wedding menu dilemma

[Miyajima98]

More advice required from MNers please! :-)

Our wedding is on NYE (sit down meal etc) and we recently had our menu tasting, but we didn't like the starter! I was really disappointed actually and we are now stuck for what to do. Basically I feel the venue's winter menu options are all a bit restrictive as they are things which divide opinion - 3 options with blue cheese, 1 with nuts, 1 shellfish, 1 mackerel, and then 1 chicken one which we tried and it was bland and boring. Even though I love strong flavours like mackerel and blue cheese, and I love shellfish, I am aware these are not always popular and indeed a number of guests have stated they don't like blue cheese on the rsvp, or have allergies to shellfish! We also have 1 severe nut allergy.

Obviously you can't please all the people all the time but I do think the choices are a bit restrictive and we really disliked the starters we tasted. (luckily main course and desserts were delish).
The venue has said they can create a different starter for us and so I am doing some research into possible alternatives. We are having game or the main course so i was thinking about cured or smoked salmon or something along those lines maybe?
Does anyone have any thoughts / ideas about good winter menu starters for NYE that will appeal to most people for a sit down meal?
Thank you x

I would want pate and toast with a nice chutney or onion marmelade - good luck, it sounds like a great NYE.

Agree that those options sound unpopular/unsuitable for people with allergies or vegetarians.

Salmon or pate are pretty standard, but salmon can be expensive.

Alternatively you could see if they would do two courses and some canapes.

Soup, not very exciting but generally an all round easy option that most people will like.

I think you want a hot starter when it's cold. Something comforting and rustic eg something mushroomy?

You'll never please everyone with a starter and as long as you have a good main I wouldn't worry too much.

We had a starter of smoked salmon, pickled cucumber & horseradish - it was absolutely amazing and as far as I know most people enjoyed it. If people have allergies, the venue will need to provide an alternative starter which is suitable for these people.

Don't forget - it's your wedding!! Enjoy!

Starters that have gone down well at recent events I’ve been to have been

Leek and potato soup
Baked mushrooms
Gravlax
Prosciutto and melon
Ham hock terrine
Crab cake/fish cake

Soup.

Roasted red pepper soup and plenty of bread rolls

I was the fussiest bride ever when it came to the food, I kind of ashamed to say I re wrote the menus 
We went for pate or mushroom soup as a starter. Looking at the choices people made the pate was more popular by a mile.

All the best for your wedding!

Wild mushrooms on toast
Roast beetroot and goats cheese
Hot smoked trout pate with Melba toast
Chicken liver parfait with sourdough toast and onion marmalade
Chestnut soup
Celeriac soup with crumbles fried black pudding / chorizo
Beetroot cured salmon with pickled cucumber and horseradish
Onion tart tatin

Those are my favs to make. And to eat!! Love starters.

Another vote for soup. Doesn't need to be boring and if you go for a 'normal' flavour, it's hard to dislike. Served with yummy bread and you're onto a winner for a winter wedding I think. I would have thought salmon and pate would fit into the 'divided opinion' category, but I am horribly fussy.

We spent a fortune on catering but the starter was where I saved a bit of £££ to put towards the main. We had vegetable soup with ham hock- not the most exciting but it was lovely and who hates vegetable soup? The caterers were able to make a non-hammy version for the vegetarians as well, so it was nice that the only separate course they had was the main.

I would make the point to the venue that their menu choices are pretty love/hate/anaphylactic shock.

We we're thinking of going for extra canapes as we couldn't decide on a starter but pate (my fave) seems to be a choice we hadn't considered as we didn't think many people would enjoy. Might rethink based on feedback on here.
Soup could be a good option, warm and hearty with loads of buttery bread.

We're having a winter wedding and will most likely be having a soup. I'm a bit fussy and don't like pate / fish / melon / most starters. At least the bride is allowed to be fussy