Taco bar at wedding?

We're doing a taco and baked potato bar..but our wedding is very laid back, casual and only about maybe 200 tops will attend. Our venue is rustic/barn type setting. We'll have yard games for people to play while they are waiting for the reception to start even. The guys are wearing shirts, vests and jeans. So, pretty casual so the food bar kind of fits as we aren't fancy or showy people. If you are doing something more formal, I'd suggest a more formal meal. At the end of the day, it's your wedding and what you want at your wedding. Also, consider the time it will take for 350 people to go through a buffet bar even if they are able to use both sides.

My FH LOVES tacos, and I really like them too. I think a taco bar is a great idea for a wedding....BUT I do think it might be a bit informal for an elegant venue and such. I don't know though, our weddings are supposed to be about what we want, and are supposed to represent y'all as a couple. Therefore, if a taco bar is really what y'all want, then don't worry about what anyone else things. There might be some ways to "class it up" too: have a chef there preparing fajitas, use super fancy serving platters, etc.

Inspo 1Inspo 2Inspo 3Inspo 4

Tacos are definitely my fave!! I do think it's tad bit informal but it's your day!! If that's what you guys love then I say do it

You could always do tacos as a late night snack later in the evening

I would not serve tacos at a formal wedding.

I LOVE that idea. I say do it!

It's like saying "we want to be formal, be we're also here to party".

I think it's a great idea! Just make sure there are forks available too...I eat my tacos with a fork regularly in real life and would certainly do so if I were in an outfit I wanted to stay nice!

I have been to a wedding at your venue and honestly it wasn't too formal! We had a buffet dinner at that wedding so I don't think a taco bar would be bad. I agree with what PP said about "dressing it up" if you are concerned about formality.

I ran into the same problem, we originally wanted a food truck and my mom said, she would be embarrassed for her guest at MY wedding to have to wait in line to get there food. We ended up going with BBQ. I am kind of disappointed in myself for not sticking to what we wanted.
If you want tacos have them!!!

It would be semi-formal at most, and to me, that would only be if it was a plated meal served on formal china & linens & silverware.

A lot of people worry about the mess, and I get that’s relevance to formality (if I drip taco grease on an evening gown I’m going to be way more upset than I would be to spill on a sundress), but in general for a casual event I think tacos sound fun.
THAT said, for an event of that size, I worry about a ‘bar’ style meal of ANY sort. Guests serving themselves (or even being served) from bars takes a ton of extra time, picking and choosing exactly what they want on each taco. This would definitely require extra measures to make sure everything goes smoothly – several bars set up, so everyone’s not crowded around one, staff to edo all the scooping/serving to ensure moving lines, portion control, and mess/cross contamination clean up. If done right it could be cool, but keep in mind the challenges to do it right for 350 guests

If your wedding isn’t too formal a taco bar could be nicely done. I’d suggest two or three taco stations though to cut down the lines (350 guests is HUGE). Tacos don’t seem like enough food either. What about a buffet (2-3 of the same to reduce lines) with: vegetarian enchiladas, rice, beans, tortillas & salad?

If everything about your wedding is rather formal than I would agree a taco bar is pretty casual and also messy. Guests will be dressed up, potentially bought a new outfit. I wouldn't want to get food all over my clothes. I've been to a wedding with a taco bar and it was a mess, not that it always is, but this one was and it was hard to eat.

Instead, could you do mini tacos as passed apps or something during cocktail hour and have something else for dinner?

View Quoted Comment

Mandy makes very valid points.

I would personally opt for something a little bit more formal, maybe Italian? Especially since you are having so many people. It would take a very long time for everyone to walk down the line and dress their tacos as they like.

But of course, it is your wedding day. If tacos are what you want, by all means, go for it.

Honestly a lot of wedding have taco bars and it's less expensive usually than steaks! It's fun, will fit all styles of eaters (vegetarian, vegan, etc) and there's so many options! Who doesn't like a taco plus if you don't or you have the picky little ones, a flour tortilla with cheese! I feel like taco bars are win wins!

View Quoted Comment Oh my! My mouth is watering just looking at these! A very formal way to have them! I reall would love a taco bar for our wedding but our first choice venue (as of right now) is only their options (which don't get me wrong I am also excited for and sound delicious!) But I won't steer a bride away from a taco bar! Haha

I feel like even if your wedding is semi-formal, your guests will see the elegant venue and plan for your wedding as such. I do think a taco bar is a bit too informal for your wedding, but you could absolutely incorporate tacos somehow as an appetizer or a late night snack, as another poster suggested.

I think the type of food doesn't matter so much in terms in formality, but how it's served. Like don't use plastic utensils and paper plates. Get cloth napkins. That sort of thing. I think you should definitely serve the food you want, just do it in a way that's not casual if that makes sense.

I love the pics of how to "dress it up".

If tacos are what you want, then have tacos. The pics show that it can be done in a more formal way. I have met very few people who didn't like tacos! I would much rather have a "less formal" taco bar than have some plated basic chicken/rice/vegi meal any day of the week!

If your setting is more formal, i'd find a way to "dress up" the tacos a bit, or turn it into a station where you have catering help to move the lines along. We're planning to do a taco bar for my reception but it's more of a casual setting.