Find Your Catering Style: Which Food Service Suits Your Wedding Style

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Main Course

Take our quiz to determine the right food service for your reception

Written by

Megan Simpson Teeter

Published:

Wisconsin Bride Fall/Winter 2025

PICK A PHRASE TO DESCRIBE THE VISION FOR YOUR WEDDING:

1. Classic and glamorous

2. Pretty and personalized

3. Warm and welcoming

4. Engaging and interactive

5. Subtle and simple

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL WEDDING ATTIRE: (whether it’s a gown, a suit or an outfit that’s somewhere in between)

1. A statement piece—something that stuns and wows our guests.

2. Something meaningful that incorporates a shared interest or details representing my beloved.

3. A vintage ensemble; an outfit passed down or new to me yet with plenty of history.

4. Something offbeat that uses color, print or fabric in an unexpected way.

5. I haven’t thought much about my attire; it’ll likely be whatever I try on first!

CONGRATULATIONS! AN ANONYMOUS DONOR JUST FUNDED YOUR DREAM HONEYMOON. WHAT’S ON THE ITINERARY?

1. A locale with breathtaking views, five-star meals and plenty of spa time (such as the Amalfi Coast, Bora-Bora or Santorini).

2. An elevated tour of relationship nostalgia (for example, renting your first-date restaurant before flying first-class to your proposal destination).

3. A week-long stay in a quaint town (perhaps a cozy cabin in Lake Tahoe, a cottage on the coast or a ranch-style home in a Western town).

4. A private-jet trip to one of the quirkiest luxe destinations in the world (for example, haunted luxury at Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, the quirky and cool ice hotel in Sweden, or the suite built inside an old airplane at Hotel Costa Verde in Costa Rica).

5. A glorious staycation in your own space (with free food delivery from your favorite local places, in-home massages and movie marathons—without the responsibilities of everyday life).

PICK A PHRASE TO DESCRIBE YOUR HOME DESIGN STYLE.

1. Elegant; designed for entertaining.

2. Fully customized; details of “us” everywhere.

3. Warm and inviting; vintage or secondhand pieces throughout.

4. Fun, funky and eclectic; we love to mismatch.

5. Carefree and easy.

WHAT KIND OF SELF-CARE DO YOU TURN TO WHEN YOU’RE STRESSED OUT?

1. Surrender to some spa time.

2. Partake in a cozy hobby (for example, knitting, creating art, watching your comfort show).

3. Spend extra time with friends and family (pets included).

4. Do something adventurous or physical activity.

5. Take a well-deserved nap.

MOSTLY ONES: PLATED DINNER

Beau Williams of Twisted Radish Catering (@twistedradish) explains that choosing a plated wedding night dinner not only elevates the guest experience but offers a seamless event flow. “Full-service dining adds a sense of luxury and sophistication, perfect for couples wanting a truly polished wedding experience.”

This style also adds a personalized culinary touch. “With a plated meal, couples can offer guests a curated menu with elevated dish pairings, ensuring every detail—from flavors to plating—is intentional and memorable,” Williams says.

Photos Courtesy of Twisted Radish Catering

MOSTLY TWOS: BUFFET

A traditionally low-stress option that can really make a splash, a buffet involves a display of self-serve food options, often all from the same or a similar menu. Guests can load up on plenty of options or grab a ton of their favorite dish.

Photo featuring Mama Mia Pizza by Emily DeKoster

MOSTLY THREES: FAMILY STYLE

“Family-style menus help create a cozy atmosphere at the table, encouraging conversation and connection among guests as they share platters of food. It enhances their dining experience by creating a more relaxed dinner pace while offering a variety of options and providing a personal touch that’s welcoming and hospitable,” Nicollette Haynes of Chef Jack’s Catering explains. “By choosing family-style dining, couples can offer their guests a warm and inviting experience from the first course to the last shared platter.”

Photo courtesy of Chef Jack's Catering

MOSTLY FOURS: STATIONS

“Interactive food stations might be beneficial to a couple if they like menu customizations for each guest, want to encourage chef interaction, add a bit of fun to their event and have enough space in the venue to do it!” suggests David Porto, partner and general manager of Blue Plate Catering

Photo | SV Heart Photography

MOSTLY FIVES: FOOD TRUCKS

I think food carts at weddings are a great option for many reasons,” Jon Rosnow of Common Pasta shares. “I think the biggest reason is that you can budget multiple food carts with different cuisines for the same cost as one single caterer who might offer the same food. Food carts are also willing to accommodate food and dietary preferences on the fly.”

“Although food carts don’t offer table service and require your guests to walk out to place and receive their orders, it does get people moving around at a wedding and not sitting at a table or waiting in a buffet line,” Rosnow says.

Photo | Anna Giese Photography