Please help with wedding food choice

[parttimeweddingplanner]

I'm MoH for one of my oldest friends, she's asked for help with food choices (among many other things )

The venue is lovely, and they've chosen to have a hog roast + wood fired pizzas. But, we're going back and forward over pizza choices, wise mumsnetters, what would you do?

They have about 200 guests coming (all adults) and about 20 of them are veggies plus a couple who don't eat red meat. No vegans, and none of the meat eaters have an issue with pork, as far as we know.

The venue has suggested a plain cheese and tomato pizza and one with chicken, to meet all dietary needs. But, do people really like chicken on pizzas?

Also, as one of the veggies, I'd be happy with a pizza, but disappointed if it the only choice was a margaritta, that's what my kids eat! It feels like a kids pizza, if you know what I mean?

The venue has lots of lovely ingredients for a posh adult pizza - all the usual including artichokes / goats cheese / spinach / feta etc, so they can easily make something else if we order it.

AIBU to suggest two veggie pizzas - one with all the lovely toppings and one plain?

There's going to be a whopping great hog roast, so the meat eaters will be well catered for!

Or if not, maybe one veggie with all the topings and one with salami or pepperoni?

Or a chicken, like the venue says, but a more adult veggie pizza with it?

WWYD? Thanks :)

Yes, I'm veggie and I know what you mean, I can't say I'm too keen on it myself. But that decision has been made, no backtracking now!

I love a chicken and sweetcorn pizza

I love cheese and tomato pizza. Don’t add to perfection. Goats cheese is disgusting and ruins everything so please don’t do it! I think two veggie pizzas is best - one just cheese and one with a selection of veg on it. The hog roast is for the meat eaters but they could always add some of the meat to their own pizza if they so wish.

“Yes, I'm veggie and I know what you mean, I can't say I'm too keen on it myself. But that decision has been made, no backtracking now”

Could the caterer shred the pork off site and bring it ready to serve? Just a thought.

Hate chicken and sweetcorn on pizzas.

From your list, mushroom, olives , ricotta and red onion, maybe spinach?

Pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping. I'd do that and a veggie one.

As evidenced by this thread, you will never get a consensus on best pizza toppings.

Plain cheese and tomato is shit.

I'd do two veg pizzas.

One with goats cheese and one with something less offensive to people that hate it.

Artichokes and olives for the posh one.

If it's a wood fired pizza oven, we had this at a wedding and my god they were amazing, molten hot mozzarella cheese with a tangy tomato base and fresh basil with a drizzle of oil. They were absolutely amazing.

I'd go with a pepperoni pizza and a veggie one with roast veg and goat's cheese 😋

Can they really only do 2 options for that many people? I’m a meat eater but no chicken on pizza and margarita can be nice if it’s really good but it’s a bit meh. Veggie for me, but would have to be no sweetcorn or artichoke. Think I’m good with the rest. Pepperoni is probably the mostly popular meat one.
Personally I like pineapple on my pizza lol 🙈
I wouldn’t touch the hog roast

Mushrooms
Cherry toms
Roasted veg
Red onion
Chilli
Spinach

Sorry meant roast peppers not veg.

Absolutely, offering a diverse range of pizza toppings is a great idea to cater to all tastes. Since the venue can accommodate, I recommend one classic Margherita for simplicity lovers and another gourmet vegetarian option featuring a mix like artichokes, goat cheese, and spinach to delight those looking for something more sophisticated. For the meat options, consider a popular choice like pepperoni or salami, which generally pleases more palates than chicken. This selection ensures variety, catering to all dietary preferences while making the meal feel special and thoughtfully planned for your 200 guests.

You defo need a posh veggie one but I'd steer clear of goats cheese as a lot of people don't like it.
Chicken on a pizza is just wrong!

Carnivore here: make both pizzas meat free.

Heavy on mushrooms will make one pizza feel meaty. Have some antipasti trays with cured meats, cheese and olives near the pizzas.

Chicken on pizza sounds revolting.

That's what we're hoping! 🥰

Sound lovely!

But, the package they have with the venue is for just 2 pizza types (+ special diet ones).

My cousin had woodfired pizzas at his wedding. There was a massive queue and it took ages to feed everyone. They were all made to order so I don't see how they couldn't do veggie pizzas and just leave off the veggies for those wanting plain. Assuming it's the same set up as my cousin's wedding. Seems like a great idea but practically it wasn't great. Basically the wedding meal was 2 hours of standing in queues rather than everyone sitting down to enjoy a meal together. Depends how they do it at your friend's venue though.

I work in this area. Not pizzas for 200, how many can they realistically cook at one time? they’ll got cold and chewy waiting for full service, or all snapped up hot by a few guests.

It's not pizza for 200, though. It's pizza for whoever isn't having hog roast. If the pizza queues are too long then I guess the meat eaters will just have hog roast?

I dunno, I guess they know what they're doing. Like I say up thread, they get great reviews. No one complaining about queuing for pizzas!

But I will ask how they manage it, thanks.

Chicken pizza and a margarita was my furst thoughts before i read the rest.
Seems sensible

I’m veggie and hate goats cheese and feta. If you’re going to choose ingredients like strong cheeses, chilli or olives which some people will strongly dislike then the other veggie pizza option definitely need to be plainer and something most people will eat without any strong flavours, especially if some of the diners will be children.

I think you might be surprised about how many greedy gobblers go for both hog roast and pizza, especially if substantial drinking is involved. Definitely not 200, but one meat and two veggie options would be wise.
I like pp's suggestion of offering a really decent margarita and then having a few veggie toppings you can add, if they're being done to order.