Food is always a big part of a wedding. Whether you’re part of the happy couple or simply a guest at the event, you can bet that you’re going to spend a good amount of time thinking about the food. Finding the right caterers can be a complicated process. It can also be wildly expensive. If you’re planning on inviting a lot of people, you can expect a traditional caterer to hand you an invoice for a significant chunk of change. Even if you have it in your budget, you may not want to pay that much. Luckily, recent years have seen a big shift in attitude when it comes to wedding meals. While hiring caterers was the most common way of feeding guests in the past, there are now many more exciting options that might be appealing to you. Check out these ideas if you’re rethinking your wedding meal.

First Thoughts

Before getting into all of the alternatives to traditional caterers, there are a couple of guidelines you should follow. For one, you want to make sure your guests always have a place to sit. It doesn’t matter that you’ll only be doing finger foods; guests are going to need to have a table and a chair where they can get comfortable and dig into whatever is being offered. This might seem like a given, but there are many receptions where guests have had to stand around while holding packed plates.

You may also want to think about who will be serving the food. This is going to be largely dependent on what route you go for your catering needs. If you opt for a plan that doesn’t include workers to plate and serve, then be sure to think about a course of action for how guests can easily get something to eat without confusion.

Keep on Truckin’ 

Do you like food trucks? You probably do. Most people, especially those living in and near cities or college towns, have grown to love these exciting meal destinations. Food trucks are everywhere these days and cover the entire range of the dining experience. Whether you’re looking for pizza, tacos, falafel, tapas, or anything else you can imagine, you most likely can find a food truck that specializes in it.

Plenty of couples have taken to this idea. In fact, it stands to reason you’ve already been to a wedding where there were food trucks in lieu of traditional caterers. This can be a fun and inexpensive way to feed your guests when rethinking your wedding meal. Be sure to check with potential vendors far in advance, as most trucks will need ample warning to stock the right amount of ingredients to keep the people in your party satiated.

Cocktails For Days 

You may also find that having an elongated cocktail hour can prove useful. “Elongated” in this situation means “throughout the entire event.” A cheaper solution to a sit-down meal, appetizers and small plates keep your guests fed in waves as the night progresses. While it might not be the typical way of doing things, it can often be more exciting for the guests. Waiting for the meal to arrive isn’t an issue when a new food option comes to the table every 15 minutes or so.

Traditional wedding meals can often be a bit boring. Guests get a limited list of options and are stuck with whatever they selected in advance, whether or not they like it. By eliminating the idea of a sit-down dinner entirely, you can save a bit of money and even improve the experience for your guests. Remember, people will take note of a meal they truly enjoyed. If you want guests to remember your event fondly, be sure to explore catering alternatives.