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Original poster

Please help me create a wedding snack table

45 replies

Plack · 08/05/2025 10:09

I have decided I want to create a snack table for our evening reception. Which will get put out a 2/3 hours after dinner. We asked our caterer if they could do a late night snack, they said they could unit it would cost £1500 for burgers and chips as they would have to hang around.

So we are having no evening only guests. Everyone will have had dinner

Dinner is going to be a VERY luxurious buffet. We did a food tasting and people said it was incredibly filling. But I still want people to have something to eat after drinking (free bar). So I’ve decided on a snack table.

The food has to be non-refrigerated. And it can’t be anything homemade as the caterer is liable. So sealed packets. My thoughts:

cheese straws
olives
pretzels
m and ms
Selection of crisps
Nuts
Bombay mix
breads (hard cheese doesn’t need to be kept cool does it?)
fruit
doughnuts
cupcakes
crudite with dips that don’t need refrigeration

Our wedding cake will be shared as well

(I’m half Indian so ideally would love to touch on that slightly ie with poppadoms maybe but I don’t want it to be JUST Indian food)

thanks!

OP posts:
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Mumteedum · 09/05/2025 14:29

Could you get a mobile chip van to pull up in the car park? 😁

Would probably lower the tone!

FruitFlyPie · 09/05/2025 10:02

Different opinion but I'm not sure it's needed at all. At most weddings I go to, even the wedding cake isn't eaten that much. Most people won't feel like eating 2-3 hours after a massive buffet.

peachescariad · 09/05/2025 09:13

Bjorkdidit · 09/05/2025 08:44

Well if this is food that the OP is putting out herself, then it's nothing to do with the caterer, not that vegetable samosas or cheese are going to be harmful if it's at room temperature for a few hours.

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Unfortunately it doesn't work like that - it sounds like they will not allow any high risk (chilled/RTE) foods onsite because in the (hopefully unlikely) event of a FP allegation, the caterer is legally responsible for all food supplied onsite. Shelf stable foods negates this risk.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 09/05/2025 09:06

thekingfisher · 08/05/2025 10:43

We had fruit cake and lots and lots of cheese crackers grapes and celery

perfect!

Screamingabdabz · 09/05/2025 08:55

Crisp sandwich sounds awful sorry.

I would do:
cheese board
fruit/crudite platter
crisps/bombay mix
veggie ‘sausage’ rolls (most people don’t notice the difference)
wedding cake cut up

Bjorkdidit · 09/05/2025 08:44

peachescariad · 09/05/2025 08:22

Ex food safety EHO here - these are a chilled product and are classed as ready to eat so your caterer is unlikely to allow these and any cheeses on site. For their due diligence you will have to stick to shelf stable only. However, new jars of chutneys opened on the night would be fine.

Show quote history

Well if this is food that the OP is putting out herself, then it's nothing to do with the caterer, not that vegetable samosas or cheese are going to be harmful if it's at room temperature for a few hours.

LongRangeDessertGroup · 09/05/2025 08:34

I’d go to M&S and just scope out the food hall for ideas, or Costco if you know anyone who is a member?

peachescariad · 09/05/2025 08:22

bridgetreilly · 08/05/2025 10:50

Not if they are vegetarian. They’ll be fine.

Show quote history

Ex food safety EHO here - these are a chilled product and are classed as ready to eat so your caterer is unlikely to allow these and any cheeses on site. For their due diligence you will have to stick to shelf stable only. However, new jars of chutneys opened on the night would be fine.

Mumteedum · 09/05/2025 08:21

Speaking up for the nut allergy people.... Bombay mix and bowls of nuts is not good in a buffet. Are you100% sure nobody has a nut allergy?

Pinkishcherryblossoms · 09/05/2025 08:17

Sorry, but what's it got to do with the caterers, with regard to what you choose to do after they've left for the day. Are the caterers attached to the venue. They're being awkward in a bid to extort a load of extra money out of you is what it sounds like. I'd threaten to sack them if they can't mind their own business.

GherkinsOnToast · 09/05/2025 08:06

Plack · 08/05/2025 11:12

sounds great, pls may I ask how much you spent roughly?

im doing the maths and tbh its starting to add up

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It was 6 years ago and it cost us about £250, we did some shopping at Costco because of the chance to bulk buy, also shopped around for deals on sweets in the weeks running up to the wedding.

Deadringer · 08/05/2025 13:17

What about a nice selection of fresh pastries? Not too expensive and most people like them.

tipsyraven · 08/05/2025 13:12

I think you original suggestions are fine. I would hate a crisp sandwich.

LuckyShark · 08/05/2025 12:55

Oh and dont forgot the disposable knives for the butter.

I think your take on it would be brilliant, love the bombay mix added in. And with a variety pack the guests can feel like they are in primary school again seapping flavours😂

Original poster
Plack · 08/05/2025 11:32

Coffeeishot · 08/05/2025 11:29

Who are you planning on setting up your snack areaHave you asked a guest to do it? Nothing wrong with that but you need to factor in setting up and clearing up.

The groomsmen will be doing it. Bridesmaids have already helped me make a lot of decisions. I’ll organise it in a way which is idiot proof for them.

OP posts:
Coffeeishot · 08/05/2025 11:29

Who are you planning on setting up your snack areaHave you asked a guest to do it? Nothing wrong with that but you need to factor in setting up and clearing up.

Dartmoorcheffy · 08/05/2025 11:29

They are being very awkward. They don't need to be there to serve that. I would just buy the cheese crackers and chutney. Order sausage rolls from a local bakery, and keep in a cool box until you need them. I'm guessing you are already paying an absolute fortune so tell them to either do that for you or sod off.

Original poster
Plack · 08/05/2025 11:23

Dartmoorcheffy · 08/05/2025 11:22

Im a wedding caterer. We often provide sausage rolls and a cheeseboard that can be put out later in the evening. No need for us to stay. I also think 1.5k is absolutely extortionate to charge for 70 burgers too.

They said they have to be there to serve. Very annoying. I was hoping for exactly what you do

OP posts:
Dartmoorcheffy · 08/05/2025 11:22

Im a wedding caterer. We often provide sausage rolls and a cheeseboard that can be put out later in the evening. No need for us to stay. I also think 1.5k is absolutely extortionate to charge for 70 burgers too.

Original poster
Plack · 08/05/2025 11:21

I think it would be fun, some bread, variety box of walkers crisps / (Bombay mix for the Indian bit) and an assortment of fizzy drinks. Some choc bars. All inside a paper bag.

Please help me create a wedding snack table
OP posts:
LuckyShark · 08/05/2025 11:17

Plack · 08/05/2025 11:11

I’m liking the idea of this, but would crisps sarnies work with no butter?

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The way it was done at the wedding i was at, 2 slices of bread, a pat of butter and a packet of crisps were all packaged together in a colourful lunch bag (like an american brown lunch bag but in bright colours) and then had a sticker with the bride and grooms face on them which was a fun touch.

It was in Northern Ireland so of course they were all Tayto cheese and onion crisps. But you could write the flavour of crisps on the bag if you had a variety.

The butter was fine. I leave butter out on my counter in a butter dish for a week or more until its used up and it never goes rancid.

I suppose you could ask if the sandwich packs could be kept in the fridge until the catering company leave. Or keep them in a cool box?

BigDahliaFan · 08/05/2025 11:16

B1anche · 08/05/2025 10:50

Blamed for what?

I think your suggestions sound very dry and unappetising. You will definitely need stuff that requires refrigeratorating.

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I think it sounds absolutely fine if it's just as a snack to soak up some alcohol!

Original poster
Plack · 08/05/2025 11:12

GherkinsOnToast · 08/05/2025 10:57

We did this!

I bought lantern vases from Ikea and filled them with various popcorn flavours, pretzels (we had regular, white choc and milk choc) smaller versions with M&Ms, gummy sweets, cookies, a basket with packets of crisps, party rings, marshmallows, cheesy crackers( the mini shaped ones) Bombay mix, we also have little sweet pastries which are native to my home country. we provided little paper bags for people to fill and they could then walk about eating without balancing pates.

sounds great, pls may I ask how much you spent roughly?

im doing the maths and tbh its starting to add up

OP posts:
Original poster
Plack · 08/05/2025 11:11

LuckyShark · 08/05/2025 11:01

Agreeing that crisp sandwiches were the best evening reception food I ever got
Especially after having a gorgeous dinner. But the drinks and dancing made us all peckish....not hungry, just an alcohol infused want.

Those and some sweets and chocolate

Like a great school tuckshop

I’m liking the idea of this, but would crisps sarnies work with no butter?

OP posts:
Original poster
Plack · 08/05/2025 11:10

B1anche · 08/05/2025 10:50

Blamed for what?

I think your suggestions sound very dry and unappetising. You will definitely need stuff that requires refrigeratorating.

Show quote history

Well we just can’t serve anything that requires refrigeration unfortunately. The caterer was explicit with that. I don’t want to screw anyone around

OP posts:
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