Scrummy food ideas for wedding arrival dinners, hen parties, post-wedding brunches and BBQs, and wedding grazing boards

Can we have extra? Olivia Simpson fills her boots with suggestions from the industry experts on how they continue to keep friends sated either side of the wedding ceremony, from arrival dinners to future-day brunches

For all those looking for a key celebration, a ‘standard’ 12pm-12am wedding just won’t minimize it. These times, it’s all about the multi-day occasion, with partners inviting pals and loved ones to invest the entire weekend with them at distinctive-use venues. Potentially just after two several years of cancelled programs and a variety of degrees of isolation, all we want is to be with cherished ones for as very long as achievable? Nevertheless, I feel it’s substantially less difficult than that: us Scots like a get together and will soar on any excuse to keep a single likely.

So, what do these weekend-lengthy revelries entail? Typically, they’ll start with a welcome evening meal on a Friday and finish with a chilled-out brunch on Sunday morning to assist guests get back their energy right after the excitements and excesses of the night time before. From tasting menus to barbecued brownies (of course, definitely) we requested Scottish caterers what they’d be serving up throughout the weekend.

Welcome meal

If your friends have travelled significantly and wide to attain your location, it is only suitable to treat them to a slap-up distribute on arrival, but the initial meal serves a further objective as well: location the tone for what’s to arrive. “Some couples like a a lot more elaborate meal for a handful of people today tasting menus are common in that regard,” Kate McKenna from Kate’s Bespoke Catering tells us. “However, most decide for straightforward fare such as fall-off family members meals or road-meals options served from our transformed vintage horse trailer.”

If your weekend is a chilled-out affair in the region, a barbecue could be the way to go. Area Fire Fork’s offerings of fantastic-good quality meat paired with Center Japanese sides would place a smile on any weary traveller’s experience, but it is the barbecued chocolate brownies that truly have us drooling. Including to temptation is the point that the business offers discounted prices for secondary meals if they have been booked for the marriage ceremony by itself. “Prices vary depending on the dishes (some dishes get 10 hours to prepare dinner), but I will develop a menu to fit each finances,” the company’s Pete Gayford assures us.

The early morning just after the evening right before

A chilled-out food with you guests is the great excuse to debrief about the reception’s shenanigans and help those in a sorry condition recuperate. “Couples usually request extra casual models of food this kind of as hog roasts and barbecues for a write-up-wedding day celebration,” claims Kate. “Street meals these types of as toasties, fish tacos and mac and cheese are also popular.”
If friends are dealing with long journeys property, a early morning spread may perhaps be a much better selection and can be just as delicious. “Our brunch buffets, featuring breakfast merchandise like Scottish smoked salmon bagels, are a real strike with attendees,” suggests Kate.

For a pleasurable take on typical brunch fare, Pete has some thoughts: “A barbecue breakfast is a great alternative – huevos ranchos and reverse-seared bavette steak with new salsa is notably restorative for those not emotion their greatest.”

Hen and stag

Planning a less complicated, single-day celebration and feeling remaining out? Do not be concerned: both equally Pete and Kate can cater for hen and stag get-togethers, offering you yet another prospect to sample their wonderful menus. “A far more formal hen or stag food can make a real sense of celebration, but this obviously isn’t correct for each and every function,” Kate says. “We have found an raise in personal hen or stag get-togethers, with the bride or groom frequently selecting out a place house and getting us cater tasting menus put together with whisky or gin tastings.” Can we get an invite you should?

Grazing boards for pre-wedding ceremony celebrations or the morning of

The Olive Boardz is Scotland’s initially dine-in grazing cafe in Shawlands in Glasgow’s southside. “We provide grazing boards, tapas and afternoon tea to sit-in,” introduces proprietor Matt Poole. “We’ve turn into identified for the lovely shows of our boards they make best centrepieces that have demonstrated to be true chatting details, so it was a no-brainier to development into weddings.”

The corporation now provides brunches, bridal- and hen-get together food items, nibbles for the night reception, stunning table centrepieces and much more, all out there for selection or property delivery about Glasgow (more afield regarded as for greater occasions). “We do the job with renowned neighborhood companies, including cheese from George Mewes Cheese, baked merchandise from Freedom Bakery and bagels from Brawsome Bagels,” proceeds Matt.

“We have an in-depth session prior to accepting a reserving, masking all key factors, like allergic reactions, selection of visitors and what the consumer imagines the stop intention to look like – we’ve by no means experienced a dissatisfied consumer however!” Looking at the boards, we can see why!