CATERING 63 For the free-spirited SHARING IS CARING Russell Nisbet from Harold’s Hog Roast (www.haroldshogroast.co.uk) says, “For relaxed and informal weddings, sharing boards such as ploughman’s, barbecue, or hog roast served to tables work really well. These options create a great atmosphere as guests interact with each other over food, without having to queue or pre-order. The tables look really impressive as well when laden and full, just like a banquet, and loved ones can eat as much or as little as they like. “Hog roasts continue to be a popular choice for evening food at weddings too. They’re a cost-effective and crowd-pleasing option and guests love the anticipation as the smell of roast pork builds throughout the day.” SUMMER FIESTA Barbecues are a super-popular choice for summer weddings. It’s a style of dining that we Brits adore and associate with the season, even if the weather does sometimes hold us back. So, it’s perhaps no surprise that many venues and caterers offer this option as one of their wedding breakfast packages. Imagine if you will, smoke billowing from the barbie on a balmy day, and tables heaving with salads, sides and all manner of condiments – food heaven and a real crowd-pleaser. A SLICE OF THE ACTION Alice says, “Semi-naked wedding cakes are always a popular choice for more rustic, outdoor weddings, with dried flower bouquet flourishes decorating it. Stacked brownie and cupcake towers also lend themselves beautifully to a relaxed wedding setting, as guests can take one at their convenience and you don’t need to worry about cutting a large cake. If you like this idea, but still want the cake-cutting photos, we can also create smaller cakes to top the towers, which perfectly do the trick. Plus, we can make any of our creations to be vegan-wise, dairy-wise, gluten-wise etc, as we’ve cultivated our recipes to ensure everything tastes incredible.” TOTALLY A-GRAZING! Grazing tables have become a top trend throughout recent years. It’s the simplest way to make sure that there’s something for everyone, and is a flexible option designed to suit your day. Those with dietary requirements will be happy as they won’t feel left out, and as long as you brief your caterer on their needs whether they be vegan or any sort of allergy or intolerance, there’ll be satisfied tummies all round. Most specialist suppliers will offer a range of set ups such as a large table laden with goodies, for the ultimate informal feast, where guests can take a break from partying and dip in and out as and when they wish. Alternatively, if you’re still keen to maintain an element of seated dining, but table plan-free with a social eating experience, you might opt for sharing platters or graze runners, served at the tables. Check out www.gracefullygrazing.com If you’ve got a sweet tooth too, fear not as dessert equivalents are also a thing! Alice says, “We’re finding recently that grazing dessert tables are becoming increasingly popular for more informal weddings, where we create everything from loaded flapjacks and blondies, to monster stuffed cookies, cookie bars and so much more. Most importantly, it’s your special day so it’s imperative that you have all your favourite things – don’t worry about tradition or what you should do, it’s your day and you can make it your own. Here at Marples Cakery we offer a completely bespoke service for our wedding cakes, so any design or flavour you’d like, we can create for you.” TRUCK ON! Street food isn’t just for festivals. You can use a myriad of food trucks to build your own little culinary village. From international cuisine such as paella, to wood-fired pizza, ice cream vans, and horse box bars, these mobile miracles offer you the opportunity to go with what you love and bring the super-fun festival vibes to your celebration. Ditch the plastic cutlery though and opt for eco-friendly recyclables instead. Make sure there’s ample seating whether it be hay bales, sofas or tables and chairs, and your loved ones will be happy as Larry. Harold’s Hog Roast © www.thesoulofmylens.co.uk Harold’s Hog Roast © www.thesoulofmylens.co.uk Image courtesy of Marples Cakery Image courtesy of Marples Cakery
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