Uncertainty has been the name of the game in weddings during the seemingly never-ending pandemic. But couples who have been waiting to celebrate their weddings since 2020 view the upcoming year as their big opportunity. Wedding venues and vendors report record bookings, and there are even shortages of some wedding staples like flowers. Trends in wedding reception menus for 2022 reflect how the upheaval has affected traditions and started some new ones.
Local Sourcing
In addition to the benefit of sustainability, more couples recognize that sourcing food locally supports local businesses that may have been hit hard during the pandemic. Many restaurants already specialize in locally sourced foods, and couples are deliberately choosing one within their community to cater their wedding.
Personalization
In 2022, we’ll see more couples choosing menus that represent aspects of their personal story. They may choose a menu that reflects their first date or cultural heritage. Or the menu may simply share the couple’s favorite foods—from fried chicken to pizza to the offerings of their favorite food truck.
Signature Cocktails
Changes are coming to the wedding reception bar, in part to save money but mostly to provide an entertaining twist that relates to the couple’s wedding theme. That means we’ll see signature cocktails offered among the usual favorite wedding cocktails.
Plant-Based Foods
Rather than surveying individual guests about their food preferences, more couples will elect a completely plant-based menu that’s delicious, sustainable, and delightful to guests with all types of preferences.
Different Desserts
Elaborate wedding cakes are on the way out, replaced by more creative and individualized desserts. Pies, ice cream, puddings, and colorful cookies, even donuts, have taken the place of the towering but often left uneaten wedding cakes.
Individual Servings
The pandemic did away with buffets, and that’s a change that’s likely to persist. Working with their caterers, couples are finding ways to create menus that can be individually packaged and presented in an elegant way. These may include individual flights of appetizers or sandwiches.
The wedding industry had to adapt and evolve during the pandemic, and many of these trends in wedding reception menus for 2022 will persist and expand in the years to come.
