Social Food

Typical socials have some snacks on the tables, along with a free buffet later into the evening.

Table snacks are usually pretzels and chips, and are refilled throughout the evening.

Social buffet food can include rye bread, cheese, kielbasa, luncheon meats, and pickles. While this is the traditional food choice, it is not uncommon to see many other options at a social. These include pizza, perogies and meatballs, or different foods that are culturally unique to the families of the bride and groom.

A great and cheap option for a small event is a potluck - get everyone in the wedding party and the couple's family to contribute dishes. For larger events, you may want to book a caterer and have it professionally managed.

Do I need to supply food?

There is an expectation that you will provide food for your guests. If your event is run under a Social Occasion Permit, you may be required to supply free food.

How much?

If you're going to go with the traditional social food, you will probably want to stock enough food for a small meal or sizeable snack for half to three-quarters of your guests.

Ordering

One of the simplest options for social food is ordering in a social platter or pizza. Call ahead of time to find a company that can supply what you need for your event.

Do-It-Yourself

You can save some money on food costs by doing some of the work yourself. Social food is a great task to delegate to family members.

For luncheon meats, roll them up keep the platter neat. If they tend to unroll, stick them with toothpicks. Garnishes are nice, consider parsley and kale underneath and olives or cherry tomatoes on top Supply tongs, forks or other serving utensils.

A traditional social spread shopping list:

• Rye bread
• Buns
• Luncheon meats
• Garlic sausage or kielbasa
• Pickles
• Crackers
• Cheese
• Condiments - mustard, mayo, margarine
• Vegetable platter
• Garnishes like olives, cherry tomatoes, parsley, kale
• Potato chips, pretzels
• Toothpicks
• Plates
• Disposable cutlery
• Napkins
• Disposable table cloths

Food safety

If you put the food out early in the evening, don't bring it all out at once. Leave some in the fridge and bring it out as food gets eaten. Leaving meats out at room temperature is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Make sure all food surfaces are clean, and that only clean hands touch the food and food prep surfaces. Many people have allergies, so take care not to cross contaminate, even with seemingly harmless foods.

At the end of the night you will likely have leftovers so plan for distributing them among your helpers or family. Meats that have been sitting out for hours should be thrown out.