Considering a Mexican buffet for my wedding

Can you supplement a Taco stand with perhaps catered trays from an Italian food or BBQ food restaurant? This depends on what level of formality you have for your reception.

I feel like a taco buffet is going to either be something a guest either really loves or hates. Not everyone likes Mexican food and if that's the only food option and someone doesn't like it then they might not eat.

Could the Taco vendor have some special plates for a handful of people? Another option would be to have finger foods available that could be a way to eat something alternative to the Mexican food.

In Chicago, people should know about tacos and Mexican food. Plus, tacos are a popular wedding cuisine all over. However, some may resist because they have to build their tacos and/or worry about spills. With your caterer, explore mains that are already built like carne asada and rice. Don't bank on appetizers as they can be more costly than a tray of food.


Consider how your culture considers food. In my culture, not having enough is worse than not having "fine" food. So if you must add a grill for ribs than go for it if it falls within the formality of your wedding. Or cut back on your guestlist to save money.

Your Mexican buffet idea sounds amazing and would fit beautifully with a modern venue that has a garden feel. A taco buffet with fresh appetizers, aguas frescas, a churro bar, and elote offers plenty of variety and feels fun, welcoming, and memorable for guests. If the caterer has consistently excellent reviews, presents the food well, and fits your budget, those are all strong signs.

Since someone helping with the wedding costs has concerns, you could invite them to a tasting or show them the caterer’s reviews and presentation photos. They may feel more comfortable once they see the quality and variety. At the end of the day, it is your wedding, and choosing food you genuinely enjoy can make the celebration feel more personal.

We are doing a taco/nacho buffet with having a third of the guest vegetarian and some others with food issues, its a way each person can do what's right for their personal diets.

Can't go wrong with a mexican buffet. Especially, if some people eat less than others. The guests can just serve the portion they will eat and potentially go back for seconds. My wifey and I have been looking for caterers that have good reviews and good tasting food. Anything to try to potentially try to reduce the cost for the total amount of guest attending.

First of all congratulations second off all im glad you found a good service

My fiancé practically begged for a Mexican buffet/taco bar. I shut it down. Not only is it messy, my family is Italian and my ancestors would roll in their graves at this notion. Otherwise, my personal opinion is that it looks cheap and lazy. The “cover your plate” rule for wedding gift giving is a little dated but some people still follow it. If I showed up at a wedding with a Mexican buffet and the couple was not, in fact, Mexican, I’m taking a 50 out of the envelope. 🤷🏻‍♀️


If your concerns are more cost than taste related, maybe cut down on your cocktail hour or consider doing all heavy apps instead of a full service dinner for a “garden party” feel.
Good luck in your planning!

Honestly, a taco buffet with aguas frescas and a churro bar sounds amazing for a wedding! I also think buffets can be a great way to give guests plenty of variety without making the meal feel overly formal. If you love the caterer and they have consistently great reviews, I’d definitely keep them high on the list. Your menu sounds like it would be a hit!

I think doing a Mexican buffet is a great idea but I may be a little bit biased because I’m strongly considering doing a fajita bar. Ignore the rude comments that people post. I think it’s a great option because even if a guest doesn’t necessarily like tacos there’s going to be lots of other starch/vegetaran and protein options so I’m sure they would be fine. In my opinion nothing is messier than pasta and most of my family hates pasta which is probably the cheapest catering option there is.

Oh and we’re pretty set on doing cheesecake instead of a traditional cake now too so maybe we’re just rebels. 🤭