Wedding Catering in Maryland
When coordinating a party, event, or wedding, your first and foremost thought is probably the food. Your decision-making process likely includes choosing the perfect wedding catering in Mayland as well as the appetizers, entrees, and dessert options that suit your event and the guests. Then, once you’ve decided on the catering company and cuisine, there is one final decision regarding the meal: catering styles. Do you want a formal sit-down dinner, an airy cocktail party, or a casual buffet dinner? Today, there are numerous catering styles available to elevate your party and keep the guests satisfied. So, to help you make the decision a little easier, we’ve listed the most important attributes and pros and cons of each catering style. Wedding catering in Maryland should be a breeze!
Plated Sit-Down Dinner
Pictured: Southwest Tuna. This Ahi tuna steak is blackened and grilled to perfection, then topped with guacamole, tomatoes, and jumbo lump crab meat and served with seasoned rice and vegetables.
When it comes to wedding catering in Maryland, a sit-down dinner is considered to be a popular, formal and traditional style of meal service. With this option, each individual receives their plated meal at the same time, and this usually includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Sit-down dinners are a popular choice because they are often cost-effective options as the food is primarily pre-selected. Therefore, the caterer will know precisely how much food to purchase.
Although, on the other hand, you may end up spending more on staffing as this style requires more waiters for serving and food preparation. Not to mention, the food options are somewhat limited because the caterers will usually offer guests a choice of two or three entrées beforehand.
Plated Dinner Examples:
- Appetizers- Maryland Vegetable Crab Soup, Cream of Crab Soup, Crab Fondue, BBQ Chicken Jalapeños
- Main Entrees- Herb Crusted Salmon, Sesame Chicken, Southwest Tuna
- Desserts- Chocolate Mousse Cake, Bread Pudding, New York Cheesecake
Cocktail Party
Pictured: Caprese Flatbread. This is a grilled flatbread with melted fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese, sliced tomatoes, fresh basil and drizzled with sweet balsamic glaze.
Cocktail parties are an excellent choice if you prefer a more casual atmosphere. This style offers small bites (hot and cold options) for guests to enjoy throughout the evening. Cocktail parties are also favorable because it allows the guests to meet each other and mingle. Additionally, if your venue is small, cocktail parties will enable you to have more people since you won’t need dinner tables and chairs for every guest. And, since you are not serving the main entrée, your food costs could potentially be more affordable.
However, while your food costs might be lower, your guests will likely drink more than at a dinner reception. So, in the end, your liquor costs might go up.
Cocktail Party Examples:
- Crab Puffs
- Fire Roasted Lettuce Wraps
- Park Wings
- Crab Fondue
- Caprese Flatbread
Buffet Dinner
Pictured: NY Strip Steak. The 12 oz. New York strip is seasoned with Montreal steak seasoning, grilled to perfection and served with garlic mashed potatoes and chef’s vegetables.
A buffet style dinner is typically considered one of the most casual catering styles. As you probably know, this form of serving allows the guests to choose and serve the food themselves. With this being the most relaxed catering option, you won’t need many waiters or servers in attendance as the guests will dish the food themselves. Indeed, buffets make it easier and more cost-effective to provide guests with a variety of food choices.
However, it may take a while for all of the guests to receive their food, as each table has to wait their turn to head to the buffet. Additionally, your food costs could increase as people tend to eat more when they serve their own plates.
Italian Style Example:
- Eastern Shore Pasta
- Greek Chicken Pasta
- Baja Bow-Tie Pasta
Country Style Example:
- Country Fried Steak
- Apple Butter Pork Chops
- Shrimp and Grits
- Sides: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Seasoned Rice, Chef’s Vegetables, Sautéed Spinach, Applesauce, and Seasoned Fries
As you can see, there is much more to catering than just selecting the food and menus. Certainly, choosing the right wedding catering in Maryland and catering style can enhance your wedding, event, or party. And, to learn more about choosing the right Maryland venue for your event, check out our blog.
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