How to Plan a Wedding Menu for Your Festival Wedding in 2024

Are You Dreaming of Having A Festival Wedding in 2024?

Here are some starting points on how to plan a wedding menu that suits your budget, style and guest’s needs. As a former wedding caterer, I’ve got you covered!

With a love of music, fun, and food what you feed your guests throughout your wedding will be important to you both.

But how do you choose the right food for your big day? Here are some tips to help you plan a wedding menu that will make your festival wedding unforgettable.

Budget Is Key

Set the budget first. It will point you in the right direction and keep stress levels down. According to the Bridebook Wedding Trend Report 2023, the average spend on wedding catering in 2023 was £4,868. A festival-style wedding can help keep food costs down and is often a big pull towards it.

What To Serve

The food you serve at your wedding should reflect who you are as a couple, so don't be afraid to Incorporate your personal tastes and preferences into the menu. Why not name the dishes and drinks after places special to you both? If you meet at a music festival take that as a starting point, you could name them after songs or bands that played that day. You could say your soundtrack to falling in love!

What’s Your Style

Choose a catering style that fits your vibe. Think about what food you and your guests enjoy, and what would work well with your venue and the season. Sit down or more picnic style? Remember to consider any allergies or dietary requirements your guests might have. When sending out invites ask guests to let you know if your planned menu is not suitable. Contact your caterers and ask them to provide an alternative for them. Most caterers like the challenge of making sure these guests rave about what they were served just as much as those eating the main menu. If you are having an outdoor summer wedding, you might want to offer fresh and light dishes. Consider colourful salads, grazing tables with Champagne, street food, large paella stations, Canapés or bowl food.

If you are having an indoor winter wedding, you might prefer buffet stations that serve warm and hearty dishes. Hiring a pie and mash van, or do you want more of a sit-down option? When marrying in the winter months make sure your venue can provide a covered area where caterers can set up. Many indoor, rustic barns can accommodate a food truck driving into your chosen barn. Looks great and everyone stays dry!

Try to balance variety and quality. Festival weddings are a great way to offer different food options, allowing guests to sample different flavours and other cultural foods. Be careful of food waste. Consider giving any leftover food to local homeless charities. This will need to be collected as soon as the wedding is over for Health and safety reasons.

Don’t Forget the Desert!

Who doesn’t love dessert? Let your imagination run wild. From decadent mini cheesecakes drizzled with caramel sauce to fluffy doughnuts dusted with powdered sugar, towers of brightly coloured macaroons, brulee in vintage cups or large fruit platters, honey Coombe and nuts, the choice is endless. Aim to offer guests different desserts, both sweet and savoury. An absolute favourite is a cheesecake made of a variety of cheese round stacked on each other and served with apples, peaches, apricots, nuts, honey, artisan loaves of bread and crackers.

Amazing Cakes

Wedding cakes have come a long way in the last few years! You no longer have to have the traditional fruit cake. Today wedding cakes are as unique and diverse as the couples themselves. With different sponges and toppings that will wow your taste buds, the sky is the limit! If you can imagine it, a talented cake maker can make it. Whether you prefer a traditional all-butter vanilla sponge with delicate layers of strawberries and luscious thick cream, or a decadent chocolate sponge filled with velvety salted caramel ganache and finished with a glossy dark chocolate glaze, no need to choose just one, why not have both?

Keep in mind if budget is an issue you could choose to make the wedding cake your dessert. Just add extra layers of delicious sponge, and a platter of fresh fruit and you have the perfect dessert.

The Drinks Menu

Don’t forget the drinks menu. Be sure to have a varied selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A local draft beer always goes down well. Gin bars serving both alcoholic and mocktails continue to be popular.

There are some beautiful, converted bars to hire. Converted horse trailers are made for festival weddings! Most offer different packages depending on your budget. If you are serving alcohol and playing music, you will need an events licence from your local council. The beauty of hiring an outside bar is that they usually apply for the licence which will cover you for both.

A tea/coffee station is always welcomed but often forgotten, especially among older guests and those not drinking. Set one up with beautiful vintage cups, jugs and teapots. These can be hired from local prop hire companies or scour the local antique and charity shops. Once you are finished with them donate them back!

Have Fun!

The day is finally here, so have fun. Festival weddings are a relaxed less structured, family-focused affairs. Let your wedding menu reflect both your style, values and shear joy at getting married