Food Stations and Interactive Bars: The Hottest Wedding Catering Trends
Warning: This post may cause you to want to get married again!
Food stations and interactive bars, whether grazing tables, dessert stations, or canapé buffets, have taken the wedding world by storm. Over the past few years, this trend has stuck around, and it’s easy to see why. Your special day will probably last 12 to 16 hours, and you don’t want hungry guests, making food stations a fantastic idea. Not only are they infinitely customizable, but they’re also adaptable to any wedding — from formal to informal, as a full meal or snacks, a serve-yourself bar, or something more interactive that doubles as part of the entertainment. Sounds good?
Here are our all-time favorite wedding food station ideas.
What You Need to Know About Wedding Food Stations
Before you settle on having food stations at your wedding, there are a few things to consider:
- Venue Policies: Would your venue allow it?
- Space: Is there enough space for the station(s) in the venue?
- Catering Needs: Would you need a caterer, or can you do it yourself? And—do you want to do it yourself?
- Staffing: Would you need extra staff to man the station(s)?
- Guest Count: How many guests are you inviting?
- Number of Stations: How many stations would you have?
- Setup and Styling: Who would set up and style the station?
- Equipment: Would you need extra equipment?
It’s important to mention that not all food stations are created equally! Some options, like candy buffets or popcorn stations, can be set up the day before (as long as you have access to the space—check with your venue), while others, like tapas or carving stations, will need to be manned by staff for the ease of your guests. Foods like oysters, sushi, and ice cream must be kept refrigerated or frozen, while curry stations need to be heated. Some food stations require professional caterers to pull them off safely, and timing is crucial, so your wedding timeline is important.
Wedding Food Stations You Can Do Yourself
These food stations are easy to put together because you can prepare them in advance, particularly if you’ve got access to the venue the day before the wedding. If this sounds like something you’d love to incorporate, we highly recommend delegating this job to a trusted bridal party member or friend. Do a practice run at home and take photos to give to your designated volunteer guidance. And remember a list of all the items for your station, so they know exactly what to do!
Popcorn Bar
Popcorn bars are one of the easiest and most affordable stations to set up. This station is perfect as a pre-ceremony snack, a pre-dinner snack, or a late-night snack. You can even set it up for the entire time your guests will be at the wedding. The popcorn can be popped a few days in advance, just be sure to store it in airtight containers. Add flavored salts, a few drizzles like salted caramel or browned butter, and maybe a few other bits and bobs (think lucky charms, small chocolates, or other candy) and you have one popping bar! (Remember the brown paper bags; nobody wants to be walking around with fistfuls of popcorn!)
Candy Buffets
For candy buffets, your list of choices is endless! You can opt for childhood favorites, more modern nibbles, or even themed ones according to color, flavor, or country of origin. We recently did a German-inspired candy buffet chock-full of traditional treats. You can also include nostalgic eats such as fudge, marshmallows, lollipops, or coconut ice. All of these treats can be packed or placed into glass jars and bottles beforehand and then simply packed out on the day. Remember to add pretty paper bags for guests who would like theirs as a takeaway.
Cookie Bars
Similar to a candy buffet, only better since it’s cookies! Get an assortment, pack them out in piles or heaps or jars, put a name card or sticker on, and you’re good to go. They can be baked or purchased in advance, just store them in airtight containers until the day. Again, remember the brown paper bags!
Doughnut Walls or Stations
This is what most of our sweet dreams are made of—a selection of yummy doughnuts for us to take to our hearts’ content. Order, bake, or buy a selection of doughnuts, then on the day either hang them from a pegboard, stack them on cake plates, pile them on the table, or thread them onto standing poles. Whatever you do, just make sure guests can get to them quickly, because they’re sure to go fast!
Macaron Towers
Another type of food station that just doesn’t go away. Buy (or bake if you’re talented) a selection of delicious macarons, then display them however you find attractive. You can even serve this food station as part of your wedding cake or as the wedding cake!
Wedding Food Stations That Need a Little Professional Help
Even though your guests will most likely still serve themselves, these are the food bars or stations that require a bit more setup, specialized equipment, more hands, or even someone to cook the food on order. For these stations to be successful, we highly recommend getting in a professional, and you will most definitely need the cooperation and approval of your venue.
Tapas Station
Tapas has become the word used to describe any bite-size food not traditionally thought of as a canapé. What used to be Spanish is now global. For your tapas station, you can stick to traditional Spanish bites or go for international flair, including little bites from around the world. Usually easy to eat, with minimal utensils needed, these bites can be served hot or cold, depending on what you have available. A great way of serving the main meal!
Charcuterie or Grazing Tables
Although an easy station to set up, you would want to have a dedicated professional do it. Consisting of cold meats, fresh bread, spreads, butter, cheese, and all sorts of other antipasti, this type of station can quickly look messy if there isn’t someone who can tidy it up now and again. Also, refilling butter, loaves of bread, and olives as needed. This is one of our most popular options and serves as a starter at almost all the weddings we do.
Pizza Station
A tricky station to pull off if you don’t have access to a big enough pizza oven or even a conventional oven. To do this, simply pack out piping hot pizzas as they come out of the oven. They can all have the same topping or different toppings, with extras that your guests can add afterward, such as fresh herbs, guacamole, etc. A great way to feed guests if you dream of having a fun, informal wedding.
Carvery Station
More towards the traditional buffet, having a carvery can be turned into something special by including not-so-traditional cuts of meat, such as smoked brisket, lamb ribs, or even venison. Serve with accompanying sauces, and you have a delicious offering.
Tacos and Nachos Bar
What avo-filled dreams are made of. Serve bowls of pulled pork, chicken, salsa, corn on the cob, sour cream, and guacamole with a choice of either nacho chips or taco shells, and allow guests to build their own Mexican experience. Just remember the napkins since this gets messy!
Breakfast or Brunch Station
A more “newish” station, the breakfast or brunch station has a lovely appeal. Serve your favorite breakfast food so that guests can build their perfect breakfast. Think sausages, quiche, coddled eggs, pastries, toast, and more.
Dessert Stations
You’d think we’ve covered all of the sweet possibilities, but no—wait, there’s more! For dessert, you have so many options, from a lollipop bar with a selection of lollies on ice to a cupcake tower. You can have a fruit bar for the more health-conscious, or a chocolate fountain if you want to indulge. Just remember to display all of the goodies beautifully since this is the last picture your guests will mentally take of your big day, and you want it to stick!
How to Style Your Wedding Food Station
The images should give you some inspiration and ideas, but here are the tips: use on-theme containers, remember your signage, have enough cutlery and crockery if needed, and don’t forget the napkins. Add height by using taller containers, boxes to place the platters on, and cake stands, display stands, cutting boards, or trays can add interest and visual impact. If you are hiring a professional, be sure to chat with them about your expectations as well as any colors or themes you would like to incorporate.
Feeling Inspired?
Food stations are a wonderful way to get the guests involved, serve a bigger selection of food, and have fun. It can be pricey, so make sure you spend your money where it counts, and get professionals in to do it as far as possible. There’s still a long list of other station and bar options, including sushi, candy floss, raw/salad, canapé, curry, burger, and more, but the ones featured here are the ones we see most often.
And Lastly…
For all the retro lovers out there, why not consider a champagne tower—you know you want to!
Ready to create unforgettable memories with stunning food stations at your wedding? Our venue offers the perfect blend of charm and personalized service to make your special day truly magical. Book a tour today and see why we’re the ideal spot for your dream wedding! 🌟💑