Cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres, sit-down formal dinner, then cake. That’s been the standard game plan for wedding catering for decades, but like all dining trends, it’s all changing now.

Tapas, anyone? Yes, small plates are an option for a wedding – as starters, main course, even dessert, says Amanda Saccoccio of Newport, R.I.’s Plantation Catering. “People are moving away from serving the main entrée,” she says, opting instead for tapas in lieu of salad or appetizers, and duet plates as the main course – filet and chardonnay lobster tail, or baked stuffed shrimp and Cornish game hen, for example. Bite-sized desserts can take the place of wedding cake, the assortment arriving tableside via roaming carts.

“More people are eating out, and the food is more of an art form than ever,” says Russell Morin, owner of Russel Morin Fine Catering. Couples and caterers alike are drawing upon their favorite restaurant experiences to create menus and atmosphere, from paired wine dinners to serving a single entrée to all guests – “not chicken, fish or beef but one amazing dish,” says Saccoccio.

For some couples, that may mean presenting trending favorites like striped bass alongside exotic grains such as quinoa; for others, an updated take on comfort-food classics like pot roast make an ideal focal point for a comfortable but stylish family-dining experience. For family affairs, Morin often uses long, rectangular Tuscan tables seating up to 12, with long trays of antipasto awaiting guests as they arrive. “People like the idea of sharing food, and they can eat it throughout the course of the meal,” he says.

These days, what’s old is fashionable again, especially in the enduring trend of the farm to table movement, with increased emphasis on hyper-local seasonal food, and rustic presentation that emphasizes natural materials.

With all the current trends in luxury wedding cuisines, it can be easy to get lost in the kerfuffle. It is important that your voice is acknowledged when planning your reception meal – what could be more intimate than food? Forever Events is known for sourcing the most esteemed caterers and food designers in the world. Get in touch with us to make your dinner one to remember!

Forever Events specializes in luxury wedding design and luxury event planning. For more information, please contact us.