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  6. Our 20 Most Inventive Ideas for Your Wedding Buffet
Martha Stewart Weddings

Our 20 Most Inventive Ideas for Your Wedding Buffet

Nashia Baker, Associate Digital Editor at Martha Stewart
By Nashia Baker March 23, 2022
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wedding buffet table with my fair lady quote on sign
Credit: Anya Kernes

These spreads, including oyster bars, pizza stations, and dessert tables, will inspire your own.

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wedding buffet table with my fair lady quote on sign
Credit: Anya Kernes

Once you've exchanged rings and made your way back up the aisle, it's time for the reception to commence—meaning it's time to serve the food! Couples often opt for a standard plated meal, but that isn't the only food service style available to you on your big day. As an alternative, we've rounded up several of our favorite buffet wedding food ideas—they are worthy replacements.

That's right—despite the age-old plated meal versus buffet debate, the latter has plenty of benefits. While couples often worry that they won't be able to curate a personalized meal for their attendees via a buffet, the opposite is actually true. A buffet allows couples to have a full table's worth of the food they love most; guests often get to choose from these selections at any point during the party, from the cocktail hour and reception to late-night desserts. Plus, if you prefer a relaxed event, a buffet-style meal service is the way to go since sticking to a multi-course dinner is usually reserved for a more formal affair.

Another perk to having a buffet at your big day? It can connect to your wedding theme, or it can highlight a few of your favorite things. This Olive Saint Lily-curated buffet, complete with flatbreads and fresh fruit, was punctuated by an acrylic sign with a quote from the couple's favorite film My Fair Lady. No matter what meal service you decide on, having your favorite selection of sweets or savory delicacies on deck will make the event go off without a hitch. Ahead, we share our favorite buffet wedding food ideas to inspire your own.

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Taco Bar

Appetizer plate with tacos
Credit: Tori Pintar Photography

While these tacos from Contigo Catering were the groom's favorite part of the buffet, virtually every attendee added one to their plate. If you are also a taco fanatic, consider adding them to your buffet station; serve them alongside house-made chips with pimiento-cheese, lentils, and vegetable dips for variety.

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Cake Shooters

small dessert filled wedding food cups
Credit: Jessi Nichols Photography

When thinking through your dessert buffet menu, remember that smaller confections can definitely make a big impression. Thanks to CakeSmith, this couple provided mini cake shooters, in lemon curd and chocolate truffle flavors, to satisfy everyone with a sweet tooth at the reception.

  • Nontraditional (But Awesome) Ideas for Your Wedding Dessert

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Vegetable Setup

khrystyna nick wedding food
Credit: Simply Lace Photography

This couple enlisted one of their favorite local restaurant groups, Gusto 54, to make a mix of Italian foods for their micro wedding. A Cavolo Nero kale, pecorino, and pine nuts salad was served next to Sicilian style-pizzas; a medley of grilled vegetables, pictured here, offered another healthy option.

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Brunch Bites

nishea and anthony wedding food
Credit: Shelby Glynn Photography

A Sunday brunch buffet isn't complete without a few quintessential breakfast foods, such as casseroles and toasts. Get in on the fun by offering up tasty morning-inspired eats, like the ones Good Food served here, including a spinach, goat cheese, and tomato frittata; scrambled egg and hash brown casserole; grilled steaks; white cheddar cheese grits; pasta with asparagus and cherry tomatoes; chicken and waffles with pecan-maple butter; and cream cheese-stuffed French toast.

  • 50 Ideas for an Unforgettable Post-Wedding Brunch

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Organic Pizza Display

pizza
Credit: onelove photo

Personalize your pizza station with details that speak to the season and your location. At this rustic outdoor event, potted plants added an organic touch, while the pies themselves were served on wooden tables for a farmhouse element.

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Crackers and Cheese

sarah jake wedding food
Credit: Lance Nicoll Photography

Elevated cuisine doesn't have to come in the form of a plated meal, and these appetizers, poised on this couple's buffet, are proof. Consider adding a grazing station with crackers, breads, and a selection of gourmet cheeses, like these from Christophe Catering, to your cocktail hour menu. 

  • Unexpected Wedding Food Ideas Your Guests Will Love

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Southeast Asian Bites

South Asian wedding food spread on wooden table
Credit: Forged in the North

Wayla curated a buffet that spoke to the couple's Southeast Asian theme, including spring rolls and plenty of signature salads. You can emulate this spread, too, if you have a similar vision in mind for your big day.

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Pastries Display

wedding individual desserts at station
Credit: Ryan Ray Photography

While your big-day food needs to be on point, its presentation is a big part of piecing together the ultimate wedding buffet. Here, Eldorado Resort and Casino placed pastries on stylish marble shelving, which elevated (pun intended!) the dessert course. 

  • Mini Wedding Desserts Your Guests Will Go Crazy Over

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Grazing Table

elaborate grazing table at wedding reception
Credit: Lauren Fair Photography

A grazing table is a great reception buffet option. Take this spread by Cedar Lakes Estate, for example. The couple noted that everyone enjoyed the meats, cheeses, breads, and vegetables—and they even took home some leftovers.

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Carpaccio and Corn Cakes

server filling plates with appetizers
Credit: Jana Williams

Keeping your big-day food safe is a must, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This wedding buffet idea prioritizes just that; this duo displayed their eats, including beef carpaccio on potato crisps and corn cakes topped with pepper, cheese, and chives, behind a plexiglass partition (everything was then served by a singular station attendant from The Line Hotel).  

  • 22 Genius Food and Drink Pairings for Your Wedding

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Pie Time

tiered table with various pies on display
Credit: This Modern Romance

Choosing to forgo a wedding cake on your big day? Pie can be a perfect alternative—so feel free to offer a broad range of flavors. Hey There, Cupcake! baked a whole selection of cherry, pecan, pumpkin, and apple pies for this couple's dessert buffet.

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Oyster Bar

oyster appetizer at wedding
Credit: Gracie Byrd Jones

An oyster bar isn't reserved for beachside weddings alone. Take inspiration from this garden party: Benjamin Gilles served oysters on the half shell, which added another elevated element to the elegant affair.

  • 20 Raw Bars Perfect for Your Summer Wedding

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Cake and Company

Molly & Garrett Real Wedding Cake on Dessert Table
Credit: Sophie Epton

Don't forget to add variety to your table. Try this buffet wedding food idea out for size: Hey There, Cupcake provided the two-tier cake and completed the rest of the sugary feast with individual truffles, oatmeal cookies, and other sweets. The newlyweds made the dessert station even more personal to the day by featuring a "tack and feed" sign, which connected the table to their equestrian theme.

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Pizza Station

Late night pizza station
Credit: Perry Vaile

Searching for a buffet wedding food idea for the end of your big day? At this event, friends and family enjoyed freshly made late-night pizza from Old Edwards Inn. The dim lighting set the scene for the dancing portion of the evening and the signage served as a nod to the bride (pizza is one of her favorite dishes!).

  • 26 Delicious Wedding Ideas for Couples Crazy About Pizza

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Snack Table

julia mauro wedding buffet table
Credit: Oliver Fly Photography

If your answer to the question, "Do you like cheese?" is always, "Yes, please," then you'll want to emulate this snack table curated by Class Eventi. In addition to delectable cheeses, the caterer brought cured meats and canapés into the mix.

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Light Bites

rustic wooden table with trays of wedding food
Credit: Kristen Marie Parker

Make like this duo and marry the cultural dishes of your childhood during your reception. To pay homage to the groom's Middle Eastern and Mediterranean heritage, the couple had a grill station that included dips, flatbreads, and salads, all courtesy of Neuman's Kitchen.

  • Here's How to Choose the Most Delicious Wedding Food Ever

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Southern Fare

guests walking through buffet at welcome party
Credit: Natalie Watson

According to this couple, their wedding buffet—which was filled with pulled pork, friend chicken, collard greens and biscuits, thanks to Chef Trevor Stockton of RT Lodge—made their party "a Southern fête to remember!" Come dessert, hand pies from Dale's Fried Pies rounded out the Southern cuisine theme.

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Farm-Fresh Wraps

kara bridal shower wraps food buffet
Credit: Stewart Uy Photography

Sourcing your wedding food from local farmers not only allows you to support your community, but also leads to the freshest-possible meal. Curate your own farm-to-table-inspired spread, like this one from Babette's: Chickpea shawarma wraps were the signature dish, while chickpea hummus with farmer's market crudités and yogurt parfaits with mixed berries and granola offered tasty variety.

  • What Should You Serve at Your Post-Wedding Brunch This Summer?

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Leafy Greens

molly ed wedding buffet table
Credit: Erin McGinn Photography

A delicious side dish just might be the star of your buffet table, so long as you dress it up correctly. Heirloom Fire made two salads for this celebration and surrounded the edible leafy greens with a series of decorative vines for organic flair.

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    1 of 20
    2 of 20 Taco Bar
    3 of 20 Cake Shooters
    4 of 20 Vegetable Setup
    5 of 20 Brunch Bites
    6 of 20 Organic Pizza Display
    7 of 20 Crackers and Cheese
    8 of 20 Southeast Asian Bites
    9 of 20 Pastries Display
    10 of 20 Grazing Table
    11 of 20 Carpaccio and Corn Cakes
    12 of 20 Pie Time
    13 of 20 Oyster Bar
    14 of 20 Cake and Company
    15 of 20 Pizza Station
    16 of 20 Snack Table
    17 of 20 Light Bites
    18 of 20 Southern Fare
    19 of 20 Farm-Fresh Wraps
    20 of 20 Leafy Greens

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