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| Wedding Essentials 2 0 1 4
reception
A benefit here is eliminating the seating-
chart angst of deciding who sits with whom,
who gets the best tables. It also shortens the
speech time--most simply become a wedding
toast, perhaps with an anecdote included.
It's a good idea to provide seating for about
half your guests, for those who need to be
seated and for those who prefer to sit down.
Lori Carter, Sales Manager at Benmiller Inn
& Spa near Goderich finds that couples are
using food stations to really customize their
wedding cuisine to their personal likes, as well
as giving the bride and groom and all their
guests a chance to meet and mingle. "If the
groom is from Newfoundland, a seafood
station makes a personal statement at the same
time as the bride's food passion might be
represented with a Thai food station. Food
stations outdoors in addition to inside can
work well, like a pig roast on the patio that
wedding guests are still talking about".
SEE YOU AT THE STATION
Live-Chef stations where guests can watch
their food being prepared abound, with
everything from risotto to pasta, stir-fries,
sushi, salads, tacos, mac and cheese bars and
more, more, more choices.
Forever young... s'mores bar stations bring
back campfire memories. Guests toast
marshmallows on tiny heating elements and put
them into graham crackers along with chocolate.
For beverages consider a craft beer bar--
complete with wooden barrels, a lemonade bar
with pick-your-flavour of lemonade, a coffee
bar--think latté, espresso, frappé and flavoured
coffees--some spiked, some not.
TRADITIONAL
SIT-DOWN MEALS
When opting for a sit-down meal for wedding
receptions, couples may be looking for organic,
locally-sourced ingredients and seasonal,
fresh ingredients.
Asking your guests to choose from menu
selections the bride and groom have made with
their caterer ensures everyone will enjoy their
wedding fare. Each guest's selection, along
with any dietary concerns or allergies can be
made when returning the RSVP. Caterers are
finding that most couples are offering guests a
choice of two to three entrées, rather than
making their decision for them.
At London's Windermere Manor, Julie-Ann
McCallum, Wedding Co-ordinator, observes
that people like the Manor's "spring/summer
and fall/winter menus. Brides and grooms are
very receptive to food that features ingredients
that could be found at a local market". She
urges couples to "have a menu tasting if their
goal is to have the most delicious food possible
for their wedding".
KEEP ON TRUCKIN!
Meals on wheels has new meanings with all
the options available for Food Truck wedding
choices. Be sure that your venue has no issues
with your booking a food truck. Ask the food
truck companies you are considering if they
will arrange details with the venue ahead of
time, such as parking space.
FIDEL GASTRO | PORTUGUESE CHICKEN
PHOTO: KYLA ZANARDI | THEHUNGRYLENS.COM
THE WINDERMERE MANOR
PHOTO: SARAH KEYS | STILETTOPHOTOGRAPHY.NET