Home » Inspiration » How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Menu

How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Menu

At Dine, we believe that a wedding menu should do more than feed your guests—it should reflect your personality, complement your setting, and add a layer of magic to your celebration. Whether you’re dreaming of a stately banquet or an intimate countryside affair, your menu deserves as much thought as your dress or décor. But choosing food for 100 other people isn’t always easy!

Here’s how to curate a wedding menu that delights every guest (even the fussy ones), suits the season, and keeps the whole day flowing beautifully.

1. Begin With the Season

Seasonality isn’t just for chefs—it’s a secret weapon in creating dishes that taste better, look stunning, and feel right.

In spring and summer, guests often prefer lighter options, such as our Seared Sea Bass with Crushed Peas and Lemon Beurre Blanc, or Heritage Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with Basil Oil. These fresh dishes feel crisp and celebratory.

Come autumn or winter, you can lean into richer, warming flavours. Think Slow-Cooked Beef with Celeriac Purée, or Roast Chicken with Dauphinoise Potatoes and Seasonal Greens—hearty without being heavy.

2. Consider the Flow of the Day

Nobody wants to feel sluggish before the first dance. A well-balanced menu ensures guests are satisfied but still ready to hit the dancefloor. A rich main can be balanced with a lighter starter and dessert—perhaps a classic zingy Lemon Tart, or a Panna Cotta with Seasonal Berries.

Equally, timing is everything. If you’re planning to serve canapés and drinks for an hour or more post-ceremony, a smaller starter is often plenty.

3. The Dessert Dilemma: Cake vs Pudding

Many couples ask: “Do we really need both a dessert and a wedding cake?” And as always there are pros and cons.

Pros of using the cake as dessert:

Economical (one course instead of two)
Practical—guests are often mingling and dancing after mains
Your cake gets the spotlight it deserves

Cons:

Cakes often look better than they satisfy as dessert. Bear in mind wedding days are long and usually involve alcohol- it’s best to serve too much rather than not enough food.
You lose the chance to surprise guests with a show stopping sweet course (like our White Chocolate & Passion Fruit Cheesecake)

Our take? If your cake is spectacular and designed to be enjoyed with a side of cream or berries, go for it. Otherwise, serve a plated dessert and offer cake with coffee later in the evening.

4. Pleasing Every Palate—Even the Picky Ones

It’s inevitable—you’ll have a cousin who doesn’t eat fish, an aunt avoiding gluten, and a bridesmaid who’s gone keto.

Here’s how to keep everyone happy:

Choose a menu with variety. Our Pan-Fried Chicken Supreme or Risotto of Wild Mushrooms tend to win over even cautious eaters.
Offer a clear vegetarian or vegan option as part of your RSVP.
Avoid extremes—polarising ingredients like blue cheese, shellfish or game meats are best kept to canapés or optional courses.

And remember, the Dine team can design bespoke menus that cater for allergies and dietary preferences without compromising elegance or flavour.

5. Still Not Sure? Try Before You Decide

The best way to choose? Taste it.

At Dine, we offer expert consultations and meal rehearsals to help you visualise (and enjoy!) your wedding meal before the big day. We’ll talk through your theme, the flow of your event, and your guests’ needs—then build a menu around all of it.

From Champagne-paired canapés to petit fours and everything in between, your wedding menu will be uniquely yours—and entirely unforgettable.