Published On: 30 November 2021Categories: Blog7.5 min read

Got a wedding planned in 2022? Or perhaps just attending? Preparing for the big day can be highly stressful and considering what food to pick for the guests is just the icing on the cake!

The current pandemic has made the preparation processes for weddings interesting to say the least. However, with people moving out of lockdown restrictions 2021 proved to be one of the busiest years in recent memory. 

The rate of weddings taking place is set to continue to increase heading into 2022. Thus with some normality being restored in the world, we will be back to enjoying everything weddings offer, including the enjoyment of all the delicious wedding food. The pandemic has given many of us much time to connect with our creative sides, meaning 2022 will provide a wealth of tasty wedding catering options. 

Many couples this year will be seeking an exciting and memorable food experience within their budget, fit for the occasion. Couples across the country may seek catering that is locally sourced, exciting and delicious. 

There are many unique wedding catering 2022 options to choose from. Here are some recent trends to wow your guests.

unique wedding catering 2022

Family Style Catering

Family style catering from fresh seafood, pizzas or salads can be a great way to keep guests satisfied as part of a wedding breakfast. Dishes such as this can be served as simple one-course meals which can help cut time whilst encouraging guests to interact with one another. Serving food in this way such as with seafood platters also allows for guests to sample a variety of dishes, a perfect solution for even the fussiest of eaters. 

1 Course Options

We’ve all been there. You go to a wedding and start with the tasters then indulge in a large meal and a few drinks and by the time it gets to the speeches, you start to feel…very…very…sleepy. On top of this, a stomach overfilled with food is never ideal when trying to bust out your best moves on the dance floor. For these reasons, you may wish to opt for a single, delicious dish alongside various snacks throughout the day.

Mouth-Watering Buffet Ideas – Unique Wedding Catering 2022

There is often nothing worse at a wedding than having food being taken away before you have even made a proper start at it. This is where wedding buffets can be ideal. This allows people to get food in their own time as well as pick out quantities that suit them. However,  be careful here to mark out allergens so that everyone is safe with their catering options throughout the day. An additional bonus here is that buffets can be helpful as they often include several options, meaning any vegetarians and vegans in the room can be accounted for. 

Dim Sum 

For couples that love a bit of Chinese cuisine, a dim-sum station may be just the thing you need. This is a great way to provide a large amount of variety for your guests to choose from. In addition to this, dim sum translates to “touch the heart” in English, meaning it is an option perfect for lovers on their big day. 

Hog Roast

Not necessarily the best option if you have vegetarian guests, however, for the meat eaters amongst us, there may be nothing more mouth watering than a delicious hog roast meal. An additional benefit here is that this style of cuisine can be set up for both indoor and outdoor venues. 

Themed Buffets

There is nothing better than a themed party and a themed menu to leave a lasting impression on the memories of your guests. Whether you simply love a particular style of cuisine or wish to highlight the flavours of a certain heritage or culture, themed buffets can be a really fun option for any wedding. 

There are many options for a themed buffet you may wish to choose from including; Italian food, Mexican, southern BBQ’s and Mediterranean. 

An Italian style cuisine can be made complete with a fresh Caprese salad, pasta, pizzas and much more. Alternatively, a Mexican style cuisine can be a real crowd-pleaser complete with lime-cilantro rice, carne asada and marinated chicken. Just ensure that those with specific eating requirements such as vegetarians and those with allergies have options that suit them somewhere in the mix. 

Dessert Buffets

If you are someone with a sweet tooth who loves cakes and tasty sweet treats, a dessert buffet selection can be a great addition to your wedding event. For many a wedding cake alone is not enough. Additionally, if you are holding a themed buffet, a dessert buffet can be a great way to reflect your chosen theme further. For instance, if you are holding an Italian style theme of catering for your wedding then why not consider a buffet selection including tiramisus and profiteroles. 

Even if your main meal isn’t a self-service buffet, you can still opt to put out dessert stations at the end of the reception to allow guests just a little bit more choice with their food options. Why not consider ice cream, cheesecakes or cookies! 

Outdoor Dining 

The weather does play a huge part in whether the option for outdoor dining is feasible, however, if you can pull it off they can allow for great amounts of creativity for wedding catering. However, this being said there are ways to combat the unreliable British weather such as with the use of gazebos so don’t let it stop you. 

Picnics

You can’t really get any more British than having a picnic. They make for a great wedding catering option too. They allow for great decorating options too from blankets to baskets and can be personalised to your taste too. You may even consider asking the venue to provide individual picnic hampers for your guests too! 

BBQs

For those holding weddings in the summer months, there may be nothing more appealing than delicious bbq cuisine. It may not be a good idea to have this set up in the evening, however, when everyone has already been eating and drinking throughout the day. Instead, you should fully commit to the idea of serving it in the place of a sit-down meal. 

Street Food

Street food as a wedding catering option can be an exciting yet stylish way of entertaining your guests. Hiring a street food van can be a great option whether it be for the main meal or an evening meal. 

For those of us who do not wish for our weddings to be overly formal, this may also be a great option by providing a more casual and relaxed atmosphere. Street food is an easy crowd-pleaser as it is made to order meaning everyone can get exactly what they want. However, some options here can be rather messy so it is always good to provide napkins and bibs to not ruin anybody’s wedding best suits and dresses. 

Thinking Outside the Box

Why not push the envelope a little when it comes to your wedding catering? Some of the more outside the box ideas you consider may not be for everybody, but sure will be memorable. Here are a few ideas that may make your wedding event a trendsetter:

Full English (Wedding) Breakfast

They do call it a breakfast so why not serve actual breakfast! No, not Weetabix, although if that is what you desire it is your wedding after all and you should definitely go for it. However, one delicious option might be full English or even pancakes. Who doesn’t like pancakes? 

Tea Party! 

A nice cup of tea can be a great way to guests in a relaxed state of mind whilst encouraging conversation. Combine this with a selection of scones and sandwiches and you have a great and unique catering experience. For those holding weddings in the winter, the addition of hot chocolate and mince pies can be a great way to get your guests in a more festive spirit. 

Conclusion – Get Creative! 

There are a plethora of different wedding catering ideas that will stun your guests and leave a lasting memory that they will cherish for a long time past the day. From buffet-style options that can impress even the fussiest eaters such as dim sums and hog roasts or outdoor catering options such as bbqs and picnics, there truly is something for everyone. You can even think really outside of the box by implementing different themes or wacky ideas that will entertain guests alongside satisfying their hunger. 

Our dedicated Vanilla Bean team have been in the industry for over 30 years, so we’ve certainly seen our fair share of event trends! We can seamlessly incorporate personalised trends and themes into your event, wowing your guests with our innovation and creativity! To find out more about us and what we do, please visit our website by clicking here, or get in touch to discuss your upcoming event.