Written by Rachel Khoo
Rachel Khoo is a British cook, broadcaster and writer with her own food television cooking series, and regarded as an all round food expert.
The Bridebook team definitely had a fan girl moment (or two!) when we heard the inspiring Rachel Khoo would share with us her wedding food tips. The brains behind the online lifestyle magazine Khoollect and multiple critically acclaimed cookbooks including The Little Paris Kitchen, Rachel is a tour de force in the foodie world to be reckoned with.
Pair that with on trend culture and style tips to the plenty and we officially have a major girl crush. Read on to get some awesome tips on how to get creative with your wedding breakfast that will make even the most traditional bride rethink her menu…
My philosophy on catering is ‘always keep things simple’ and stay true to your own ideas (rather than trying to please each individual guest). You’ll never manage to please everyone’s palates and tastes, but if you choose a broad selection of dishes or options to pick from then no-one will go hungry.
I also think it’s super important to stay in tune with your surroundings and pick food to suit your overall theme. For example, if you’re getting married in Italy, then plan a rustic family-style dinner at a long table, with Italian fare to match.
If you want to keep things casual, then why not go for a barbecue in the backyard – that way, you don’t even have to think about canapes. It’ll just be salads, delicious barbecued meats, and fresh fruit popsicles.
Some people love those boring fillet and salmon dishes, but I think most are far more adventurous in their eating these days and see weddings as an opportunity to sample new and exciting dishes.
Find a really great catering company, or venue with a brilliant kitchen, and allow them to be creative on your behalf (with your own input of course). Seek out your own inspiration – via food magazines, Pinterest, blogs, and your own heritage and traditions – and bring your ideas to the table. Make sure you incorporate local ingredients in your menu.
It’ll make your wedding unique rather than following a cookie cutter formula. You could use a local product for your wedding favours (e.g. a locally made candy), or serve fish caught by the local fisherman.
Sometimes I think brides get a little carried away with their wedding cake, when infact, it’s often the most high-stress but often overlooked part of the wedding. So many times I’ve seen the dance floor full of guests, with a sad lonely cake left in the corner with barely a bite out of it.
My suggestion is to keep your cake simple and low-stress OR opt for smaller, delicate hand-held sweet items instead.
Here’s some nice alternatives that you and your friends can either make yourself, or can easily be assembled by your caterers:
I’m a huge fan of cheese, so always get excited when I see a simple wedding cake that involve a few large rounds of the stuff piled on top of each other.
Want even more trendy inspo? Be sure to check out Rachel’s online lifestyle magazine Khoollect for everything from city tips, to produce growing guides, to irresistible recipes for the modern gal.
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