning a wedding during the most wonderful time of the year (and cold!), here are a list of winter wedding menu ideas that’ll warm your guests’ spirits at your winter wedding.
Winter Wedding Tips
Just like the old holiday song, an invitation to a winter wedding brings visions of sugar plums dancing in your guests’ heads. And hot cocoa. And gingerbread. And a few other delectable winter dishes. For anyone planning a wedding during the most wonderful time of the year (and cold!), here are a list of winter wedding menu ideas that’ll warm your guests’ spirits at your winter wedding.
Sweet Potato Cakes with Maple Syrup
This new and trendy appetizer is sure to satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth. Start your guests off with a nostalgic sweet dish that’ll take your guests back to a warm winter breakfast (or any meal, really) on a cold winter day.
Grilled Cheese…well anything
Grilled cheese is a Wisconsin winter favorite, so why not include it in your menu? Add grilled cheese with tomato soup to your list of appetizers or a grilled cheese station to your list of winter wedding food stations (more ideas here). Food stations are a fantastic way to make your wedding unique—and not just another wedding buffet meal. Unlike traditional buffets, food stations create an atmosphere where guests are encouraged to mingle and sample dishes at each station.
When guests visit your grilled cheese station, they’ll be in grilled cheese heaven (amid your winter wonderland) with sage grilled cheese with aged white cheddar basil pesto, grilled cheese with mozzarella, bacon, and roma tomato, and a pear grilled cheese with caramelized pear and creamy brie cheese.
Martini Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese are a comfort food ‘must’ for any winter wedding menu—and an incredible food station for a winter wedding. Your guests can sample margarita mac: cavatappi pasta sautéed with tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, and basil or the lobster mac: lobster, rotini pasta with gruyere and fontina cheeses served in a martini glass. The good news is that these delish mac and cheese dishes can be included in any winter wedding menu with any serving style; just ask your caterer.
Potato Station
Traditional winter family meals bring back memories of a delicious main course served with a mouth-watering potato side dish (such as our double baked potato dish: potato shells filled with garlic and chive mashed potatoes, perfect for a sit down). For a more unique twist on a winter meal, consider adding a potato station to your food station list. Your guests can enjoy roasted garlic mashed and baby reds mashed with chopped bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, onions, sour cream, and gravy—all served in a martini glass.
Dishes with a touch of cranberry
A touch of cranberry in your winter wedding décor can really be a showstopper, and so can a touch of cranberry in your menu. Consider adding scallops with cranberry lime horseradish or a salad with mesclun greens with dried cranberries, toasted almonds, and red onions with balsamic vinaigrette dressing; your caterer can suggest other cranberry dishes if you want more than just a touch of holiday cranberry in your menu.
Crab Stuffed Tenderloin Florentine
For a traditional winter wedding, highlight your dinner with a traditional main course. Our beef tenderloin with a crab, spinach, and onion stuffing fits the bill, and works with a host of serving options, such as a sit down or family style meal.
Carving Station
Recreating a traditional meal with a modern twist is the essence of our carving food station. Your guests’ll love to choose between roast sirloin and herbed turkey breast (or a little of both) along with vegetable of grilled asparagus, peppers, and onions. To top it off, your guests can sample from a variety of sauces: stone ground mustard, horseradish and bistro sauce.
Crème Brulee
A winter wedding menu wouldn’t be complete with a sweet final course, such as crème brulee served with a chocolate strawberry and caramel sauce. If you want a more traditional take for a holiday wedding, talk to your caterer about nostalgic holiday sweets your guests’ll love.
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate…
Give your winter wedding guests a special sweet gift: chocolate mousse between layers of chocolate decadence and chocolate cake, topped with chocolate ganache and accompanied by raspberries, fresh mint and raspberry sauce. If a wedding cake isn’t first choice for your winter wedding menu, we’ve given you a few other (delicious) non-cake options in our recent blog post.
Late Night European Coffee Station
Don’t confine your winter wedding menu to food; a late night coffee station can keep your guests caffeinated and enjoying your big day. A hot traditional winter beverage (hot cocoa or hot cider anyone?) can warm up your guests after tromping through the cold winter snow. As an added bonus, your late night European coffee station leaves a sweet impression when accompanied by whipped cream, chocolate powder and jimmies, cinnamon sticks and cream and sugar. A coordinated winter wedding menu with all your favorite comfort foods and winter favorites is sure to make a warm impression.
