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Alexis
Dedicated April 2021

Menu help! Italian food ideas!

Alexis, on November 5, 2018 at 8:46 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 13
Hey guys,

Word on the block is that Italian food is one of the cheaper options when it comes to wedding food. This is great because my fiancé and I are paying for our wedding, and my family is Italian.

Now or at all of my family gatherings we usually eat lasagna, or manicotti, or stuffed shells, or ziti, or chicken and cauliflower, or artichoke hearts. When planning for our dinner menu, I’m having a hard time deciding what food is “fancy” enough for a wedding. Like if I did any of those things would they be too casual?

I’ve had people recommended a chicken dish and a pasta dish for guests to choose from, but deciding what kind of Italian chicken dish, and what kind of pasta dish is proving challenging.

What does/did your Italian menu consist of?

13 Comments

Latest activity by Alexis, on November 19, 2018 at 9:21 AM
  • Kelly
    Legend October 2022
    Kelly ·
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    Hey Alexis! You can't go wrong with Italian, I feel like there is something for everyone! Are you doing buffet or plated with the Italian food? I definitely agree with offering one chicken option and then one pasta option for those who want the vegetarian option! One wedding I went to the options were a chicken marsala with fettucini noodles and vegetables and then cheese tortelinni with vegetables! It seemed to be a hit with everyone!

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  • Kelly
    Champion October 2018
    Kelly ·
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    We didn’t have Italian food but I would see what your caterer offers and do a tasting and see what you like best!
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  • Alexis
    Dedicated April 2021
    Alexis ·
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    Ooh I like the sound of the tortellini!
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  • Alexis
    Dedicated April 2021
    Alexis ·
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    I have a strong feeling that my caterer is going to tell me that they can make whatever I ask for, due to the fact that they did not provide me with any sort of menu options whatsoever. They pretty much told me that when we get together we’ll decide on a menu that fits my budget. I just want to be prepared with ideas 😊
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  • Jenna
    Dedicated August 2019
    Jenna ·
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    I would keep it simple with something like grilled chicken in Italian marinade and ziti (both with and without meat) to cover everyone. Add salad and breadsticks and maybe a hot vegetable. Similar to what I had for my first marriage and no one left hungry. Good luck!

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  • Maggie
    Champion October 2025
    Maggie ·
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    Italian food is just as fancy as you want it to be! And honestly, like pps have said, you really can't go wrong with it.

    If you want to make it really simple and pretty easy, you could ask your caterer for chicken parmesan and eggplant parmesan! You could offer pasta on the side of both, and then like Jenna said, salad and breadsticks and a vegetable. Ugh, now I'm thinking of chicken parmesan. Smiley tongue

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  • Alexis
    Dedicated April 2021
    Alexis ·
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    Okay cool yeah I like the typical salad bread and vegetable thing
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  • Mrsgreen2Be
    Dedicated October 2019
    Mrsgreen2Be ·
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    An easy one would be Chicken Marsala. You can do it in a large amount and it's easier to make than you think it is. I make mine with a bed of polenta or mashed potatoes under the chicken. i would go with a basic Baked ziti; ziti, ricotta, red sauce, mozz cheese. Simple and everyone likes it. Another option doesn't have a real name but it's a tradition bit dish that my family does for bif events. You take chicken , peppers, onions, sausage and sliced potato and roast it with olive oil in a big dish together. It's super tasty too and goes with everything.

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  • Alexis
    Dedicated April 2021
    Alexis ·
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    Thanks for the response!

    After speaking with our venue's chef we decided on a grilled chicken with a butter sauce and a side of angel hair and seasonal vegetables. And for hors d'oeuvres we decided on bruchetta, caprese skewers, and something that he described as a mozzarella stick with rice inside, and of course a cheese tray.

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  • Mrsgreen2Be
    Dedicated October 2019
    Mrsgreen2Be ·
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    Oooooo that sounds delicious


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  • Alexandra
    Super December 2018
    Alexandra ·
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    What about chicken parmesan? That's easier and can be more cost effective and also raviolis.

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  • Maggie
    Champion October 2025
    Maggie ·
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    Oh, I'll be intrigued to hear how the mozzarella sticks with rice inside turns out. Will you be tasting your menu before the wedding?

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  • Alexis
    Dedicated April 2021
    Alexis ·
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    We were advised to
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