Hot Wedding Food Trends | Boston Wedding Consultants | 617 Weddings

Cocktail and Cuisine Pairings for your Wedding Reception

post by Johanna Esposito of 617 Weddings

Hello fabulous couples!  If you are having a difficult time coming up with a unique and delicious menu for your wedding reception, look no further.  This blog is all about creating your consistent culinary theme for your big day! I focused on the up and coming trends of event cuisine as well as the classics.  

You may want to grab a snack before reading this!

Leche Martini 

This cocktail is perfect for a spring or Summer Wedding! Garnish with fresh Leche Fruit, a floating hibiscus flower or passion fruit pearls! This cocktail can be made without alcohol for a refreshing addition to your wedding cocktail portion.

Pair your leche martini with an authentic South African Chutney Crostini.  

This particular recipe is from Cape Malay Cuisine in Cape Town.  

Garnish this passed hors d' oeuvres with South African black forest hybrid 

calla lilys for a drastic color contrast.

Tasting Flights with Seasonal Beer

Tasting flights are a fun addition to a casual wedding reception.  

Choose a seasonal selection to create your culinary theme.

Pair a fall beer with a mini Angus burger topped with a caramelized shallot jam and Stilton cheese or  Korean Beef Skewers.  Other small and delectable sandwich options include BBQ pulled chicken with lime cream on a biscuit and a miniature heart shaped Reuben. 

To hop or not to hop, that is the question...

Thanks Brett! We love your service with a smile

Basil Infused Vodka Shots

This is such a unique addition to the cocktail portion of your wedding reception. They can be passed by servers or at a station.  Make sure they are ice cold for optimal flavor. 

Pair with spanikopita or spinach squares.  

This particular recipe is straight from my Yiayia's kitchen in Athens. 

Champagne- The Classic Cocktail

Champagne can be passed as a refreshing and versatile option.  

Add a raspberry, strawberry, blackberry or blueberry for a pop of color and to adapt to a wedding of any season. My personal fave is 3 blueberries to represent your 

past, present and future.

  

 Pair your champagne with light and delectable crudites shooters.  I suggest haricots verts, broccolini tips, long stem on baby carrots presented in a trumpet style shot glass. 

 

 Your guests will love tuna tartar served on a crispy wonton presented on a wine board 

garnished with scallion | if the presentation suites your theme  

Its hard to beat the sushi and champagne pairing! 

They complement each other almost as well as you will on your wedding day.

Lemon drop Martini

There is a reason that this tart summer favorite has been popular for so many years. When you mix tart and sweet together, you get a sweet and delicious treat that can pair with so many cuisine options. 

I love this "play" on ceviche designed to accommodate palettes of guests who are not necessary into raw fish.  Garnish this unique offering with a charlie brown orchid from Peru to tie together the International feel of the food.  Try pairing this option with a pisco sour to be ahead of the trend. 

Spiked Milkshakes

Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry, a spike milkshake can be a wonderful 

way to keep your guests refreshed.  

Keep the portions small so they don't fill up at this action milkshake station. 

   Pair your milkshakes with nostalgic Patty melts.

Its all about great friends, family and food!

More Beer

A crisp lager can be a great option for a passed drink.  Men and women love it alike and it pairs well with so many horsd'oeuvres. Make sure the beer is icy cold!

One of my favorite pairings with an icy cold lager is Thai chicken lettuce wraps.  

Any kind of lettuce wrap will do to accommodate your guests palettes.  

Red Wine

Red wine can be served in the winter, spring, summer or fall.  Consider first the climate and then the cuisine.  Both factors will dictate the amount of red wine and red wine pairings should be passed for the cocktail hour of your wedding reception. In the warmer months,some guests will gravitate toward white wines.  There are always a portion of your guests that will appreciate your wedding pairing with red wine.

Here are some of my favorites...

A Napa Cabernet Sauvignon & Colorado Lamb Chops. Any Cabernet will do as long as it is well balanced, has a supple texture, an approachable grip and earthy notes. 

Brunello di Montelcino & Veal Meatballs

Sangiovese based wines pair well with veal meatballs. Notes of licorice, dried ginger, cured meat and white pepper will appropriately enhance this dish.  

Pinot Noir & Stuffed Mushrooms

A fruit forward Pino Noir is a pleasing pairing with a savory stuffed mushroom.  

Chile and Oregon produces some affordable options that I love to pair for a fall wedding.

White Wine

White wine is also appropriate for all seasons and of course lends itself to warmer months. Consider your white wine selections carefully.  You will want to be able to accommodate most guests while offering a limited selection to thwart any lines at the bar. If you are not hungry by now, 

my favorite white wine pairings should do the trick!

Dry Muscat & Melon and prosciutto

The perfumy, grapey character of the Muscat is the ideal compliment to this salty sweet classic. Prosciutto di Parma is a must in this dish.  Is there really any other kind of prosciutto? 

Pinot Grigio & Shrimp Cocktail 

There are many characteristics and flavor profiles to to a Pinot Grigio.  

Try a dry, austere and crisp wine to optimize the experience.  

A Chenin blanc of the same characteristic is also a great option.

Vegetable Summer Rolls

This delicious option follows the same pairing guidelines as the shrimp cocktail. 

If you choose, it can also be paired with a light red such as

Montepulciano or Pinot Noir.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I enjoyed writing it! 

Happy Planning (and eating)! 

Chanel Themed Bridal Shower

Boston Wedding Consultants, had a vision for this Surprise Bridal Shower and it was CHANEL inspired!

We wanted to incorporate the bride's classic design, love for fashion, and taste for gourmet cuisine into one fabulous shower.  We had so much fun creating a classically chic and fun bridal shower and we want you to experience it too!

First, the invitation.  It sets the tone for your event and draws people in, you want them to RSVP, don't you?

By incorporating both the bride and groom's first initials, J & J, we created a logo specifically for them to look like the CHANEL logo, naturally!!

The J & J logo was carried throughout the entire shower - on menu cards, flowers, the cake, and...yes, the perfume bar!

When you think of CHANEL, what comes to mind?  Black, white, pink, pearls, quilting, and perfume!

The table was set with beautiful pink L'Amour linens, pearl embellished napkin rings, and a classy black charger.  And each charger held a menu - with the logo of course!

Gourmet menu for CHANEL inspired shower

 

The flowers, by Annette Rinaldi, were romantic and absolutely stunning!  The tables had arrangements of pink Esperance roses and white fresh-cut anenomes.

Annette also created a floral CHANEL purse made completely of Esperance roses and the J and J logo.  It displayed so beautifully next to the exquisite cake!

The cake...oh, the cake!  It was masterfully created by Pastry Chef Mary Bandereck of The Topsfield Bakeshop.

Not only did the three-tiered cake have the quilting that CHANEL is known for, but this beautiful cake was finished off with the signature camellia flower made out of fondant.  The cake was also decorated with a CHANEL necklace to complete the theme.

Mary also created pink French macaroons with a chocolate filling as favors for the guests.  Each guest received a CHANEL inspired box of these delicious treats to take home.

What would a CHANEL Bridal Shower be without a perfume bar?

We ordered custom labels for each perfume bottle and the bride was presented with her very own pink crystal perfume bottle.

Guests had fun creating their own perfume, by choosing favorite essential oils and playing mixologist!  They created individual scents to best suit their personalitites!

It was the perfect day to honor the bride and get ready for the big day!

Photos by Gaby McCarthy of Benoit-McCarthy Photography.

Receiving Lines vs.Releasing the Rows?

The facts about a Receiving Line

If the bride and groom have invited guests to share their special day, the gracious couple, and host, should greet and talk with each guest personally, even if they talk for only a brief moment. Because talking with each guest may be impossible due to time constraints, the bride and groom can organize a receiving line. Having a receiving line, though not as popular today as it was in the past, is still considered proper wedding etiquette.

With that in mind, the couple has to decide whether or not to have a receiving line. If a divorced father is paying for the reception and the mother wants a receiving line, she can arrange it at the ceremony site. However, a receiving line at the ceremony site is possible only if there’s enough time and the site’s regulations allow it. Often, the bride and groom mistakenly think that not having a receiving line is easier than having one. However, you should remind them that trying to visit all guests during the reception can be very difficult. Even if they do get to speak with all the guests, they may not, for example, have time to eat or to truly enjoy themselves. Thus, the receiving line can be eliminated if the couple believes they can mingle with all guests. 

If it’s eliminated, however, the couple and the bride’s mother should stand near the entrance to the reception site to informally greet guests as they arrive. The groom’s parents should also stand nearby so they can be introduced to those they haven’t met. When having a receiving line, it should be formed as quickly as possible after the wedding party arrives at the reception site. Technically, the receiving line should be formed in an anteroom, which is an outer room often used as a waiting room; it leads to the room where the reception is to be held. However, the size of the reception site, the number of guests, and the delay in setting up the receiving line are some of the points that must be considered when couples are trying to determine whether this arrangement will work. A practical suggestion is to move the line into the reception room itself.

Champagne and punch can be served to those waiting to enter the line or to those leaving the line. If the reception site is large enough, a few tables and chairs can be arranged in the gathering room, which is especially helpful if some guests are older. Provisions must also be made to take care of guests’ coats, as well as umbrellas and other foul-weather if applicable.

The receiving line  regulated by etiquette, is formed in a particular pattern. Except for the few minor

exceptions that are noted, the following is the proper sequence of people in a receiving line:

 

• Bride’s mother (or, in her absence, whoever is hosting and paying for the reception)

• Groom’s father (optional)

• Groom’s mother

• Bride’s father (optional)

• Bride

• Groom

• Maid or matron of honor

• Best man (optional)

• Bridesmaid(s) (optional)

If the fathers, best man, and bridesmaid(s) don’t join the receiving line, they should greet guests, mingle with them, and help them with tasks like checking their coats, informing guests of restroom locations, and serving drinks. Groomsmen and ushers should also be assisting guests. Remember: The fewer people in the receiving line, the less time it will take.

 

When planning a receiving line, having an estimate of how long all guests will take to move through the line is quite helpful. The general rule is to allow about 20 seconds for each guest. For example, if 120 guests are attending the reception, you can estimate that all 120 guests will take approximately 40 minutes to move through the receiving line. An announcer can stand at the head of the line, which is especially helpful if the number of attending guests is great. The announcer may be someone close to the family, such as a groomsman, a family member, or a close friend. The announcer asks the guest’s name, if he doesn’t recognize the person, and passes the name to the first person in line as a way of introducing the guest. The first person in the line should then pass the guest’s name to the next person in line. This process continues until the last person in the line has been told the guest’s name. To keep the line moving at a steady pace, those standing in the receiving line should limit conversation and, instead, exchange general pleasantries, like thanking guests for attending. Close friends and relatives usually kiss the bride and everyone shakes the groom’s hand. If women in the receiving line are wearing gloves, they should remove them before entering the line. Incidentally, note that according to traditional wedding etiquette, guests should congratulate the

groom and, instead of congratulating the bride, they should wish her happiness.

Divorced parents in the receiving line. Traditionally, the easiest way to avoid many problems that arise if divorced parents are on the receiving line together is to eliminate the father and stepfather from the line because both are optional participants anyway. However, if the father and stepfather will be included in the receiving line, they shouldn’t stand next to each other. Besides being awkward, positioning the father and stepfather so that they’re standing next to each other would confuse some, if not many, guests. In most cases, the bride’s mother and stepfather host the reception. In such cases, her mother and stepfather stand in the receiving line. On the other hand, her father is considered an honored guest. If the bride’s father and stepmother host the reception, the arrangement is simply reversed: Her father and stepmother stand in the receiving line, while her mother is an honored guest. If the groom’s parents are divorced, his mother is usually in the receiving line, but neither his father nor stepfather joins her.

The Facts about Releasing the rows

In some areas of the United States, the bride and groom conduct a reverse receiving line, where they greet guests during the recessional at the ceremony. This practice, known as releasing the rows, is becoming more common today. The newlyweds stop at each row and chat for a moment. When the couple moves on to the next row, guests are then free to exit their row.

The difference

Now that you know the proper etiquette for both a receiving line and releasing the row, it will be easier to make a decision  Remember to consult with your wedding planner before making a decision as there are many logistical and outside factors to take into consideration.  

Johanna Eve

Boston Wedding Consultants

Information gathered from ABC