Inspiration to create an event to remember!
2023 WEDDING CATERING TRENDS
While wedding food trends are always changing, it's rare that a new trend completely replaces an old one. Rather, each year only adds to the already-incredible roster of big-day ideas that exist, meaning the options available to engaged couples continue to grow. And that means more choices and even more options for personalization.
After the last few years of craving parties and people, 2023 has seen a big return to social celebrations. People are embracing the joy of gathering once again. And many long-loved and long-held wedding traditions (like sitting down to a big plated meal) just feel extra special now.
Plant-based food. Every year more and more guests are requesting vegan and vegetarian menu options whether or not they have a dietary restriction. Plant-based food is a thoughtful way to cater to your guests’ needs. Plus, it’s more sustainable and often more cost-effective.
Grazing tables. Grazing tables are like GIANT cheese and charcuterie boards overflowing with your favorite foods. You can see why they’ve become trendy on social media: These beautiful spreads are as gorgeous as they are delicious. You don’t have to limit yourself to charcuterie and cheese. You can set up multiple boards, including one for sweets or a “first-course” table devoted to salads. Or create a brunch grazing table with donuts, bagels, pastries, jams, smoked fish, fruit, yogurts, and more. The options and themes are truly endless.
Regional menus. Local, seasonal foods have been a popular wedding food trend for a while now. Using close-to-home ingredients can be more sustainable and affordable. But local doesn’t just mean sourcing ingredients from local farms. Many couples want food that is native to the area or region to show off what makes their wedding location special from a culinary standpoint.
Oyster stations. Speaking of regional food, tasty mollusks popping still pop up at a lot of Pacific Northwest weddings. Like any other food “action station,” an oyster bar creates an experience that effortlessly elevates your event.
Late-night snacks. The late-night snack trend is still going strong. Couples are showcasing foods they love--from comfort foods and movie snacks to their favorite food cart dishes and fast foods. Brainstorm with your partner to create a list of your favorite snacks and see what late-night menu ideas come up. Midnight ramen party, anyone?
Plated dinners. Plated meals are nothing new in the world of weddings, but they are making a notable resurgence. Post-pandemic, more people want to sit down and enjoy a traditional plated dinner. It’s kind of like going back to basics, in terms of gathering. People want to do those longer toasts and say everything that's been on their minds since getting married means so much more now
Individual servings/miniature versions of foods. Remember during Covid-19 when menus were reimagined into individual servings for a safe experience? Expect this trend to hang on. Individual charcuterie and cheese boxes and tiny desserts are ideal when dancing, mixing, and mingling are priorities for couples and guests, offering a non-traditional dinner by way of hors d'oeuvres.
Childhood classics and playful nostalgia. Mini grilled cheese sandwiches at a wedding? Yes. Mini grilled cheese sandwiches with lobster or black truffles? Double YES! Comfort food classics with an elegant twist are just getting more popular. Weddings are the perfect time to take your favorite dishes and make them a little special. Think elevated versions of childhood classics, like tomato soup and grilled cheese. Comfort food makes people nostalgic for happy moments from home and their childhood.
Dessert tables. Often guests just want a taste of dessert. A dessert buffet is a fun way to offer something sweet for everyone’s palate. Miniature desserts offer a fun palette of colors to match any theme and create fantastic table displays with. And many small desserts—like candies or macarons—can also be packaged as take-home guest favors.
Oregon Bride Best of Awards
Vote Now for Oregon Bride’s Best of 2022!
To say that the past two years were a wild ride is an understatement. We started 2020 off ready to take on the world. In January of that year, we officially took over management of Leftbank and had an amazing first year planned. Then in March, well, everyone knows what happened worldwide. 2021 was a year of learning + growth as we went thru staff changes and started hosting events again, all while trying to determine what the future held. We have been honored to work with so many great clients and host amazing events this year, from weddings to beer tastings; from dances to holiday parties.
We would be absolutely honored if you would take a moment to nominate us as Best Urban Venue for Oregon Brides Best of 2022 awards. Our team has worked hard this year to bring the venue back to life after the COVID hiatus and it would mean the world to us. If you hosted an event this year, be sure to nominate your other vendors in the applicable categories — they too would much appreciate it!
Here’s a quick peak at a few of the events held over the last two years (P.S. All but two had a guest count under 40 — so Leftbank can certainly be the intimate venue of your dreams!)
Ceremony Ideas
At Leftbank many of our clients utilize our in-house natural wood folding chairs and have the ceremony positioned on the southern half of the greatroom. You may be wondering “how will I make my ceremony unique?” when there are similar aspects in play. Well, there are many options!
Backdrop - There are SO many options to make your alter unique to you. Whether you are using a wooden arbor, having floral hanging above you, or you have unique geometric pieces arranged the possibilities are endless.
Orientation - At Leftbank we have seen ceremonies angled towards the SW corner, positioned against the brick column, and event set-up facing the center of the room (commonly with a long run of drape behind).
Seating - If you’re not wanting to have guests leave the room after the ceremony, but don’t want to worry about moving chairs around, have them sit at their tables instead!
Below are examples of ceremonies at the Annex, each one different and true to the couple’s vision.
Photographers: Nate Smith | Rebecca Rizzo | Ely Roberts | Meagan Gibson | Yasmin Khajavi | Catherine Marie Taylor | Lukas Korynta
ChefStable
When choosing ChefStable you’re guaranteed a unique, beautiful, and delicious meal no matter the service type chosen. They partner with local restaurants and chefs to bring iconic recipes & dishes to your table. These same chefs can also work with you to design a custom menu, unique to you and your event. “Your wedding, Portland style.”
What lead you to open a catering company? Portland needed a catering company that could be as dynamic as our restaurant scene. Local partygoers were ready for a different experience at events, with the highest attention paid to forward-thinking cuisine. The opportunity to partner with ChefStable Group was the ideal scenario to make this happen.
What type of events do you cater? All manner of events! From corporate meetings and celebrations to weddings, nonprofit fundraising galas, holiday events, and everything in between.
Is there a certain type of service or cuisine you specialize in? We excel in all services and cuisines, but we're partial to a family-style or plated service, where the beauty of the food and our plating style really shines.
What sets you apart from other caterers in the area? By offering our clients the ability to add a menu item from the participating ChefStable Group restaurants, we're able to give your guests a truly authentic 'Taste of Portland' experience.
What is your favorite thing about the event industry? We love building and training our service team, working with other talented event professionals in the Portland area, and, of course, bringing our clients' vision to life and giving them a truly memorable culinary experience.
Fun fact about you and/or your company: We once catered an event where Ice Cube was a guest. As a lifelong hip-hop devotee, I assigned myself to manage his greenroom catering and actually got to meet him at the end of the event!
Photography Credits: Leah Beachy Photo (photo 1&2) | Yasmin Khajavi (photo 3&4) | Portland Event Photography (photo 5&6)
Industrial Garden Party
If you’re looking to host a classy and modern indoor party with lots of greenery and natural colors, look no further! Erin and Cody’s wedding was designed perfectly to fit this vibe and we hope that their vision helps to inspire your own.
They began the day by getting ready onsite with their nearest and dearest. Erin + co got pampered in the Greenroom and Cody + co relaxed in the Clubroom. Their ceremony was held in front of the large windows of the Greatroom and afterward, guests met in the Clubroom to mingle while the upstairs was transformed for the reception.
Vendor Credits: Photographer: Kate Ames Photography | Venue: Leftbank Annex | Floral: One Haus Creative | DJ: Noteworthy DJ’s | Catering: Pearl Catering