Wedding Reception Menu Ideas

Debra McClinton

Can't decide what to serve? Try these sample menus for four types of receptions

Wedding Reception: Sit-Down Dinner Menu Ideas

Appetizer

Seafood Salad: shrimp, calamari, scungilli, octopus, and mussels with lemon and extra-virgin olive oil or Fresh Figs Draped with Prosciutto di Parma

Salad

Tuscan Garden Salad: romaine lettuce, Bibb lettuce, radicchio, tomatoes, and radishes with balsamic vinaigrette

Main Course

Choice of:
Salmon: broiled and seasoned with bread crumbs, garlic, lemon, and butter

Baby Rack of Lamb: three double cuts of rack of lamb coated in an aromatic blend of fresh herbs and spices

Served with:
Bouquet of Fresh Seasonal Vegetables and Golden Fried Potato Croquette

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Wedding Reception: Buffet Menu Ideas

Stuffed Endive with Roquefort Cheese, Topped with Chopped Walnuts
Roasted New Potatoes with Dill Cream and Golden Caviar
Spinach Dip with Toasted Pita Triangles
Wild Mushroom Tartlets
Artichoke Mousse Puffs
Melon Wrapped in Prosciutto
Miniature Reuben Sandwiches
Spanakopita (spinach and Feta in phyllo pastry)
Smoked Salmon Canapes Topped with Capers and Fresh Dill
Seafood Dip with Sliced French Bread
Miniature Crab Cakes
Antipasti Display (buffalo mozzarella, grilled eggplant, marinated mushrooms, artichokes, vine-ripened tomatoes, kalamata olives, and bread sticks)
Smoked Salmon Display (sliced salmon served with chopped onion, lemon slices, capers, cucumber-dill sauce, and assorted dark breads)
Pasta Station (ravioli with roasted red-pepper sauce; bow tie pasta with Gorgonzola cream sauce)
Carving Station (Asian flank steak and Cajun-rubbed turkey breast served with Cranberry-Mango Chutney and assorted rolls)

Wedding Reception: Cocktail Party Menu Ideas

Grilled Coriander Giant Prawns with a Chili-Lime Sauce
Rosemary-Roasted Baby Lamb Chops with Apricot-Mint Salsa
Chicken Satays with a Tangy Peanut Sauce
Bite-Size Chicken Fajitas with Avocado Salsa
Three Onion, Feta, and Sun-Dried Tomato Tartlets
Mini Lobster Rolls on Toasted Brioche
Sauteed Softshell Crabs with a Spicy Remoulade
Miso-Glazed Cod with Asian Pesto
Authentic Dim Sum: crystal shrimp, sweet rice, spinach and shiitake mushroom
Dumplings: served with three dipping sauces

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Debra McClinton

Wedding Reception: Backyard Barbecue Menu Ideas

Main Courses

Barbecue Beef Brisket
Pork Spareribs
Smoked Sausages
Barbecue Chicken

Sides

Barbecue Beans
Coleslaw
Potato Salad
Tossed Green Salad
Toasted Garlic Bread
Corn Bread