The marriage ceremony and the vows you say to each other will remain in your mind in your whole life. However, your guests are more likely to talk about something different – the reception. Apart from the entertainment and venue, they will remember the menu for a long time and it will be part of most conversations for several months.

For the last few decades, the wedding industry has been undergoing transformations. You will actually realize that how people conduct marriage events today is different from how they did some years ago. The food choices that were available for your parents some years ago might not be applicable today. Here are the dos and don’ts of wedding food selection.

• Offer options

When coming up with the wedding menu, you should consider your food preferences and tastes – after all, the wedding food is a gift to the guests. And because the food choice is not about you, you will have to offer options for the omnivores if you are a vegan, because you will have them in attendance. If some of the guests have a form of intolerance, such as gluten, you should not necessarily design gluten-free menus; the caterer should know the best way to handle food preparation for such people. Work with the caterers and highlight your food preferences.

• Remain grounded

You and your partner might be total foodies, but that should not mean that the complete wedding menu should consist of food items that your guests have never seen or heard of. Apart from celebrating love, most people go to weddings for two key things – food and fun. Regardless of your exotic taste, you should never make the food a struggle for the guests. If people will do a lot of drinking, you should provide enough food to soak up the liquor. When selecting one of the affordable garden wedding venues, ensure that the food you have selected will fit the mood.

• Be realistic when it comes to the timing

Keep in mind that your guests are likely to get hungry easily. Therefore, if you love super-late dinners, you should keep it for another day. Your guests will rely on you solely for the food and hydration until the wedding event ends. The guests might be willing to stand up in rain and be happy seeing your exchange of vows and dance like no person is watching. However, they are unlikely to wait until the late hours to enjoy the food on offer. If a late-night dinner is necessary, consider having a second one when planning for the event.

•  Keep the food choices on the lighter side

Summer provides various local food choices at an affordable price. That might be one of the main reasons why planning the menu for a summer wedding is easier and fun. However, as you select the food items, ensure that the food you have selected will complement the weather. Serving some soup for a wedding is good, but it might be too much for summer weddings. Consider the available options like a lighter salad with nuts and goat cheeses. Fruits like strawberries are good for summer weddings. If you have to serve champagne and wine, ensure that the glasses are properly chilled.

• Don’t go for chocolate dipping fountains in summer

Even though chocolate dipping fountains form part of many weddings, they are inconvenient for summer weddings. The chocolate will not harden due to the high temperatures and it will be a mess for your guests to eat. Wine and cheese is a good match and is a great choice for most weddings. Avoid them during summer, because wine is bad for hot weather. Melted cheese will leave your guests feeling bloated and heavy. Try refreshing beer, crisp or cocktail.