Writer: Stephanie Maxwell Newton
Make an impression at your next big event with a memorable menu
Individual charcuterie boards by Vibrant Occasions keep the fare interesting at an afternoon wedding.
PICK FAVORITES
Brainstorming menu items you don’t see every day? Go with what you know—and love. For a personalized event such as a wedding or birthday blowout, there’s nothing more fun than seeing the host or guest of honor’s favorites on the menu. If you crave brunch food more than anything, what about a waffle bar or spread of your favorite hearty breakfast options, like biscuits and gravy? In the spring, a crawfish boil with guests gathered around newspaper-covered tables gives the party a New Orleans flair. Love pizza? Set up a Pie Bar with plenty of palate-pleasing toppings.
Wedding designer Jessika McCuin teamed up with caterer Vibrant Occasions to offer wedding guests a full breakfast spread.
LET THEM CUSTOMIZE
So maybe you’ve picked your personal favorites along with what you hope are a few crowd-pleasers for the event—how can you ensure there’s something for everyone on the menu? Create an opportunity for guests to make the meal their own by setting up a bar with a main offering, such as mashed potatoes, hot dogs, tacos, or ice cream, along with a variety of toppings. Not only will people have fun personalizing their plates, but the serve-yourself-style setup becomes another part of the display.
The Purple Cow offers a hot dog bar, burger bar, and milkshake bar for special events.
FEATURE A PHOTO OP
Whether it’s a casual fundraiser, rehearsal dinner, or black-tie gala, a catered event is often all about the experience. Food is one of many ways you can add to that, with either mobile vendors, such as a food truck or bartending service, or on-site preparations that become part of the entertainment, like a mobile pizza oven. Incorporating a food- or drink-based installation into the scene is another way to elevate the experience—consider a multi-tiered shelf of specialty cocktails at the ready when guests enter the venue or a wall of donuts displayed individually to choose from for dessert.
Northwest Arkansas’s Gala Garage mobile bar serves beverages out of a 1966 Airstream.
MAKE IT MINI
Finger foods have long been a favorite at events, offering guests the ability to sample small portions and mingle while dining. To up the intrigue, think about what you can make bite-sized beyond typical cheese trays and canapés. For example, a meal like shrimp and grits can be made to suit the occasion by serving small cups of cheese grits topped with shrimp and bacon along with a miniature fork. Try a similar approach with veggie,fruit, and charcuterie cups if you’d prefer guests to grab and go rather than settling down at a table with a large plate. Finally, any favorite sandwiches, from pulled pork to smash burgers, can be fashioned into sliders.
Single servings of banana pudding, caramel cake, key lime pie, and strawberry shortcake by Vibrant Occasions make dessert portable (and adorable!).
Photos by Jenn Terrell for The Purple Cow and by (from top) Kim Christopher Photography, Lauren Haley Photography, Elise Abigail Photo, and Erin Wilson Photography and Films, courtesy of Weddings in Arkansas.
