Veggie Tray Ideas For Your Wedding Day

A veggie tray is a great way to offer your wedding guests a healthy snack option while they wait for their meals. It's also a good idea to include a fruit tray for a sweet and healthy option. To make a veggie tray, start by selecting a cute serving tray or platter. Next, place some delicious dips in small bowls on the tray. You can choose from a variety of dips, including ranch, hummus, and bean dips. Now add the veggies! Pick a colorful variety of veggies such as carrots, celery, peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower. Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and arrange them on the tray. You can also add some pickled items, olives, crackers, or pita for extra flavor and texture.

Choose a variety of colourful vegetables

Colourful vegetables are a key part of a veggie tray for a wedding. Here are some tips for choosing a variety of colourful vegetables:

Firstly, it is important to select fresh, seasonal vegetables with vibrant colours. The more colours, the better! Include a variety of shades of the same colour to add visual interest, such as dark green broccolini and light green celery. Bright and colourful vegetables, like carrot sticks, are always a favourite and can be paired with dips like ranch dip. You can also include red, orange, and/or yellow bell peppers, which can be cut into strips. Cherry or grape tomatoes add a pop of red and are a popular choice for veggie trays.

If you want to include green vegetables, try cucumbers, broccoli, or snap peas. Broccoli and snap peas can be served raw or blanched. Blanched vegetables are briefly cooked in boiling water and then dunked in ice water to stop the cooking process, which softens them and makes them easier to eat and digest.

Cauliflower is another option and can be served raw or roasted. Roasting vegetables adds flavour and makes them more appealing to guests. You can also include vegetables like radishes, jicama, and zucchini.

When arranging the vegetables on the tray, try to separate vegetables of similar colours and place different colours and shapes next to each other. For example, if you have two orange vegetables, like carrots and orange peppers, try to place them apart from each other, with green, yellow, or red veggies in between. This will create a visually appealing display.

Prepare and cut the vegetables

Preparing and cutting the vegetables is a crucial step in making a veggie tray for a wedding. Here are some detailed instructions to help you create a beautiful and tasty display:

Firstly, select a variety of fresh, colourful vegetables that are in season. Look for vibrant, crisp veggies such as carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, snap peas, broccoli, and cauliflower. If you want to go beyond the basics, try exotic options like artichokes, green beans, or asparagus.

Before cutting, ensure all the vegetables are thoroughly washed. Use a clean tea towel or paper towels to dry them. This step is important for food safety and will also help the veggies look more appealing.

When it comes to cutting, aim for uniformity and bite-sized pieces. Cut larger vegetables like celery, peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower into manageable pieces that can be easily picked up and eaten in 2-3 bites. For example, cut peppers into strips or slices, and separate broccoli and cauliflower into small florets. If you're using carrots, you can either cut them into sticks or use baby carrots for convenience.

If you want to get creative, you can cut radishes in half in a zigzag pattern to create cute edible garnishes. You can also cut the bottom off a bell pepper to create a flower shape. These little touches will make your veggie tray more visually appealing and impressive.

To keep things interesting, consider blanching some of the vegetables. Blanching involves briefly cooking the veggies in boiling water and then dunking them in ice water to stop the cooking process. This technique softens tough vegetables, making them easier to eat, and can enhance their colour. Vegetables like asparagus, green beans, zucchini, and summer squash benefit from blanching.

Once all the vegetables are washed, dried, and cut, it's a good idea to taste them to ensure they are fresh and tasty. You can also sprinkle them with a bit of salt and pepper for added flavour.

Finally, if you're preparing the veggies in advance, store them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and keep them refrigerated until you're ready to assemble the tray.

Arrange the vegetables on a platter

Arranging the vegetables on a platter is the fun part! You can set up your vegetable platter a few hours before serving, or even the day before and store it in the fridge. If you don't have any veggie tray ideas, try the following:

Firstly, place your dip(s) on the tray. It's best to have two different dips in small bowls or ramekins to add flavour and dimension to your tray.

Next, add the veggies! Pick vegetables in an array of colours and place them around the dips. If you have two orange vegetables, like carrots and orange peppers, try not to place them next to each other. Use green, yellow or red veggies on either side. You can also divide a single veggie among two or three different areas of the platter.

Use shape to create visual interest. For example, asparagus and celery create long lines that draw the eye towards the centre of the platter. Paying attention to the unique shapes of the vegetables helps create a sense of balance and makes your veggie tray more enticing.

Pile up each item in reasonable quantities. A lone carrot stick doesn't look appealing, but when part of a bright orange pile, your guests will dive in! You don't need to leave space between the various vegetables. In fact, you want to create a feeling of abundance by leaving no space on your platter.

Finally, fill up the space between the veggies with different types of dips. This will make the veggies taste better and create a more interesting snack. You can also add some beautiful wooden or glass mini bowls with dips to make a more visually interesting vegetable platter.

Prepare and add dips to the platter

Preparing the dips for your veggie tray ahead of time is a great way to save time on the day of the wedding. It is recommended that you make your dips the day before the wedding and store them in the fridge to chill. This will also allow the dips to maximise in flavour.

When it comes to choosing your dips, there are plenty of options to choose from. A creamy option like ranch dip is always a hit with guests, but you can also offer something a little different, like hummus, southwest ranch, onion dip, spinach dip, garlic and herb dip, or a dill spread. If you want to keep your veggie tray dairy-free, you could try vegan ranch dip, avocado green goddess dressing, creamy harissa dressing, garlicky sunflower seed dressing, or ginger-turmeric dressing.

Once you have prepared your dips, place them in small bowls on your veggie tray. Adding two dips in small bowls will not only enhance the flavour of the tray, but also add a fun element and dimension. If you are serving a large number of guests, it is recommended that you have two or three dips on your tray. Place the bowls on opposite sides or ends of the platter to create balance.

If you are serving a particularly large crowd, you may want to consider layering your veggie trays by height to add eye appeal. You can also add display height by putting empty cardboard boxes under the tablecloth.

Store the veggie tray

Storing a veggie tray is a crucial step in ensuring the freshness and quality of the vegetables. Here are some detailed instructions on how to properly store your veggie tray for a wedding:

Choose the Right Container

Use an airtight container to store your leftover vegetables. This will help keep the vegetables fresh and prevent them from drying out. If you have a variety of vegetables, consider using multiple containers to separate them, especially for root vegetables, to avoid sogginess.

Refrigerate the Veggie Tray

Place the airtight container(s) in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve the veggie tray again. This will keep the vegetables cool and fresh. Depending on when you purchased the vegetables, they should stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Prepare the Vegetables in Advance

If you are making the veggie tray for a wedding, consider washing, cutting, and prepping the vegetables the day before. Store them in self-sealing bags or containers in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble the tray. This will save you time and ensure the vegetables are fresh for your special day.

Keep Dips Refrigerated

If your veggie tray includes dips, such as hummus or ranch, make sure to keep them refrigerated as well. Dips containing dairy or other perishable ingredients should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep them chilled until ready to serve.

Use a Hard Container for Transport

If you are transporting the veggie tray to the wedding venue, consider using a hard container with a lid and dividers. This will make it easier to transport and maximize space in your refrigerator. It also ensures that the tray stays fresh and intact during travel.

Cover and Refrigerate Until Ready to Serve

Once you have assembled the veggie tray, cover it with plastic wrap or a lid and store it in the refrigerator. This will keep the vegetables fresh and crisp until it is time to serve them to your wedding guests.

Frequently asked questions