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

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

Here is part two ladies and gents! After writing the last food post I quickly realized that three options didn't even begin to touch the tip of the iceberg. Or the romaine for that matter. (Get it? Iceberg LETTUCE? Romaine LETTUCE? Food blog? Laugh at my jokes guys!) Anyway, so here we are for a part two with three more fun and creative options!

Sushi

Cute little labels will tell your guests what all of
their options are

This one is a little on the pricey side. I would only recommend this as a food station if you have some extra money to throw at your food budget. Sushi is very visually appealing, all the vibrant colors are certainly quite the buffet for your eyes to feast on. You don't really need elaborate decorations or plating when sushi is the star dish. If you really want to be super fancy you can hire a chef to prepare the sushi on site but I will warn you that this option will cost you many, MANY shiny pennies. A much more cost-effective option is to purchase platters to be set out when the time comes for you and your guests to chow down. Do you have a few family members that would turn up their nose at the thought of raw fish? No problem! Chicken (don't worry, it's cooked) is a great sushi choice for your non-seafood loving guests. Vegans and vegetarians would also be happy with this bar station. My favorite is actually a veggie crunchy roll! It's so tasty! Offer a wide variety of styles and flavor profiles. Don't forget to set out dainty bowls of sauce for dipping!

Veggie 

Whether you take up a table or make a tower
a veggie bar can still be quite the statement.

To balance out our expensive taste in our last suggestion let's hit the next one head on. A veggie bar. I know what you're thinking. Really? Veggie bars? This is a wedding, not a graduation party. But hear me out. I'm not talking about your mama's veggie bars, I'm talking about the star of your food line. Don't just have Aunt Susie cut everything up and slap it on a tray, the time has come for Aunt Susie to get out her canvas and brush (or knife). Start out by giving the veggies a unique platform. Figure out a way to give all the different bowl, cups, platters, and baskets some height. You can do this by using a tiered table or even something as different sized buckets overturned underneath the tablecloth. Make sure you set the bowls or bottles of dips within easy reach so your layout doesn't get messy. Ranch, Caeser, and Italian dressings are a must but get funky and set out some hummus, buffalo sauce, and even some guacamole. The one downside is that there are only so many raw veggies that you can do but get fun with it!  Be creative in the way you slice and dice the carrots, celery, and peppers. Use cookie cutters to make fun bite-size shapes in cucumbers and squash. In just a few second,s you can carve a radish into a crunchy rose. Don't want to do all the work? Slice a couple options and put them in little cups with a dollop of dip. Make that veggie bar an on the go bar so guests can easily snag a cup and easily walk around and chat. The best thing about a veggie bar is that it can be pretty cost effective and totally DIY. Just put your thinking cap on when you plan it out!

Bloody Mary 

Look at all the color! A Bloody Mary Bar can really brighten
everyone up!

You know what I LOVE about Bloody Mary's? If you do them right they can almost be a meal all on their own. I snagged a Mary last year at one of the large Midwest fashion shows that was so loaded I had to hold it with BOTH hands. The bartender was clearly an artist when he layered on all the yummy goodies. When you have a Bloody Mary bar you have a great chance to offer your guests a chance to be super creative with their drinks. Bloody Mary's have a huge following as a morning cocktail so they can be a perfect addition to a morning or an early afternoon ceremony. You can set the station up with the basic Bloody Mary mix, even going as far to have drink dispensers filled with your base drink. Pickle juice, olive juice, Worcestershire sauce, Sriracha, and a couple of different hot sauces would all be good sauce additions. Little bowls of Old Bay seasoning, smoked paprika, chili powder and some fancy salts (like celery or garlic) offer a big bang for a little sprinkle of seasoning. A table full of toppings is what will really excite your guests. You gotta put out the usuals: lemons, limes, pickles, pearl onions, olives, stuffed olives, carrots, green onions, celery, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, and jalapenos just for starters.  To take it to the next step offer cubed Italian meats like pepperoni and salami, artichoke hearts, pickled okra, shrimp, bacon, lobster tail, and hard-boiled eggs. Go big or go home? Chicken wings, cheeseburger sliders, grilled cheese, mini tacos, spicy meatballs, and mozzarella sticks all as Bloody Mary toppers will make your wedding the talk of the town.