Wedding trends come and go, and traditions have evolved right along with them—including what’s served and eaten on a wedding day. And while deciding what to feed your guests can be fun (hello, tastings!), you may not have realized that what you choose to serve can actually provide all sorts of cultural insight. That’s what Claire Stewart set out to do as she began researching her new book, As Long As We Both Shall Eat: A History of Wedding Food and Feasts.
Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at City Tech, CUNY in New York and a trained and experienced chef herself, Stewart examined wedding food customs, from tossing rice to late night snacks, to get a peek into the conspicuous consumption that is a wedding feast. We asked the author to share a little bit of what she learned, both writing her book and as her time as a banquet chef, serving meals to newlyweds and the ones they love.
Food trends seem to be ever-changing, but are there any wedding food traditions that have persisted over the decades?
During your research, you discovered the role celebrities (and their wedding excess) have played in wedding trends. Could you share a few with us?
“One trend now is using food in a formal after-hours party. After the cake is served, the party does not have to end,” Stewart says. “When Nicky Hilton married James Rothschild in 2015, the elaborate menu was supplemented by a late-night snack of sliders, milkshakes, pizza, and fries. Even Prince William and Kate served bacon sandwiches and ice cream late into the evening after the Queen went home!” And how about this for a bride taking the meal into her own hands: “When Miranda Lambert married her now-ex Blake Shelton, she wanted to serve venison, so off she went hunting, shooting a deer to be served at the reception!” says Stewart.
What advice would you want to offer couples planning their weddings today when it comes to working with caterers and choosing and serving food and beverages to their guests?
Are there current food/drink trends you love? Any that you're tired of seeing? Any that you wish would catch on more widely?
What is your favorite thing about food at weddings? Your least favorite?