Who Doesn't Love a Bar?!? Part One

Who Doesn't Love A Bar? Part One

What is one of our favorite things about a reception? The bar.

Now, I'm not even talking the kind that everyone gathers around like wild animals around an Africain waterhole. I'm talking about those super creative food stations that have taken the event world by storm. What's not to like about them? They are a fantastic way to incorporate a piece of your personality into your big day and they are great for guest engagement. Depending on when the station becomes available, they can even keep your guests distracted while you and your bridal party head off for pictures.

Here are a couple fun ones to get your imagination (and your drooling) juices flowing.

Chicken

Include classic sides like carrots and celery
to help guests deal with the heat.

Chicken always has and always will be a wedding favorite. It's just so versatile that it covers so many bases so of course, it makes an excellent food bar. Make them bite-sized wings and your crowd will go wild! Right off the bat, you have two big choices to offer up, bone-in and boneless, but it goes on from there! Fried, baked, skinless, grilled, vegan. Yes, you heard me right, VEGAN! There are some awe-inspiring cauliflower "chicken" wings that will make your meat lovers bar a hit with your veggie-loving friends. The best part about this food station? One word. SAUCE. There are hundreds of options. The buffalo options alone can take up more bottles than you have fingers, the bbq sauces take up even more. Midwest faves ranch and blue cheese can be a crowd pleaser everywhere. Yet you can't have a chicken wing bar without some star sauces: honey-lime, maple mustard, garlic parmesan, teriyaki, sweet & sour, bourbon honey, Thai, Jamaican jerk, and general tso's just to name a few. You definitely can't go wrong with chicken wings.

Fries

You could even offer a Canadian classic - poutine!

When I grab a bite to eat on the way home the first thing I do is grab a handful of fries to munch on. I love fries and they are often my favorite part of a meal. They just come in so many different shapes and textures and flavors that I never get tired of them! I am definitely not the only one, fries are a quickly growing trend as an event side. Tator tots, crinkle cut, curly, shoestring, waffle, wedge, and steak fries are all wildly popular and if you choose even just a couple of those you will have a happy crowd. You can even get creative and offer sweet potato or green bean or zucchini fries! Set out the typical ranges of sauces: ranch, bbq, buffalo, ketchup, and honey mustard. Want to go a step further? Have a loaded fry bar. Pizza (pepperonis, mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce), Garlic & Parm (garlic oil, parmesan, chives), Chili Cheese (chili, beans, nacho cheese), and Fully Loaded (cheese, sour cream, bacon, crispy onions, guacamole) are some delicious options. The best part? You can include smiley face fries for the kiddos (or the grown-up kiddos)!

S'Mores

Metal or bamboo skewers make inside S'more
assembly a breeze!

Last but absolutely not least is a summertime favorite, S'mores. As a kid, around the campfire s'mores was pretty cut and dry; a square of Hersey's, a slightly burnt marshmallow, and a cracked graham cracker. We still licked our fingers clean and wanted more though! This dessert option is super interactive and guests can even participate in the rain or stormy weather. Set up the station outside and a little bonfire offers guests a place to sit back and have fun making their dessert. Some clouds raining on your parade? Nestle a couple chafing dishes in a bed of stones and you have a portable, indoor roasting pit. Here comes the really fun part! Gone are the days of your basic s'more, make way for the smores of future! Marshmallows come in dozens and dozens of flavors and a jar of marshmallow fluff is never a bad idea for those who don't want to bother with the toasting part. Stack a couple baskets with candy like Hershey, Reeses, Rolo, Andes Mint, and Mounds. Next to the classic graham crackers put boxes of waffle pretzels, oreos, chocolate chip cookies, pop tarts, and *gasp* GIRL SCOUT COOKIES! Nutella, peanut butter, honey, caramel, and chocolate sauce make great dippers and drizzlers. Bacon, brie cheese, bananas, strawberries, baked apples, peach slices, peppermint patties, pineapple rings, pie fillings, and jam are all tasty and unique filling options you could have. S'mores bars can be as elaborate or as simple as you'd like!

Looking for some more yummy event bar ideas? Keep an eye out for Part Two!