When it comes to catering for your wedding you may find yourselves struggling with too many choices. So, how do you make your life simple, ensure your wedding is memorable but also environmentally friendly.
Firstly, go local. This will avoid unnecessary travel requirements and vans for suppliers further afield. Ask them where they buy their ingredients and choose a menu that is locally sourced and seasonal. It will be fresher, tastier and greener in more ways than one. Without doubt, the biggest wastage at a wedding is left over food. It can be horrifying just how much food is thrown away at the end of a wedding. However, with the right menu and caterers this can be avoided entirely. To achieve a fabulous looking buffet requires more food than you can possibly eat if you want to ensure it looks tempting but this means wastage. I am pretty sure none of us would want to be the last guest served at a portion controlled buffet - finding yourself staring at a solitary piece of quiche on a huge platter. By having your food plated in the kitchen, and served at the table, ensures very little, if any, wastage and avoid more than one choice unless there are dietary requirements. Alternatively, hog and lamb roasts are an inexpensive but great choice. For smaller wedding parties lamb roasts are the perfect size and can be served with delicious salads or vegetables. Not being too time dependant keeps things relaxed and can be served in both the summer or winter equally well. Sadly, this is often an evening food choice rather than as the wedding breakfast itself, but this is where food waste will creep in. This is really due to the question of how many times your guests need, and expect, to be fed? In reality daytime guests are still pretty full if an evening buffet is served. It is normally just the evening guests who are hungry, so by keeping your wedding smaller, the evening buffet and all the associate waste such as disposable plates and napkins will vanish into thin air - along with the evening guest list and associated costs. Instead, feed your nearest and dearest once, but feed them well. There is no doubt about it, if you want your reception to kick off with a bang, you need plenty to drink and plenty to eat. At The Pilgrims Rest we do not charge corkage which means your guests are not limited to one solitary glass of Prosecco as part of a drinks package for the drinks reception. To keep your guests happy bring out some canapés and plenty of them. Call me old fashioned, but who doesn’t love these little mouthfuls of scrumptiousness to go alongside your glass (or two, or three) of bubbly? By choosing the right canapés that are really tasty your wastage should be as tiny as they are. For me, old favourites are unbeatable - sticky honey and mustard chipolatas and rare roast beef and horseradish Yorkshire puds are rarely (excuse the pun) left sadly on a tray going round (and round) a drinks reception. This route doesn’t need to break the bank as you can opt to sit down to your main course and not skip the starter. By this point your guests will have had a few drinks, delicious nibbles, plenty of chat and lots of laughter. They will be happy, you will be happy and, even better, the environment will be happy - so what’s not to love? The Pilgrims Rest is a stunning 600 year old wedding venue full of rustic charm and historic soul. Perfect for small weddings and those a little larger - needing little, if any decoration - but still one you can make your own. If you would like to speak to a member of our wedding team please call 07552873448. Photography: Jenny Appleton Photography |
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September 2023
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