Wedding Catering Trends – Grazing Tables & Vegan Menus
Relaxed yet informal, a grazing table really is the best of both worlds. And if you’re a real foodie and love nothing more than a charcuterie board, this will be right up your street as it is essentially a more embellished version. I must admit, I love everything about grazing tables – from the styling, the vibe, the array of colours and of course, the mouth-watering temptations on offer. I’m sure by the end of this post, you’ll be won over too. A grazing table can please even the pickiest of eaters and it’s a real feast for you and your guests to get stuck into. Plus, they’re a great ice breaker as they encourage guests to tuck in, mingle and have a chat.
If you love the thought of a grazing table (you’re only human) but your venue has restrictions in place, you could opt for mini grazing tables instead of canapés or evening food. That way, you can still have a traditional wedding breakfast during the reception. Guests love late night snacks and it doesn’t get much better than an oversized charcuterie board!
Your grazing tables should be rich with colour and full of edible goodness. While you can include almost anything, the experts at Caper & Berry know a thing or two about creating epic grazing tables – in fact, they recently put together a vegan-inspired feast for the Beech Dell shoot at GreenAcres Weddings. These guys design delectable, imaginative food for weddings and have recently introduced a vegetarian menu into the mix and it is to die for.
Ellie at Caper & Berry explains, “With an increasing focus on sustainable living and sustainable produce, we wanted to develop a vegetarian menu which highlighted how we can produce sumptuous, mindful dishes – which even meat eaters will want to dive into. We included seasonal ingredients such as spinach and flavourful leaves which are handpicked less than a mile from our HQ. We always think of the meal as a whole experience, and included rich filling ingredients with chickpeas, avocado and feta to make sure stomachs are filled and no one is left wanting.”
The Menu
Light Bites
Ricotta stuffed bell peppers marinated in olive oil
Barrel aged feta, spinach & nutmeg filo parcels
Smashed avocado with chilli & coriander served on sourdough crostini
Mezze Sharing Elements
Chargrilled flat breads & grissini
Olive oil homous & mint sheep’s milk yoghurt
Grazing Sustainable Feasting
Roasted aubergine with conserved tomato compote, baby basil, crumbled feta finished with crushed hazelnuts
Roasted butternut squash stuffed with harissa fregola, summer herbs, compressed cucumber, pomegranate and baby shoots
Salads
Sumptuous Heritage tomatoes, dressed with balsamic and olive oil
Soumac spiced cous cous, toasted pumpkin seeds, garden peas dressed with pea shoots
Seasonal Secretts farm shop hand picked leaves
Suddenly those meal deal sandwiches you’ve packed for your lunch don’t sound quite as good! Caper & Berry were the talent behind this colour-filled grazing table at GreenAcres Weddings and the team wanted to make the most of the opportunity for an informal, relaxed dining option in the gorgeous outdoor space. Let’s not forget about their cocktails, with refreshing G&T seasonal classics adding the final element to this gorgeous woodland feast.
Ellie says, “In terms of the beverages, blush colour drinks are becoming a firm favourite and are exceptionally seasonal and reflective of the summer months. We created some lovely thirst-quenching easy cocktails that can be created for both large numbers and small intimate gatherings focusing on some unsung British suppliers. There’s a plethora of independent UK vineyards and distilleries producing high quality sparkling wines and spirits, using grapes grown in the UK and botanicals from our hedgerows, meaning we no longer need to travel quite so far to source exceptional drinks. We thought this was an ideal opportunity to showcase them, and again being UK based highlight that it is possible to create events with a focus on sustainability.”
The Drinks
Manchester Pink Gin & Fevertree Light Tonic (long glass)
Nyetimber Sparkling Rose (coupe)
Gin Bramble (short) – using Kew Organic Gin
You can count on Caper & Berry to bring the highest quality foods, delicious menus and impeccable service to the (grazing) table. So, if a gorgeous mixture of flavours, textures and foods is your thing, this catering option may be the one for you and trust me, your guests will love you for it. But it’s not just about the food, you need to consider the design of your grazing table too. If you’re all about sustainability, keep it eco-friendly with a wooden trestle table, fresh foliage and florals and even bamboo cutlery. It’s a bonus if your wedding venue is environmentally friendly too!
Grazing tables are the perfect combination of relaxed luxury and they are a great way of getting your friends and family to tuck in while having a brilliant time. They can be anything you want them to be, whether that’s bohemian or modern, pretty or industrial. A catering trend for all seasons, you can really throw the rulebook out the window with this one, with the freedom to create an envy-inducing feast. Now I need to get my hands on some smashed avo and sourdough!
Venue GreenAcres Woodland Weddings, Chiltern
Photography Rebecca Goddard Photography
Florals JenniBloom Floral Design Studio
Stationery EYI Love
Catering Caper & Berry
Tableware Hélène Millot
Furniture Hire Love
Blankets & Cushions Brolly Bucket