Best Reception Ever: 5 Wedding Catering Secrets

Wedding catering is a very intense activity with many moving parts. If you’re tying the knot soon, Shirley’s Catering’s wedding catering team has some tips that can help you avoid trouble and help you and your guests look back on a glorious occasion.

1. Share Your Family Favorites

At Shirley’s Catering we recommend including two seasonally-appropriate family favorite recipes (one from each side of the family) as part of your menu. We love working with and learning about family recipes and it’s a beautiful and meaningful way to “marry” the two culinary traditions together.

2. Bacon is Great, But...

Just don’t overdo it. Not every hors d’oeuvres has to be wrapped in bacon. Stick to one or two bacon-themed appetizers at most and save some space for guests who may be vegetarian or have dietary needs that exclude bacon and similar foods.

3. Fried Foods Must Be Fried On-Site

If you’re going to do any fried foods, we recommend having a location where we can fry fresh, on-site rather than having it transported. The food will be crispier and tastier if it’s done fresh!

4. Avoid Melting Cakes

Watching a gorgeous cake melt in the heat of a late summer wedding reception is just so sad. If you’re doing the cake indoors with air conditioning, you have more leeway, but you also need to consider travel between the bakery and the venue. We have a lot seasonal wedding cake tips, so just call us.

5. Steer Clear of Messy Food

Look, everyone is wearing their Sunday best, not to mention your wedding party’s fantastic dresses and tuxedos. Avoid things like sloppy joes sliders or pulled pork that can easily slide and drip all over. One or two-bite appetizers make for easy mingling and less mess for everyone.

Of course, these aren’t our only wedding catering secrets—we have thousands more! Just contact Shirley’s Catering today to get the best wedding catering services in Northern Virginia today: (703) 239-0102.