Smaller weddings are becoming more and more popular post-COVID as people have come to favor more intimate events and venues. A small wedding allows you and your partner to exchange vows and celebrate with the friends and family who matter most to you. Planning a small wedding can often be a lot less stressful, and end up making your wedding more memorable and enjoyable for all. Hiring a catering and events company to help you with menu planning in Tucson, AZ, will relieve even more stress. Here are some tips for menu planning for a small wedding in Arizona.
Extend Your Cocktail Hour
A smaller wedding is an intimate affair, and it might become more obvious that certain guests don’t know each other. By extending your cocktail hour, you give guests a little more time to mingle and meet each other. Make sure to pass hors d’oeuvres around so guests don’t get too tipsy, or get hangry before dinner is served!
Offer an Elaborate Menu
Because you have fewer people on your guest list, you may end up having a little more room in your budget to really let loose with your menu. Consider creating your menu around a theme, asking your caterer to create a tasting menu or signature dish, or offering cuisines from several different regions. Your caterers will have fewer plates to prepare, so you may have more wiggle room to try a type of cuisine that would be harder to handle at a large-scale event.
Consider Buffet Service
Another option that is less stressful and more feasible with a smaller guest list is buffet-style serving. Allow guests to serve and seat themselves, and you’ll cut down on the amount of serving staff you need. You’ll also give guests yet another opportunity to mingle and get to know each other.
Create an Array of Varied Desserts
In addition to having a traditional wedding cake, consider offering an array of desserts for guests to choose from. Ask your wedding catering company to create miniature desserts like pies, cupcakes, and tarts. You can also serve a variety of cookies, cheesecake and brownie bites, macaroons, and more so guests can choose more than one option to try.
Offer Signature Cocktails
A smaller wedding gives you the opportunity to really personalize the event and make it your own. Ask your catering company to create signature cocktails that play on your personality traits or interests. You can also consider offering mini bottles of rose and champagne, or split bottles of wine at each table. Pre-batched cocktails are another cost-saving, trendy option for smaller events, as there will be less wait time while guests get their drinks.
At Tucson Creative Catering, we offer full-service catering and event planning for weddings and parties of all sizes. We can assist with menu selection, bartending and serving, event set-up and clean-up, equipment and party rentals, and more. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation for full-service wedding catering in Tucson, AZ.