Lyla Dejesus
Mormon weddings are centred on the belief that marriage is eternal and that families can be together forever. The reception is a celebration of this belief and is often a large party or intimate gathering that reflects the couple's style. There is no specific traditional food or drink served at Mormon wedding receptions, but there are some restrictions. Alcohol, coffee, and tea are forbidden in line with LDS beliefs. Food served at the reception is chosen to suit the couple's preferences and can include anything from cultural foods to an around-the-world type menu. The reception may also feature a cake-cutting ceremony, dancing, and a bouquet toss.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food | There is no specific traditional food or drink served at Mormon wedding receptions. However, there is no shortage of food and treats, with buffets, dessert bars, and family-style meals all being common. Finger foods are also popular, including breads, crackers, veggies and dip, chips and salsa, cream puffs, pinwheel wraps, deviled eggs, mixed nuts, or fruit skewers. |
| Drinks | Mormon wedding receptions are typically "dry", meaning no alcohol, coffee, or tea is served, as those of the LDS faith do not consume these beverages. |
| Cake | Wedding cakes are common and usually feature between two and five tiers. |
| Venue | The reception venue can vary, from barns to ballrooms, and the couple may choose to have more than one reception. |
| Entertainment | Dancing is a time-honored tradition at Mormon wedding receptions, with couples opting for a first dance, father-daughter dance, or group dances. Music is typically family-friendly and avoids explicit content. Other entertainment includes interactive games, trivia about the couple, photo booths, and performances by talented friends or family members. |
| Attire | The groom often changes his attire for the reception, wearing a traditional suit or tuxedo. The bride may also change into a more modest wedding dress. The wedding party often wears the same attire throughout the day. |
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What You'll Learn
Mormon wedding receptions are alcohol-free
Mormon wedding receptions are large parties or intimate gatherings that reflect the couple's style. They are also alcohol-free, in line with the beliefs of those in the LDS faith. If you're unsure how to approach this with guests who are not LDS, you can give them a heads-up that the reception will be alcohol-free, but you are not obligated to put this information on your invitations.
There are plenty of non-alcoholic drink options to serve at a Mormon wedding reception. You could offer sparkling cider for the wedding toast, or set up a juice bar with blended juice and smoothie concoctions, served in martini glasses with little umbrellas. You could also have a lemonade bar, with different flavours such as kiwi, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, and watermelon, served in funky-shaped glasses. For something more substantial, you could offer milkshakes – either standard chocolate and vanilla, or unique combinations such as mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream, marshmallow, banana, mango, peach, or lemon cookie.
If you're looking for something more in keeping with a particular season, you could serve hot cocoa in the winter, or apple cider in the fall. You could also offer "virgin" drinks or mocktails, although some may feel that these imitate alcoholic beverages too closely. Other options include sodas, juices, punch, flavoured water, and spring water.
When it comes to food, there are no specific traditional dishes served at Mormon wedding receptions. However, there are a few things you won't find, including alcohol, coffee, and tea. You could serve anything from finger foods to a full buffet, or family-style meal, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of dishes that fit the couple's tastes and cultural backgrounds.
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There is no set wedding food
Mormon wedding receptions often feature a variety of foods that can be customized to the couple's tastes and cultural heritage. Buffets, dessert bars, and family-style meals are common, offering guests a range of options. Finger foods are also a popular choice, as they are less messy, less expensive, and do not require cutlery. Some unique food ideas for a Mormon wedding reception include freestanding food stations offering different types of cuisine, such as sushi, chicken parmesan, salads, and drinks.
For a creative twist, couples can incorporate their wedding colors into the food by using natural food coloring or vibrant fruits and vegetables as toppings or garnishes. Another idea is to have an ornate chocolate fountain with a variety of foods for dipping, such as strawberries, pretzel rods, and cookies. Couples can also choose cultural foods or an "around-the-world" menu with dishes from various countries.
It is important to note that ovens in LDS meetinghouse kitchens are typically only for warming food, so the food will need to be cooked and kept warm elsewhere before being transported to the meetinghouse. This is a logistical consideration for couples planning their wedding reception menu. Overall, while there is no set wedding food, Mormon wedding receptions offer a variety of creative and personalized food options to celebrate the couple's special day.
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Buffets, dessert bars and family-style meals are common
Mormon wedding receptions are large parties or intimate gatherings that reflect the couple's style. While there is no set wedding food, there are some restrictions. Mormons do not drink alcohol, coffee or tea, so these are not served at wedding receptions.
For a modern twist on the traditional wedding reception buffet, you could try freestanding food stations. Guests can pick up different types of food at separate round tables. One table could be for sushi, another for chicken parmesan, another for drinks and another for salads. Food stations can be expensive or inexpensive, depending on the foods you choose. Finger foods, for example, tend to be cheaper, and you don't need to buy any cutlery. For starters, think about serving breads, crackers, veggies and dip, chips and salsa, cream puffs, pinwheel wraps, deviled eggs, mixed nuts, or fruit skewers.
Dessert bars are another way to offer guests a variety of foods. A chocolate fountain with liquid chocolate flowing down the sides can serve as the centerpiece of your dessert bar. Provide a variety of foods for guests to dip in chocolate (or eat plain): pretzel rods, strawberries, cherries, pineapple slices, apple slices, Graham crackers, chocolate chip cookies, bananas, Nutter Butters, and mint Oreos.
If you want to offer guests a more substantial meal, consider family-style dining. You could choose foods from the culture of your heritage, feature an "around-the-world" type menu with everything from Chinese to Mexican food, or use Italian food to complement an old-world Italy wedding theme. You can also make almost anything into a tasty bite-sized treat, from the main course (mini burgers) to dessert (mini muffins).
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Food stations can be expensive or inexpensive
Food stations can be an expensive or inexpensive component of a wedding reception, depending on the food choices. Finger foods, for instance, are generally cheaper, and you also save on cutlery. Breads, crackers, veggies and dip, chips and salsa, cream puffs, pinwheel wraps, deviled eggs, mixed nuts, or fruit skewers are some options for inexpensive finger foods.
On the other hand, food stations can also be made expensive, depending on the food choices. For instance, a chocolate fountain with a variety of foods to dip in chocolate, such as strawberries, cherries, pineapple slices, apple slices, and bananas, can be an expensive yet attractive option.
If you're looking for something in the middle, you could consider interactive food stations with roving culinary carts, where guests can select their preferred dish and customize it with a range of toppings. Dim sum, tamales, dumplings, and shumai are some options for this.
For a summer wedding, a chilled seafood station can be an elegant option. A Mac 'N' Cheese bar is another fun and interactive option, where guests can choose from a variety of bases, proteins, and toppings to create their own unique dish.
If you're looking for a unique and creative twist, you could incorporate your wedding colors into the food. Vibrant fruits and vegetables can be used as toppings or garnishes, or they can be mixed into the dishes to add a natural tint.
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The wedding cake usually has between two and five tiers
Mormon wedding receptions are large parties or intimate gatherings that reflect the couple's style. They are often a flowing, open-house-style event with many guests attending throughout the evening to celebrate the couple. Food and treats are abundant at Mormon wedding receptions, with no specific traditional foods or drinks. The only restrictions are that alcohol, coffee, and tea are not served, as these are not consumed by those of the LDS faith.
The wedding cake is a central feature of the reception, and these usually have between two and five tiers, with four being the most common number. The cake is often decorated in the wedding colours, with fresh fruit used as a natural way to tint the cake and toppings.
The reception may include a buffet, dessert bar, or family-style meal, with finger foods being a popular choice as they are less messy and less expensive. Food stations can be expensive or inexpensive, depending on the foods chosen. For example, one table could offer sushi, while another offers chicken parmesan.
For a creative twist, couples may choose to incorporate foods from their heritage or feature an "around-the-world" menu. A unique spin on the traditional wedding reception buffet is the invention of freestanding food stations or centres. Guests can pick up different types of food at separate round tables.
The reception is a time for celebration and often includes dancing, a bouquet toss, and a celebratory send-off.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no set wedding food at a Mormon reception, but the food served is usually chosen to suit the couple's preferences and cultural backgrounds.
Yes, you can incorporate your wedding colours into the food by using food colouring sparingly and choosing foods that are naturally coloured.
You can serve anything from cultural foods to "chicken or fish". You can also set up food stations with different types of food, such as sushi, chicken parmesan, salads, and drinks.
Alcohol, coffee, and tea are not served at Mormon wedding receptions as those of the LDS faith do not consume them.
You can have an ornate chocolate fountain with various foods for guests to dip in chocolate, such as pretzel rods, strawberries, and cookies. You can also incorporate your wedding colours into the food or serve bite-sized treats.
