46 For the free-spirited On the subject of relaxed, informal dining our experts are all on the same page. It’s sharing and caring that’s the way forward! “Discuss your dining choices with your florist and plan your tabletop décor to include lots of space. Full-length table garlands are on-trend and look incredible, but they don’t leave anywhere to place serving dishes, whereas delicate, minimal posy vases will work much better. If table space is at a premium, ask your caterer for a plated element with sharing sides.” – Jo, Queen & Whippet Mesa Catering © Sam Docker SETTING THE SCENE Naomi at Mesa Catering says: We love the family-style sharing bowls and boards that are really on trend at the moment. They’re great for creating atmosphere and sparking conversation. You can also have lots of variety in your meal with guests picking and choosing the items they like. For an outdoor wedding, festival-style buffet stations are a go-to. Forget the crockery and cutlery, instead opt for eco-disposables. Just ensure you have some benches or seating dotted around for guests to perch and have their food, as well as a few bins for rubbish. Paxton & Brown Caterers JUST RELAX Henny from Paxton & Brown Caterers says: Sharing-style wedding menus are fully recommended if you’re looking for a more relaxed feel with food still at the heart of your day. One of our most popular sharing main courses is butterflied lamb rubbed with our special blend of warm aromatic spices and slathered in chimichurri. We serve this with a selection of salads and flatbreads and it’s amazing! We can create wonderful things from a marquee kitchen so don’t be afraid to ask – we’ll let you know of any limitations and suggest alternatives. Queen & Whippet © www.leahmariephotography.co.uk IT’S GOOD TO TALK Jo from Queen & Whippet says: Food as a shared experience is a great way to get your guests talking. Sharing boards or feasts served family-style allow them to choose from a wider variety of options while managing their own portion control. We’ve helped clients to include their heritage, family traditions or shared experiences through sharing dishes; it’s a great conversation starter. HOW A-GRAZING! Grazing tables offer the ultimate shared dining experience, Stephanie Kenward from Somerset-based Rhubarb & Ginger Grazing tells us more... Grazing tables have become very popular in recent years amongst couples who want to steer away from the very traditional, formal sit down three-course meal. With sweet and savoury options they provide the perfect choice for both wedding breakfasts and evening receptions. Each of our graze tables is bespoke and includes a vast variety of ingredients, there’s no need for the tedious task of asking guests for their meal options, and expecting them to remember the one they chose a year previous. There’s something for everyone! We tend to find that couples will choose a large graze table, banquet-style buffet for their evening reception while opting for sharing platters for each table or as a graze runner for banquet-style seating for their wedding breakfast. The latter provides the perfect balance between relaxed, social eating without guests having to get up and down for their food. The setup becomes a centrepiece and really works to tie in the theme and style of the day. It’s also so lovely to see guests’ reactions when they first lay eyes on it! Our graze tables are framed with fresh foliage, we tend to use soft ruscus and varieties of eucalyptus, which lends a beautiful aroma with a natural, outdoorsy feel. Our 1kg Somerset bries are place on rugged log slices and we use hand-crafted wooden crates as tiers and carved wooden boards, utensils and bamboo candles. Our props and equipment create a dreamy ambience, which reflects a relaxed, rustic, woodland vibe. That’s one of the reasons grazing tables tend to be the preferred option for many couples planning an outdoor wedding, but also because we don’t necessarily require any kitchen facilities. So it’s ideal when catering for a barn, tipi, marquee of festi-wedding. Rhubarb & Ginger © www.emilyendeanphotography.co.uk
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