IF THOUGHTS OF FUSSY WEDDING GUESTS SEND YOU INTO A SPIN, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THE PROS AND CONS OF A PRE-ORDER MENU VERSUS A SET MENU
PRE-ORDER PROS
Put simply, pre-order means more choice for your guests. With a three option pre-order, you are likely to conquer everyone’s differing tastes. Below, we have outlined how to curate a perfectly balanced and varied menu:
TO START
– The warm, welcoming, ‘wake up the taste buds’ option: soups, fresh breads, baked cheeses and charcuterie
– The ‘think outside the box’ option: rework rich patés, modify classic terrines and upgrade the gravlax
– The bright, light, show off salad option: works of art with marinades, emulsions and pureés galore
MAINS COURSE
– The meaty plate to settle carnivorous cravings: slow roast joints, divine bone jus, heartily seasoned veg
– Light and lusty poultry or fish dishes: the most tender fillets, freshest greens, herby reductions
– Last but never least, a healthy and vibrant veggie delight: the seasons finest produce comes to life
FOR DESSERT
– The indulgent, calories no object option: salted caramel, chocolate tarts, delicious dark fruits
– Dairy based delights: fluffy opera cakes, smooth panna cottas, yummy cheesecakes
– Palette cleansing pleasures: zesty citrus treats, macerated fruits, perfect pastry bases
PRE-ORDER CONS
ADMIN OVERLOAD
The more options, the more work…
Who’s sitting where and what are they eating is the name of the game for the Maître D. To ensure 100% accuracy, you’ll need to spend extra time meticulously labeling your table plan with guests individual choices.
What are they eating? Include the menu in your invitation ready to collate with RSVPs
Where are they sitting? A clear, concise table plan, illustrating choices, children, allergies and lay out
What did they order? One glass of fizz and they’ll need a reminder! Hint: add choices to place name cards
This all needs triple checking the week prior, day prior and any time your guest list alters. Remember to communicate any changes to your caterer, venue manager and any other supplier that it will effect.
Timings should also be taken into consideration. Pre-order menus are a more complex service for the Chefs and the Front of House team, so naturally, it will take longer to serve compared with a set menu.
Also, pre-order menus are more expensive as there is likely to be a supplement charge per person, per course for a pre-order menu. More money and less time are two phrases that shouldn’t have to factor into your wedding planning!
SET WEDDING MENU
If you would rather be concentrating on writing your vows, final fittings and floral arrangements, then leave the plates of delicious grub to us.
We’re not shy about making a statement with a stunning set menu! Whilst considering your guests food preferences is admirable, we think the food served on your wedding day should be all about you! So choose your favourite dishes from our Wedding Food Menu and feel confident that your guests will love making the most of everything you for the day!
We promise to create a spectacular one option menu which will impress every guest from foodie fanatics to the fussy and faddy. Pickle Shack food doesn’t tick boxes, it packs punches and we can tell you from the empty plates stacked in our kitchens that we rock a set menu!
THE BEST OF BOTH
A canny work around is to consider sharing style. A sharing style starter, for example, can feature an array of different elements allowing your guests to take exactly what they fancy on the day. Similarly, for the main course, you could opt to serve your chosen meat plated and have the accompanying sides served sharing style. This gives your guests ultimate control over what they place on their plate.
ALLERGIES
Pickle Shack will provide alternative dishes in line with dietary needs at no extra cost.
Guests with allergies or special dietary requirements should let you know of these when RSVP’ing. Leave a line on your invite as a handy prompt for this. Serious allergies may require ingredients to be left out of your whole menu. So, it’s important to gauge the severity as well.
If you need some handy hints on how best to serve your meal, check out our back to basics post weighing up plated vs sharing style.
For more info about allergies, check out our dedicated blog and the Food Standards Agency guidelines.