Wedding days aren’t just one day anymore! More and more couples are turning their wedding day into an entire wedding weekend, and we couldn’t love it more! Part of what makes weddings so special is having the people you love most all in one place. With everyone’s busy schedules, it can be rare to have your entire family and friend group together, which makes a wedding weekend that much more meaningful. So why not make the most of that time together by having more wedding weekend events?
This can include pre-wedding events, like a rehearsal dinner and welcome party, as well as post-wedding events, like a farewell brunch. You may also consider hosting a wedding day luncheon as an informal way to start celebrating with your wedding party and close family before the main wedding festivities kick off.
Our team at John Michael Events can not only cater your wedding day, but we also provide a variety of delicious options for each of your ancillary wedding weekend events, ranging from fun and laidback to more formal gatherings. There are so many ways to approach these additional wedding events, so let’s explore some of the most popular options and the catering possibilities for each one!
Pre-Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
Traditionally, your rehearsal dinner takes place the night before the wedding with your wedding party and immediate family. Since it’s typically a smaller gathering, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy an intimate dinner and spend quality time with your closest loved ones. For that reason, we recommend keeping your rehearsal dinner centered around a sit down meal, whether that’s a plated dinner or buffet. It doesn’t have to be formal unless that’s your style, but giving everyone a chance to sit down together and catch up will be much appreciated.
After all, this is the first time your closest family and friends will be all together for the wedding weekend and for many guests, it may be the first time they’ve seen each other in a while. Having a sit down dinner allows everyone plenty of time to talk, reconnect, and enjoy quality time together.
When choosing between a buffet or plated meal, we advise you to first consider what you’re serving at your wedding reception and then choose the other option for your rehearsal dinner. This gives your guests a different dining experience each night and allows you to showcase more variety throughout the wedding weekend.
If you opt for a buffet, our social events’ buffet package includes:
- 1 Entree – Chicken, Meat or Seafood
- 1 Pasta Entree
- 1 Salad Selection
- 2 Side Dish Selections
- Assorted Rolls with Butter
- 1 Dessert Selection
All of our buffet packages include a complete buffet setup, including stainless steel equipment, linens, menu signage, compostable plates and flatware, and all necessary staffing to make your event run as smoothly as possible. To view our buffet menu options, including additional enhancements, follow the link below:
If you opt for a plated meal, our social events’ plated package includes:
- 1 Salad Selection
- 1 Entree – Chicken, Meat, Seafood or Vegetarian (You may offer your guests up to 3 different choices)
- 2 Side Dish Selections
- Assorted Rolls with Butter
- 1 Dessert Selection
This package comes complete with china dinner plates, glass salad and dessert plates, flatware, fruit-infused water, linen napkins, and of course, our experienced team to take care of every detail. Check out the link below to view our menu selections and upgrade options:
Pre-Wedding Welcome Party
While the rehearsal dinner is a great way to kick off the wedding weekend with your closest family and friends, a welcome party gives you the chance to gather the rest of your guests too! This event can take place after the rehearsal dinner and is typically open to everyone invited to the wedding. Since it’s the official kickoff to the wedding weekend, this is the time to have a little more fun with the food, drinks, and overall atmosphere. You can keep things casual and festive with passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations, cocktails, or other interactive options that encourage guests to mingle and enjoy themselves.
Imagine being surrounded by your guests in a unique Orlando venue, like the Orlando Science Center, Paradise Cove or the Orlando Museum of Art, and indulging in fun, out-of-the-box culinary experiences, such as:
- Passed Chicken and Waffles Hors D’oeuvres
- Build Your Own Mac & Cheese Bar
- Live Action Chef-Rolled Sushi Station
- Chef-Carved Prime Rib
- Gourmet Mini Pizzas Station
- Chef Prepared Flaming Donuts or Bananas Foster
And what’s a great dining experience without good drinks? Our social event bar packages allow you to truly customize your beverage menu, whether you prefer a beer & wine bar or full liquor bar.
Ultimately, your welcome party is such a fun way to bring everyone together, give them a taste of what’s to come and start the wedding weekend on a high note!
Wedding Day Lunch
One part of the wedding weekend that couples often forget about is lunch on the wedding day! This is actually one of the most crucial meals of the weekend because with your adrenaline running high, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget to eat. With a full day of celebrating ahead, having convenient, substantial and of course, delicious, food readily available will help keep you and your wedding party fueled and feeling your best.
Since everyone will be busy with hair and makeup, we recommend keeping your wedding day lunch simple with boxed lunches. But these are far from your ordinary paper bag lunches! Our individually packaged meals come in polished, eco-friendly boxes and include compostable cutlery, all the appropriate condiments, a mint, and biodegradable napkins.
With six meal options to choose from, there’s something to suit every palate, and each meal comes complete with a main entrée, two sides, and dessert. For example, take our classic Deli Plate boxed lunch option. It includes:
- Turkey, ham and/or roast beef premium meats served on a kaiser roll with fresh romaine lettuce, tomato & Swiss cheese
- Fresh dill potato salad cup
- Fresh fruit cup
- Mini bag of chips
- Gourmet jumbo cookie
View our other 5 boxed lunch options here.
Post-Wedding Farewell Brunch
The fun doesn’t have to stop after your wedding day! A farewell brunch is a great way to bring everyone together for one final wedding weekend event before your guests head home. After the excitement of the wedding celebration, everyone can relax, enjoy a meal together, and spend a little more time with the people who made the weekend so special before everyone goes their separate ways.
Every great brunch starts with mimosas, and our Mimosa Bar is always a guest favorite! You can choose from a variety of juices, including classic orange, cranberry, and watermelon, and let guests mix and match their favorites. You can also opt for our Bloody Mary Bar, which is especially fitting after a late night of celebrating!
Once you’ve got the drinks covered, it’s time to talk about the food! Some delicious options for your farewell brunch include:
- Chef-Prepared Belgian Waffle Station
- Quiche
- Omelet Station
- Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich
- Pancake or French Toast Bar
- Chicken and Waffles
- Shrimp and Grits
- Avocado Toast
…and so much more! Check out all of our amazing brunch options at the link below:
Wedding Weekend Catering FAQs
What should we serve at our rehearsal dinner?
We recommend a sit down meal for your rehearsal dinner, whether you choose a plated dinner or buffet. Since this is typically a smaller, more intimate gathering, this catering style allows everyone to talk and enjoy quality time together.
What type of food and beverage works best for my wedding welcome party?
Your wedding weekend welcome party is a chance to offer guests more fun, unique food and beverage options that encourages them to mingle and enjoy themselves. Passed hors d’oeuvres, interactive food stations, and an open bar are all great options for a more casual and festive atmosphere.
Can John Michael Events cater my wedding day lunch?
Yes! John Michael Events offers a variety of social event menus to fit any occasion, including a casual lunch. For your wedding day lunch, we recommend boxed lunches because they are simple, convenient, and substantial enough for everyone to enjoy while getting ready for the day.
What brunch options does John Michael Events offer?
For your wedding farewell brunch, John Michael Events offers popular brunch favorites and more, like a Mimosa Bar, Bloody Mary Bar, Omelet Station, Chicken and Waffles, Pancake or French Toast Bar, and more.
