Wedding Etiquette Advice - Family Style Wedding Dinner

Are Some Foods Better Than Others?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I'm planning on my wedding and I am trying to decide what kind of food I want to serve at the reception. I was thinking about doing family style as I want the dinner to be intimate, but I'm not sure how to go about doing this. Are some foods better than others for serving family style?

Sincerely,

Family Style Bride

A:

Dear Family Style Bride, 

Family style is the latest trend in weddings and dinner parties incorporating a more casual tone rather than dinners that come plated to each guest. The idea of passing around serving dishes and helping one’s self to a dish that is part of the meal is meant to conjure up the intimacy of family dinners. I think it's a fabulous idea and have some advice on how you can make your family style wedding dinner the best possible.

Given this intended intimacy, Chilean sea bass and filet of sole are too difficult to serve each person from a platter. The fish will break, and the mood intended by family-style, is lost.

Some of the better choices for up-graded family style meals are:

* Italian food. Eggplant parmagiana for vegetarians and veal scallopini for meat eaters.

* Indian food. Lamb curry, chicken masala and traditional side dishes with nan bread.

* Lamb chops

* Cornish hens

* Greek food. Lamb, souvlaki and rice dishes.

Cupcakes make a great family style alternative to cakes because there is something a little more intimate about getting your own cupcake, reminiscent of childhood parties, commemorating a wedding. Many upscale bakeries offer luscious cupcake choices. 

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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