Festive Feasting: Ideas for winter wedding catering

If you want to serve something different for your winter wedding breakfast, here are three ways to heat things up with your catering.

Seasonal starters

Offer hot canapés from burger sliders and mini cups of soup to mulled wine and warm doughnuts as your guests come in from the cold.

Winter warmers

A hearty barbecue or hog roast is a perfect way to keep guests well fed and warm. and ideal for budget savvy couples who want their food to go a long way. Or opt for a table top carvery, with nominated guests cutting the roasts, served with sharing bowls of vegetables to bring everyone together over dinner.

A cup of festive cheer

Prosecco vans and mobile cocktail bars have grown in popularity thanks to bloggers, Pinterest and Instagram. From originally popping up at festivals and other outdoor events, the trend has moved into the wedding industry for a fun alternative to a standard bar. Instead of chilled drinks, warm your guests’ hearts by serving mulled wine, warm apple cider, Irish coffee or shots of hot toddy.

Clare Smith, owner of Touchays catering based across Kent, says: “When working with couples on their winter wedding menu, we work closely and collaboratively with them, suggesting dishes that not only capture the very essence of the season, but also the magic of their journey together.

"For a winter wedding we recommend food that captures the best of the festive season: the aromas, the charm, the tradition, but perhaps with a modern twist. Don’t forget to make the most of seasonal ingredients; incorporate the fantastic winter ingredients that Kent has to offer. Side vegetables can include honey roasted parsnips, sweet fennel, swede, sprouts and roast chestnuts. For dessert, choose apples, pears and winter berries.

"If couples don’t want a traditional turkey, it’s a great time to include seasonal game such as venison, partridge and pheasant or a carvery that might include a slow roasted gammon joint and roast beef with Yorkshire puddings. Serve with all the trimmings and of course, lashings of homemade gravy.”

Debra Green, owner of Chives Catering based in Ashford, says: “With winter weddings, you still want the wow factor but also a little of the comfort food.

"We love serving little mini cups of soup with the canapés. This is really popular with couples as it helps warm the guests outside during photographs.

"Many couples imagine their winter wedding as a cosy meal around the family and friends table, so another popular option is serving a whole joint of meat at the table. This really brings the guests together, as one guest carves for the table and then passes the plates around.

"Dauphinoise potatoes still remain the winter potato serving of choice as well as sharing bowls of steamed vegetables, roasted beetroot and squash, buttery savoy cabbage and carrots, hot canapés served alongside a warm winter Pimm’s, slow cooked belly pork topped with apple sauce, mini baked potatoes with parma ham and crispy beef and ale pies.”