When it comes to planning your wedding menu, the task might start off feeling a little daunting. Gone are the days when you only had one or two dishes to choose from and everyone sat down for an alternating chicken or fish dish! There are now so many ways to personalise your wedding food – and your entrée is where it all begins. There are pros and cons for starting off with roving canapés versus a sit-down shared entrée, which is the two types of entrée options we offer at Trufflepig Catering & Events.

Image: Belle Martin Photography

Seated & Shared

A seated, shared entrée encourages lots of interaction among your guests as they pass platters back and forth around the table. Think Laotian char-grilled chicken larp tossed with lime, lemongrass and chilli or an array of artisan cured meats and local cheeses, homemade dips and pickled vegetables. Platters are an excellent option if you have guests who don’t know each other as they have an instant reason to talk to a table full of people. This is also a great option if you have a smaller venue where there isn’t much room for standing and mingling. Although a more formal style, seated entrées don’t need to be boring – by incorporating some light-hearted fun (think quizzes about the happy couple!), the conversation will be flowing in no time. Or get started with the formalities of the reception sooner and begin your first speeches.

Header Image and This Image: Lover of Mine

Having your guests seated straight away also has its advantages from a catering perspective – it’s easier to find and serve anyone with a dietary requirement, and you know no one will miss out on food. However, you’ll likely have less choice around what you’re serving for entrée – usually, you’ll choose just one or two dishes for guests to share. This style of entrée also doesn’t allow much time for golden hour photos if you’re going straight from the ceremony to the reception. And your guests are sitting down for much longer, so you’ll need to plan what you want guests to do in between courses to get them mixing.

Images via Polka Dot Wedding

Roving Canapé

A roving canapé entrée is when you select a range of finger foods that are circulated on platters while guests are standing and mingling. For example, we offer a great choice of bite-sized morsels with canapés like free-range pork belly, twice-cooked and smothered in salty, chilli caramel, and bruschetta with grilled gorgonzola and fresh figs, drizzled with honey, thyme and cracked pepper. A much less formal approach, this style gives you loads of flexibility and choice to include a range of delicious items on your menu. It allows your guests to catch up and talk, move around and not be stuck in their seats. It’s also a great option if your ceremony and reception are in the same venue, so you can duck off for your photos while your guests relax with drinks and snacks straight away.

Image: Smith + Archer

Image: Belle Martin Photography

There’s obviously a lot more standing around with a roving canapé option, so you’ll need to consider having some seating available, particularly for older guests. And if you’re planning on having drinks and canapés outdoors, plan to factor in the weather, if your reception is at night, it can get cool quickly – no one wants to be freezing while they wait to get inside and sit down!

Whichever option you choose, there are lots of different ways you can make your entrée a great part of your celebration. A seated entrée is more formal but can still be fun and means a little less logistical thinking. While stand-up roving canapés create a more relaxed vibe to start off your reception if you plan things well. Either way, your caterer will make sure the quality, presentation and yummy-ness of your first course wow your guests and sets the tone for the rest of your menu!

About Trufflepig: Here at Trufflepig Catering & Events, we love delicious flavours. We love sumptuous, elegant canapés served amidst sparkling conversation. We love big, rustic platters of food shared amongst friends & family. Our food is handmade, vibrant and full of flavour. We understand where our produce comes from and source seasonal, local, organic and free-range ingredients. We can’t wait to chat with you about your next event!