Whilst a sit down 3-course meal is a great way to keep guests satisfied on your wedding day, it isn’t the only meal you need to consider on your wedding day. As well as cocktail hour canapes, you should also consider a late night snack (or even another small meal) for guests in the evening – ideally sometime during or after the evening celebrations.
After hours of dancing and celebrating, your guests will be ready for something delicious to refuel! But, what do you serve guests in the evening of a wedding?
The best wedding evening foods are those that can be eaten without cutlery or plates, can be eaten whilst standing up/mingling, are carb-heavy (to soak up any drinks!), and budget-friendly. Great examples of evening food at a wedding include grazing tables, pizza, a hog roast, or gyros.
Read on for our top evening wedding food choices, plus tips and tricks for serving your evening buffet.
Our Favourite Wedding Party Food Ideas
Here are our top wedding evening food recommendations to satisfy your guests and end the night on a high!
1. Grazing Table
A grazing table is not only visually stunning but also incredibly versatile – perfect for an evening wedding buffet. Filled with an array of cured meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, bread, dips, and even heartier options like sandwiches and salads, it caters to a wide range of tastes. You can customise it to fit your wedding theme (think a specific colours, such as pink florals, or specific locality of items on the tables, like only featuring Italian cheese & charcuterie), as well as catering for a range of dietary requirements. Plus, you don’t have to worry about items going cold, meaning guests can graze over a few hours – in between dancing, of course!
2. Gyros / Kebabs
Perfect for adding a Mediterranean flair to your evening spread, gyros and kebabs are handheld, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing. Plus, there are so many Greek catering vans available across the country that are available to cater for weddings! If possible, have a selection of main fillings available, such as classic donna meat, grilled chicken, and halloumi, and serve them with pita bread, fresh veggies, salad, and a choice of tzatziki or spicy sauces. Don’t forget the chips!
3. Pizza & Chips
After a few hours of drinking and dancing, leaning heavily on the carbs is a great way to satisfy the hungry (and possibly drunk!) guests. A few years ago I worked at a wedding venue in the Peak District, who’s go to was pizza and chips at the end of the night. Not only did this always get a brilliant reaction from guests, but was a great way to feed a crowd on a budget. Plus, it is easy to cater for veggies too. If your venue can’t provide pizza, you could consider hiring a pizza van to park outside!
4. A Hog Roast / Pork Sandwiches
For a rustic, yet impressive option, a hog roast is perfect for your wedding evening food. As the hog roast isn’t really the main event food-wise on your wedding day, keep the accompaniments super simple. We’d recommend serving it sandwich-style with stuffing, roast potatoes, and apple sauce. Guests can eat the hog roast sandwiches with their hands, whilst minimising the need for plates, cutlery, and napkins.
5. Dessert Station
The dessert station is one of the most cost-effective options on this list, which is great if you know your family and friends have as big a sweet tooth as you do. It is sure to be a hit! Create this in the style of a grazing table, with a spread of pastries (carbs are essential for soaking up drinks!), as well as brownies, cookies, and sweets. Ensure you load up on things like fresh fruit and meringues for those who are after a lighter option. You could even feature a chocolate fountain or popcorn machine at the centre of your dessert station too!
6. Chinese-Takeaway Buffet
A Chop-Stix-style-buffet (for my fellow Brits, you’ll know what we mean!) would be a hit at any wedding, especially if guests love their oriental food. Let guests choose a base of rice or noodles, along with a few Asian-style toppings to go with. Our favourites include a classic sweet & sour chicken, crispy chilli beef, and a veggie option like bang bang cauliflower. Bonus points if you also serve everything in those nostalgic cardboard chinese takeaway boxes with a pair of chopsticks – just like the real thing!
7. Taco/Burrito Bar
Spice up the evening with a DIY taco or burrito bar. Include a selection of proteins like pulled pork, grilled chicken, marinated prawns, or even a simple chilli con carne, as well as a veggie option like spiced black beans. Let guests pile on their favorite toppings like guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, hot sauce, and shredded cheese. Don’t forget the margaritas to go alongside!
What Time Should You Serve Your Evening Wedding Buffet?
The ideal time for serving evening food is typically 2-3 hours after the main meal and once the dancing is in full swing, which could sometimes be as late as 9-10pm. This ensures guests have time to digest their earlier meal and work up an appetite again.
If your wedding runs late into the night, you might consider offering food closer to the end to keep energy levels up. If you don’t want to serve your wedding evening buffet that late, you could send your guests home with goodie bags (like a slice of cake, party favour, and a snack) at the end of the night!
Tips For Serving Your Evening Food
Executing a wedding buffet unfortunately isn’t as easy as popping out a few trays of food and calling it a day. There are a few tips & tricks we’d recommend to help the food blend seamlessly into the lively evening do:
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- Keep it simple: Choose food that’s easy to eat and doesn’t require a lot of cutlery or table space. Food-wise, make sure there are some plain-er choices for picky eaters.
- Consider dietary needs: Make sure there are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available (plus any allergy-free foods as required.
- Balance sweet and savory: Offer a mix of flavours so guests can choose based on their cravings. However, if you want to choose one or the other, always opt for savoury items.
- Make it portable: Foods that guests can eat while standing or dancing are ideal. Plus, if it can be put in a takeaway container for guests heading home early, that’s brilliant too!
- Work with your venue: Confirm what cooking and serving options are available before finalising your menu. If they can’t provide what you’d like to serve, ensure you ask for permission to an outside caterer to come on site.
- Keep your budget in mind: If you’ve splashed out on a fancy 3-course wedding breakfast earlier that day, you don’t need to spend the same again. Choose a cost-effective evening option like pizza or chips to satisfy guests.
Looking for more advice on catering on a budget, and guidance on how much you should spend on each person? Check out our helpful blog: How Much Does Wedding Catering Cost?
Book Your Wedding Buffet With Savery Grazing
Still deciding on the perfect evening wedding food for your big day? Let us help! At Savery Grazing, we offer a range of grazing table packages that are made to suit your budget and preferences.
Whether you’re having an intimate gathering in a rustic venue, or a fancy affair at a manor house in the countryside – our wedding catering services will make your special day come to life.
Explore our Wedding Catering page to learn more, or get in touch with us directly for a tailored quote.
Jasmine Savery
Founder & DirectorHi! I'm Jasmine, and I launched Savery Grazing in 2022. I’ve always had a passion for food, with a particular love for how social it can be. Follow along as I share my favourite tips, tricks, and delicious recipes with you.
Hi! I'm Jasmine, and I launched Savery Grazing in 2022. I’ve always had a passion for food, with a particular love for how social it can be. Follow along as I share my favourite tips, tricks, and delicious recipes with you.