How to Choose Wedding Reception Canapés

I have written before about how important it is to ensure you are feeding your guests properly throughout your wedding day, with the golden rule being to never leave it more than one and a half hours without offering some form of fare.

Canapés might be small but they play a significant role during all wedding receptions. They prepare your guests for the main wedding meal and are served in a way that allows people to mix and mingle. Often this is the point in proceedings where you head off for photographs, so don’t be surprised if you don’t get to eat what you choose!

Here are a few rules to help you decide on your canapé menu:

• Serve 5 canapés per hour per person; people should be eating one canapé every 12 minutes. For example – A one and a half hour reception for 80 guests = an 8 choice menu so that guests get at least 7 canapés per person.
• If you’re marrying earlier than 2pm, ensure a large amount of canapés per person as its likely your guests won’t have had lunch.
• Serve a good mix of vegetarian, fish and meat, regardless of the dietary inclinations of your guests; variety is key.
• Always include a few things that your guests will easily recognise and be very comfortable with.
• Only choose sweet canapés for longer receptions and use them as a sign to show guests that the reception is over or moving on to another stage.

My favourite canapés for winter are:

Meat

• Crisp black pudding topped with poached quail eggs and chive hollandaise
• Chopstick forks of spiced duck breast with orange and anise dipping sauce
• Goujons of pheasant with roasted garlic aioli
• Mini ‘Toad in the holes’ with red onion marmalade

Fish

• Smoked haddock and leek soufflés – sublime!
• Brioche croutes of smoked salmon and celery with horseradish cream
• Grilled tiger prawns marinated in coconut and lime
• Thai crab cakes with sweet chilli sauce

Vegetarian

• Tortes of wild mushrooms, sour cream and thyme
• Sweet potato scones with grilled goats cheese and yellow sultana relish
• Broad bean and pecorino falafel with lemon yoghurt
• Warm shots of white bean cappuccino with lemon oil

Article by Wedding Catering Specialist Julie Gray

Image Courtesy of Lloyd Dobbie

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