Sample Wedding Menu: Informal

Photo: Robyn Van Dyke Photography

This Southern-inspired menu would be perfect for a rustic wedding. It has all the classic comfort food favorites, from barbecue chicken and grits to mac and cheese (yuuuum!). Where do we line up to get a plate?

Read through the delicious selections below:

Hors D'oeuvres

• Jalapeño popper dip on a toasted pita wedge
• Mini buttermilk fried chicken and waffles with cinnamon honey butter and bourbon-infused Vermont maple syrup
• Sweet potato biscuit sliders with bacon jam and crumbled feta
• BBQ chicken cornbread cups with pickled relish slaw

"It's important to offer a variety of small bites during the cocktail hour to keep the guests entertained and you stress-free while taking pictures," says Nicole Chapman of Simply Catering in Atlanta, Georgia. "I recommend our vegetarian jalapeño popper dip (the jalapeños come from my grandfather's garden!) paired with something sweet and savory, like our mini buttermilk fried chicken 'n waffles."

Starters

• Olive and oil bar
• BLT salad with chopped iceberg, Roma tomatoes, hickory cut bacon pieces and

homestyle buttermilk ranch dressing

• Redneck caviar with blue tortilla chips

"Depending on the season, it's a nice touch to offer something lighter for guests to nibble on before the official meal," Chapman suggests.

Sides

• Smoked gouda creamy grit or four-cheese mac and cheese bar featuring sautéed mushroom buttons, diced chives, andouille sausage coins and whipped butter balls
• Collard green wontons with spicy garlic aioli
• Fried green tomatoes with cajun remoulade sauce
• Brown sugar bacon-wrapped brussels sprouts, asparagus tips, or green bean bundles
• Gourmet bread board featuring jalapeño cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, yeast rolls and mini croissants

"No rustic wedding is complete without some type of starch bar," says Chapman. "Creamy grits or four-cheese mac 'n cheese are our favorite options!" She also recommends serving a vegetable wrapped in bacon, or laying out a bread and spreads station with "all the fixins," like seasonal blackberry jam or apple butter.

Entrées

• Marinated brisket with a trio BBQ sauce bar
• Buttermilk fried chicken
• Coca-Cola braised short ribs
• Pork tenderloin with Georgia peach chutney

"The epitome of rustic elegance is achieved by pairing entrées such as our crispy buttermilk fried chicken and our Coca-Cola braised short ribs," says Chapman. "Crispy, tender, and complete Southern staples, these protein options pack a big punch in terms of flavor and presentation."

A special thank you to Nicole Chapman of Simply Catering in Atlanta, Georgia for providing us with this menu.