Wedding receptions are arguably one of the biggest highlights of the day. It’s where all of the loved ones get to mix and mingle, indulge in delicious food, and party the night away on the dance floor.

Planning the menu of the wedding reception is a very important aspect of wedding planning. The food is a big part of what makes wedding reception dinners different and one to remember. When planning the menu, there are a few things you’ll want to consider. That’s why today, I’m sharing a round-up of wedding reception dinner ideas that you can use as inspo for your big day.

30+ Wedding Reception Dinner Ideas

Wedding Reception Appetizers

Now that the more serious side of the wedding day is over (the ceremony), it’s time to get the party started during cocktail hour. Wedding reception appetizers are a great way to help satisfy some taste buds by offering your guests bite sized tastings to enjoy. You can offer your guests light drinks and light hor d’oeuvres available to grab and go stations or serve them up as passed appetizers throughout the cocktail hour the choice is yours.

Here are some great wedding reception appetizer ideas whether you offer passed appetizers or present them on a nice table spread. These all work great because they’ll leave your guests filling full long enough for the wedding reception meal to start.

Antipasti Bites

Ingredients

2 oz Cheese, sliced, mozzarella, full fat/ regular - 140 calories

2 oz Salami - 208 calories

2 oz Olives, whole - 100 calories

Directions

Cut block of mozzarella into small squares.
Pierce 1 square mozzarella + 1 circle slice of salami (folded) + 1 olive with a toothpick (& continue).
Dairy free? Use a dairy free cheese – see Supplemental Materials. Vegetarian? Use a meat-free sausage chopped up into small slices.

BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Ingredients

4 Tbsp Barbeque sauce, unsweetened - 30 calories

½ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 168 calories

4 oz Rotisserie chicken - 200 calories

2 Tortilla, whole wheat or corn, small - 120 calories

⅛ Onion, red - 6 calories

1 Tbsp Parsley, fresh - 0 calories

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Dice onion.
Dice chicken, mix together with 1/2 your bbq sauce.
Spread the rest of your bbq sauce on the tortillas.
Top tortillas with chicken, cheese, and red onion.
Bake (or air fry) for 5-10 minutes, depending on how crispy you want your pizzas.
Top with fresh parsley.
No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese or use a dairy-free pesto instead of the BBQ sauce and cheese (available at most stores). No chicken? Use tofu or beans. Gluten free? Use gluten free tortilla, e.g. corn.
Note: you don’t have to use rotisserie chicken – baked or grilled chicken breast will work just as well.

Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

3 Egg, large - 216 calories

1 Tbsp Mayonnaise (Tbsp) - 97 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Paprika - 0 calories

0.3 Tbsp Mustard, regular (brown, deli, etc.) - 5 calories

2 cups Carrots, baby - 90 calories

Directions

Hard boil eggs.
Once cooked and cooled, slice eggs in half and scoop out yolks.
Combine egg yolks, mayo, and seasonings in a bowl.
Spoon mixture evenly back into egg whites. Top with paprika.
Serve carrots on the side.
Note: 0.3 Tbsp = 1 tsp.

Crostini with Sun Dried Tomatoes & Brie

Ingredients

2 oz Baguette - 120 calories

2 Tbsp Tomatoes, sun-dried, oil packed - 34 calories

3 oz Cheese, Brie - 240 calories

¼ cup Leafy greens, spinach, raw - 2 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Slice baguette into thin slices. Slice brie into thin slices.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper & spray it with an oil spray. Add baguette slices to the baking sheet.
Layer with brie, then spinach, then sun-dried tomatoes.
Bake for 5 minutes.
Top with salt & pepper.
No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, or top with guac & other toppings after baking. No gluten? Use gluten free bread.

Jalapeño Poppers

Ingredients

2 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped (Tbsp) - 66 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar - 114 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 84 calories

2 Uncured bacon, slice - 88 calories

2 Jalapeno peppers (whole) - 10 calories

Directions

This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, stir/mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheeses (microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds first).
Fill the jalapeno halves with mixture and wrap each with ½ strip bacon. Place onto baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes

Bowtie Meatball Bites

Ingredients

½ cup Pasta, cooked - 100 calories

½ cup Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 3 calories

3 oz Meatballs, turkey - 180 calories

Directions

Cook pasta (bowtie shapes preferably!) as instructed on package.
Microwave meatballs from frozen.
Spear with toothpicks as shown in picture.
Gluten free? Use gluten-free pasta. No meat? Use a vegetarian meatball type, available at most stores.

Wedding Reception Entrees

When thinking about what you want to serve for dinner at your wedding reception, there is a wide variety of ways you can go. To get your ideas brewing in a specific direction that may match your wedding invitation and theme, you’ll want to consider the time of day and whether or not you want to have a plated meal, family style, buffet style, a grazing table, have a food truck, or self-serve food stations. You’ll also want to consider whether or not your venue will have in house catering options that charge a fee per person or plate. And lastly, if any guests are dietary restricted based upon responses you received back on your wedding invitation or RSVP. All of these factors help drive the direction of what entrees to serve at the wedding reception that guests will love.

Some wedding food ideas for entrees are:

Fried (or baked) Chicken - chicken, steak, and fish are all popular options to see at weddings. They’re what many people like to eat and can be dressed up or down to be as simple or gourmet as you want to go.
Steak
Fish (sea bass or salmon)
Crab cake - easy and elegant bites work great for summer weddings.
Sliders - you can customize sliders to include your favorites like anything from ham and cheese to burgers!
Roasted Turkey - another bird option that’s a pleasant surprise to find at weddings. When roasted, it adds an elegant touch.
Taco Bar - great and affordable way to accommodate a wide variety of diets and preferences. Tacos also are a real crowd pleaser and there’s plenty of ways to build your own that guests will love no matter what your wedding theme may be.
Pizza Bar - build your own pizza or have premade servings of popular favorites along with a few unique and custom options to try.
Barbeque (burgers, chicken, pork, brisket) - works great for a rustic themed, outdoor, or summer wedding.
Pasta Bar (think spaghetti, chicken alfredo, creamy mushroom fettuccine, antipasta, etc.) - a great option for those with dietary restrictions. Just make sure to include gluten free pasta and have vegetarian and vegan-friendly options.
Sushi Station
Breakfast for Dinner (could also be brunch, so think about shrimps and grits, chicken and waffles, muffins, breakfast meats, eggs and mimosas)

Wedding Reception Side Dishes

When it comes to making a selection for what to serve as a side dish, the following side dish ideas could work very well with some of the entree ideas we listed above.

These work great with the comfort food options like a barbeque theme, chicken, steak, or fish entree.

Baked beans
Mashed potatoes
Baked potatoes
Roasted potatoes
Potato salad
Macaroni salad
Mac n cheese
Rolls
Cornbread
Green beans
Salad

If going with a sushi bar, here are some side dish ideas that pair well with that option that your guests will love.

Edamame
Crab salad
Miso soup
Seaweed salad
Vegetable tempura
Dumplings
Edible flowers

Taco bars work well for a summer wedding theme or really any time of year. For a taco bar, you can go with the following wedding reception side dish options:

Tex-Mex salad
Chips
Fruit salad
Refried beans
Rice
Mexican corn

Wedding Reception Desserts

Most people opt to stick with a bride and groom wedding cake as the primary dessert. However, the sky's the limit. When it comes to wedding reception desserts, you can choose to offer as little or as many dessert ideas as you like depending on your wedding theme.

Some wedding dessert ideas are:

Mini cakes
Pies
Cinnabon cinnamon rolls
Fruit tarts
Cookies
Brownie bites
Macaroons
Crepe cakes
Cupcakes
Donuts

For additional help with how to plan a wedding reception menu, check out this breakdown for more of what you’ll want to consider so you can have an unforgettable day!