Leaving out Beef

To be honest, anytime I've had beef at a wedding it's been overcooked and cold by the time it gets to some of the tables. Because there are so many ways to cook it and some like it rare, some medium, etc. it's hard to find one that pleases everyone. We left it off our menu and not one person was disappointed! Go with what you want - Chicken and salmon is a great set of options.

I understand your dilemma. Personally, I think this is a "know your crowd" type decision. If your friends and family live in an area where fresh seafood is plentiful and typically consumed, I think you're fine with salmon and chicken. But, if your guests are from and/or your wedding is located in a more "land-locked" location where fresh seafood isn't as common, I think I'd go with offering beef. We live in So Cal where great seafood is plentiful and we personally LOVE it, especially salmon, but we definitely have local relatives who don't care for/eat fish and a bunch of relatives from the Midwest who will be attending. Good, fresh seafood isn't as common there and BEEF is well-appreciated by them lol!, so we're going with filet mignon and chicken, even though a chicken-salmon duet would have been less expensive. It's kind of a bummer, but it seemed like the better choice in terms of hosting our guests. (Not a requirement; I think this is definitely a choice where the "you-do-you" response can easily apply, we just chose to prioritize the anticipated guests' preferences over the lower-cost option.)

EDT: I also agree this decision should be based on the specifics of the offerings and your response to your tasting. I have had horrible beef entrees at weddings -- tough, chewy sliced "roast beast"-type meat doused in some kind of heavy gravy. If I had known that, I definitely would/should have chosen chicken. However, the food at daughter and FSIL's tasting was amazing. The beef option is a very high quality filet and they got to choose from a couple delicious glazes. The food was all phenomenal, so we figure people will find something they like on their plate. Husband/FOB only eats beef well-done, so we're anticipating that he won't eat his steak (but, I'll get to! ), but he thought the chicken was amazing (we're doing a plated duet where all guests get both options) so it's all good.

We are offering zero beef options. We are offering one chicken and one fish option. If people are going to be that up in arms about not having beef, they can go to a steakhouse after the wedding on their own dime.

Hi Noah! Welcome to WeddingWire! I think it's your wedding, and you know best! If you think your guests would be fine without a beef option, then go with serving chicken and salmon! Also, it's your wedding, and you should make the decisions that make you the happiest!

We offered chicken, salmon and butternut squash ravioli. 50% picked chicken, 40% salmon and 10% the ravioli. I think you are 100% fine including a dinner menu without beef. For me, the costs were much closer so it wasn't a big financial decision - I just loved the other dishes more during the food tasting. They also cooked their beef one way (medium) so I was worried that even people that loved beef wouldn't love the way theirs was prepared. Anyway it was so not a big deal. I did make sure to add a couple beef based appetizers to what was passed during the cocktail hour.

I love beef. Like LOVE it. But I would absolutely be ok with chicken as well. I think a choice of chicken or salmon is sufficient. If MIL wants beef so badly, ask her to make up the difference in cost. Bet that changes her tune.

Side note...I find it really kind of a ripoff that your caterer would charge that way. Charge you what costs the most for all of it? Even thought Salmon is significantly more costly than chicken? That's not cool.

Honestly, if I were a guest, I wouldn't mind there not being beef. I feel like the majority of people who like beef also like chicken. It's nice to have a variety for the sea food lovers out there. You're fine in my opinion. I'm sorry your MOB is disappointed, but this is YOUR wedding, so do what is within your means.

If I went to a wedding and the options were chicken or fish, I'd be fine. I prefer beef, but wouldn't care if it wasn't an option.

I think most non-vegetarians eat chicken or fish, so I wouldn't worry about this.

I think that offering 2 proteins is fine. I enjoy beef but wouldn't be mad at a wedding that didn't offer it. Plus that $2000 is a big savings!

Of our 60 RSVPs we've gotten back about 45 of them are for beef. Definitely know your crowd. If I didn't serve beef people might not come lol. I'm not a fan of chicken at weddings...it's always too dry and flavorless. Beef is my easy go to.