Would you like this at a winter wedding?

[cometinmoominvalley]

Hello, I'm in the early stages of planning my wedding and thinking about food. As the wedding will probably be in February I want to make sure the food is hearty and warming (and the drinks too).

At the moment I'm thinking of having lots of baked camemberts with veg to dip in as a starter, maybe fish and chips for a main course and a selection of puddings like banoffee pie, lemon meringue pie and others (plus lots of fruit available, things like grapes, figs etc). As well as some bubbly I'd like to offer mulled wine/ cider and maybe hot chocolate too.
Does this sound like too much? Too heavy? Obviously if people are there for a while they will want a decent amount to eat but I don't know whether this would be seen as over the top.
What do you think?

Yeah me too , I'll take any leftovers (and if mushy peas were on offer with the fish and chips that would be a bonus!)

It does sound a bit heavy but I'd probably manage to squeeze it in somehow

Op I would love this! No, it won't float everyone's boat but when you're catering for lots of people you can't give everyone their favourite meal. I'd do individual camemberts, offer fish and chips alongside a veg option and then a hot and hearty pud.

I'd love the mulled cider but as a pp said, Irish coffees/ hot chocs would also be lovely. I love a hot chocolate with amaretto or Malibu!

Don't worry too much about pleasing everyone. Everything you're planning is pretty mainstream so most people will be happy with it. There'll always be the fussy few who don't like/ cant eat/ won't eat but you can't please everyone all of the time.

Have a fantastic wedding day.

I don't like mulled wine so think bucks fizz would be better.
I agree about a choice of main because

1. lots of people don't eat fish
2. fish and chips is very calorific.

Instead of a veggie chilli for an alternative to the fish and chips what about something like halloumi and chips for the veggie option? That way it's similar but suitable (please make sure separate friers are used though as a veggie for allergy reasons cross contamination is hugely problematic)
Individual Camembert sounds great and with plenty of dipping options any non cheese fans still have plenty.

Fish and chips are hard to keep hot and crisp. I'd go for stews. Beef bourguignon, maybe? Or since you mentioned tangine, what about three vaguely Moroccan stews, lamb, chicken and vegetable, with lots of couscous? All are tasty and easy to keep hot.

Who's doing the cooking and how many are you catering for? Fish and chips would be a nightmare to get right for a large group as it needs to be cooked and served straight away. I like ThatLibraryMiss's suggestions - particularly beef bourguinon - gratin Dauphinoise would be lovely with it (anyone who thinks it's too rich doesn't have to have much). Not sure about the camembert starter tbh. I wouldn't choose it from a menu and it's pretty heavy.

Do you have any guests who need gluten free food? Most things you've suggested have wheat/gluten in. It is easier to do gluten free casserole type dishes with rice than things like fish and chips.

I'd be abstaining from camembert as I wouldn't want to risk finding out if it triggers my IBS. I'd have thought it was a bit love/ hate and not very safe as a crowd pleaser.

Fish and chips is quite polarising too if there is no alternative to fish. You're likely to need a veggie/ gluten/ dairy free alternative. It's quite heavy so again wouldn't follow well from camembert. Stews tend to be safe. Not greatly exciting, but easy to do well and inoffensive to most and keep hot well. The reason why roast chicken/ beef is so obiquitous is that most people will eat something on the plate even if they aren't greatly enthused by it.

Fruit crumbles are hearty but not too stodgy. A selection of puddings is fine. I wouldn't choose banoffee after fish and chips as that would be too rich after a fatty meal (not good in spanx )

If you want hearty I'm surprised no one has mentioned sausage and mash .. id really like that if they were really good sausages and onion gravy..(and easy to do veggie sausages as well )

or different pies? Say one chicken option, one steak option and one veggie option ..with mash or chips and veggies .

Fruit crumble would be great , but id also offer baked apples (stuffed with mincemeat or raisins and cinnamon is yum and a winter fruit salad -something, which people who dont want a heavier pud could enjoy .. custard and cream of course !

and actually I think a retro starters are always good - prawn cocktail is always a great starter.. I cant think o fa retro veggie starter though apart from Half a grilled grapefruit or melon.. !! (unless you serve small cups of soup..)

Thanks for all these replies! I'm now really liking the look of Pieminster pies. They do cater weddings with canapes etc, has anyone had this? Any idea where Pieminster sits, price-wise?

Lots of people don't like pies or pastry full stop. You don't have to serve something quirky or different - just serve tasty food. Frankly if it isn't an overcooked chicken breast at a wedding, most people will be grateful!

With the baked Camembert, would it be one each? The thought of people 'double dipping' makes me heave!

I'm not particularly trying to be quirky . I just think they look really tasty, they also have vegan and gluten free options and quite honestly I don't think anyone I'm inviting is likely to have a problem with it but if they hate pastry that much they can just eat the filling, the starters, canapes, puddings and the food that will be served later in the evening.

Honest opinion..

Baked camembert OK if one each, fish and chips as main course is a bit naff- OK for evening guests maybe but not wedding breakfast. Personally, I would hate pies or pastry. Mulled wine is too Christmassy - serve champagne then decent wines with the meal.

I think hot chocolate with your original desserts with a cheeseboard with grapes, figs, water biscuits etc would work well.

I much prefer cold drinks with hot meals especially if venue is hot too. Something like a beef stew and dumpling with cider for main course might work though don't know how easy that is to prepare. Maybe a veg stew alternative. A veg option anyway.

Starter camembert and dipping only if own one but maybe something lighter as its quite heavy like smoked salmon salad plus veg option or melon with some other fruit or a leek and potato soup.

Hope it all goes really well.

You're never going to please everyone, just look at these replies.
Chilli to common, fish and chips too greasy, camembert too cheesy, pies too quirky . Everyone is going to have opinion, and think they are right even though food is subjective.

What do YOU want to eat?

Quit with the eye rolling - fish and chips and pies are pub food. Fine if that's what you are going for, but for a special wedding day meal?

Who is doing the catering for this wedding? that is going to affect what you can serve. OP you said you wanted something you can make loads of and serve easily. We've done fish and chips for a pta quiz night where the local chippie delivered 80+ wrapped portions of f&c to the venue, so that could work but it's not really going to be a posh wedding dinner option!

With regard to the baked camembert . They are usually eaten fairly swiftly out of the oven to take advantage of all that gooey loveliness, and as you say dipable for bread and veg. How many guests are you planning and I'm also wondering about serving it in time.

Heaven on a plate. I would do exactly that. Mulled wine is a fabulous idea too, very warming after photos. Those who don’t like it son’t have to have it.

I love pieminister too.

How about taking a trip and trying them out (stuffing your face)

They cater weddings so email them and they will give you a qoute. I think they were reasonably priced when we asked for a qoute. But some say they're expensive but the qaulity is worth it imo.

You can google wedding pie and mash caterers and see the price difference as well.

But wedding meals don't have to be amazing and fancy affairs do they.

What do you normally get at a wedding?
Soup or some prawn cocktail crap. Bread.
Roast dinner mainly dry overcooked chicken and soggy roast potatoes

Some cake (normally the best bit)

I think you have some amazing ideas OP, if you tell a bit more about yourself and family maybe we could offer something in line with yours and their tastes.

Quit with the eye rolling - fish and chips and pies are pub food. Fine if that's what you are going for, but for a special wedding day meal?

...She said as she herself proceeded to eyeroll.

Personally, OP, I love baked camembert and I love fish and chips (done well of course) and would be delighted with that. But there's no option that will get universal approval on a MN thread.