Planning a dinner wedding reception can be a bit difficult, especially when you are dealing with many different guests. However, there are many different types of food that can be served at a dinner wedding reception which will appeal to the majority and provide your guests with an event that they will remember for many years to come. If you are trying to plan a dinner wedding reception, here are some ideas to assist you.

Picking the Main Course

This is perhaps the biggest challenge for most planners. It is a good idea to have at least two main courses for your dinner wedding reception, to ensure that your choices will appeal to most that will be attending. A good rule to follow is to consider having one beef-based dish and one chicken-based dish. You may also wish to add a fish-based dish as another choice.

While roasts and whole chickens are always popular, there are many different entrees that can be served at a dinner wedding reception. Try to come up with a theme that will be carried through the reception to give you a better idea of the type of food that you are going to serve. For example, you can have a Mexican theme, and serve beef or chicken enchiladas. Or, you could go with a French theme and serve Beef Bourguignon and Chicken Fricassee.

One main concern is providing for those that may have special dietary restrictions, or those that may be vegetarian. It is simply easier to provide a main vegetarian course as a standard option for your dinner wedding reception. This cuts down on the stress and hassle of trying to figure out all of the different dietary needs of your guests.

Handling Side Dishes

When you are considering the side dishes for your dinner wedding reception, let the main course be your guide, but don't be afraid to have a little fun. Some great side dishes for this type of event include mixed vegetables, potato salad or macaroni and cheese for those going for a homemade dinner approach. You can also include croissants, dinner rolls and other sides such as braised asparagus or steamed polenta.

If you are not planning on having a vegetarian option for your guests, you may want to include more side dishes that contain vegetables to provide this group with something that they can safely eat. Consider providing a salad bar to allow your guests the freedom to choose their own side dishes at your dinner wedding reception.

Dessert Options

It is always a nice touch to serve dessert following a dinner wedding reception. You can keep it simple by offering coffee and small slices of cake, or you can go a little more elaborate with custom made petit fours, special individual cakes or rolls.

Final Hints

A dinner wedding reception requires a lot of advance planning and preparation. Make sure that you allow more than enough time to prepare if you are worried about guests with special dietary restrictions. This will give you plenty of time to find alternatives for them.