Non-Soup/Salad First Course Ideas?

I have seen pasta served vs. soup.

Have you thought of doing a caprese salad (tomato/mozzerella) vs a traditional salad?

The caprese is a good idea!

Just a heads up though, even though your FH isn't crazy about a salad, a lot of your guests may be. I look forward to the salad course because weddings have A LOT of food and those foods can be pretty heavy at times....and I just really like salads.

ETA: another option though would be to have a cheese course replace the soup or salad

Hmm, that may be up FH's alley, he llves caprese salad. I don't know how well it's go with the rest of the menu though (upscale Southern is the best way to describe it).

Risotto is a great alternative to not having soup or salad. And there are endless ways you can make it!

What do you have at your cocktail hour? I think suggestions might change based on what you're offering before.

I'm with Maltese I love the salad course myself

Maltese- That's what I told him! We're having a ton of food during cocktail hour, 3 courses for dinner and late night snacks. But he's being super picky because that's not what's done over here and his fam and friends might get a salad and their eyebrows will raise.

We are doing caprese.

Cold cuts or anti-pasto.

Cocktail hour we're having 5 passed apps (fried green tomatoes with pepper jelly and goat cheese, mini crab cakes, blackened tuna with cucumber relish, pimento cheese canapes, and a "lowcountry skewer" with potato, onion, shrimp and sausage). We're also having a mac and cheese station with different cheeses and toppings.

Miss to Mrs- Risotto's a really good option. He LOVES risotto and I know my fam and friends would like that as well.

If people don't do salad or soup, they tend to go with pasta.

You could do something different like Arancini (Risotto balls stuffed with cheese and fried). You could do a polenta or grits. You could do some sort or tart, like artichoke tarts or even a caprese type tart. The possibilities are endless as long as he can settle on something.

Good ideas Crystal, thank you!

Bacon-wrapped anything!

Okay. If you're having mac and cheese, I wouldn't go pasta. I think the caprese salad satisfies the salad/app requirement. I like salad a lot and would be thrilled with caprese salad!

L&G- We're def down for bacon ANYTHING, but unfortunately we have a lot of picky eaters/dietary restrictions to consider :-(

Yeah, I'm definitely going to mention Caprese to him.

We did a mini flatbread pizza with mozzarella, caramelized onion, fig, pancetta and parmesan with a little mixed green salad on the side as a starter. It was not big or overly filling, but delish! And was unique. This could satisfy both the salad lovers and those who prefer a different starter.

Maybe you could do a quiche or a Spanish torta?

Emily- That sounds really good! And it is a bit different.