How to Create a Wedding Charcuterie Board for Your Big Day

If a wedding charcuterie board is a priority for you, you've landed on the right page. Although you may be wondering whether or not it's appropriate to have a charcuterie board at your wedding, there's a reason why it has been one of the most popular and recent wedding food trends.

To learn more about how to bring wedding charcuterie boards to life and charcuterie board ideas for weddings, we tapped Mauricio Lopez, executive chef at Hilton Los Cabos, Carissa Kurre, founder of Vision Boards Charcuterie, Lisa Ware, president of Catering by Michaels and Rodney Freidank, executive chef of Table 301 Catering.

Are Charcuterie Boards Good for Weddings?: Cost | Catering | How to Make a Wedding Charcuterie Board | FAQ | Ideas

Are Charcuterie Boards Good for Weddings?

Yes, charcuterie boards are good for weddings. There are many ways you (or your caterer) can customize charcuterie boards to fit into your celebration to reflect your wedding's theme (or even color scheme). "I love to find ways to personalize my boards and a great way to do this (especially for weddings) is by incorporating 'cheese text' which is super simple to do using alphabet cookie cutters," Kurre says. Freidank notes that another reason many couples opt to have charcuterie boards is because of the variety of food included, which is typically able to cater to many (if not all) guests' taste palate.

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Whether you plan on having one or multiple charcuterie boards at your celebration, they are well suited for a wedding appetizers table or individual dinner tables during cocktail hour. Freidank explains that even though charcuterie boards are a popular cocktail hour offering, they usually can be left out for a while (in an air-conditioned space), making them suitable for guests who want to grab a quick bite in between courses or a snack between dancing at the reception.

Charcuterie Board Wedding Cost Considerations

If you're looking for wedding food on a budget, charcuterie boards can be made cost-effectively depending on the type (and size) created. That said, there are several considerations to keep in mind regarding charcuterie board wedding costs. If you want to ensure you won't have to adhere to any wedding caterer minimums or requirements, making your wedding charcuterie board yourself may help save you money, Kurre notes.

That said, wedding caterers often have access to more sophisticated ingredients. So, you won't have to worry about spending extra money on any excess items that may not be used during the creation process. "Although it is true that some caterers will only do your board if they are participating in the rest of the meal as well, increasingly caterers are offering boards (and grazing tables) separately and some caterers offer them exclusively," Freidank notes. Even if you are looking to save money on your wedding charcuterie board, Ware notes that you should expect to pay three or four times the amount to have your wedding charcuterie board professionally made than it would for you to make it yourself. If you want to determine where a wedding charcuterie fits into your overall wedding budget, use our free budget tool.

Where to Find Charcuterie Board Wedding Catering

Although you can search "charcuterie board for a wedding near me," you can save time by heading straight to The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find charcuterie board catering in your hometown or marrying location. These pros can work with you to bring your wedding charcuterie board ideas to life on your big day.

How to Make a Wedding Charcuterie Board

Making a wedding charcuterie board can be a long process, depending on whether you do it yourself or hire a caterer. That said, we've compiled a list of steps to follow (with the help of our experts) to ensure you and/or your caterer are on track for success. We even included some pro tips to keep in mind to help facilitate the process of creating this beloved wedding snack.

Step 1: Determine Your Board Type and Ingredients

The first step (regardless of whether or not you're doing it yourself or working with a wedding caterer) is to establish your charcuterie board type. Many couples opt to cater their wedding charcuterie boards to a particular theme with some popular options being Spanish, Italian and using local ingredients, Freidank notes. If you'd like to match your board's toppings to the colors of your celebration, make your intentions clear. Either way, solidifying your board type and selected ingredients earlier (rather than later) is a best practice to ensure they're available and in season.

Step 2: Select Your Board Size

Next, determine whether you'd like to have a small wedding charcuterie board or a large wedding charcuterie board (and/or multiple of each) as that will affect how much of each ingredient you'll need. This is also the time to find a board type that fits your preferences and is able to accommodate the ingredients placed on top.

Step 3: Add Your Cheeses

When it comes time to place your ingredients onto your wedding charcuterie board (or boards), Kurre recommends starting with any cheeses. "I like to begin laying out my cheeses in different shapes and styles," Kurre explains. "Cheese tends to take up the most surface area on a board, so I always like to start with my cheese to ensure I have adequate room." Whether you choose to dice your cheeses into cubes, circles, squares or any other shape is up to you—just make sure to do so ahead of time and/or let your caterer know any design preferences.

Step 4: Place Your Meats

If you're having meat present on your wedding charcuterie board (with ham, salami, pates and prosciutto as popular choices), now is the time to start layering them on top of your board. As is the case with your cheeses, your meats can be designed and shaped, too. Some popular meat shapes include roses and rivers, especially for salami, Kurre notes.

Step 5: Add Other Ingredients

If you're adding some extra fruits or vegetables, you can fill in the remaining parts of your board. Kurre notes that big bunches of grapes, raspberries and blackberries are viable options, although you can take the advice of your caterer or select your favorites.

Step 6: Finalize Your Board

A charcuterie board wouldn't be complete without the accoutrements. If you know you'll have ham and/or a separate plate for pieces of bread or crackers, Frediank notes that you'll want to make sure some mustards, jams and/or chutneys are present.

Charcuterie Board Tips

• Your wedding charcuterie board should be balanced (especially if it's a smaller one). Following the 3-3-3 rule can help with this. The 3-3-3 rule essentially means offering three kinds of each type of food you include on your charcuterie board. "For example, if we have three types of cheese, we shouldn't use the same type for all," Lopez explains. "We can choose a variety, such as sweet cheeses, aged cheeses or others, to offer something diverse and balanced. The idea is to provide different options that allow for a variety of textures and flavors, keeping the selection interesting and well-balanced."
• You don't want to leave any blank space (unless intentionally) on your wedding charcuterie board. You can fill in space by adding flowers and other decor (preferably those that match your wedding's theme) as needed.

Wedding Charcuterie Board FAQ

Are you curious about how to create a charcuterie board for a wedding cocktail hour or a charcuterie board for your wedding reception? Read on for some expert insights on some of the most common questions regarding charcuterie boards for weddings.

Is a charcuterie board different from a grazing table?

Even though a charcuterie board is similar to a grazing table, there are some distinctions. One main factor that differentiates a charcuterie board from a grazing table is the smaller size and presentation. "A charcuterie board is typically served on a distinct platter or tray, while a wedding grazing table is definitely more of an abundant spread, arranged across a large surface," Kurre explains. Furthermore, charcuterie boards tend to be more limited when it comes to their offerings. "Charcuterie boards focus on premium, curated items for a more refined experience whereas grazing tables offer a large selection of food," Lopez adds. Some popular foods you may see present on a charcuterie board include savory meats, cheeses, fruit, bread, pickles, nuts, jams and chutneys. Although grazing tables can and may often include those same items, you may find some grazing tables that include additional items such as crudites and even bagels, to name a few. Although it doesn't technically follow suit with the traditional definition of a charcuterie board, they have culturally been adapted to be created as you see fit (to include more than just meats) and can even be made to contain sweeter items to form a dessert charcuterie board.

What should I avoid putting on a wedding charcuterie board?

Although you can customize your wedding charcuterie board to contain whatever items you'd like (within the realm of possibility), there are a couple of items our experts recommend avoiding to create the best possible wedding charcuterie board. As far as specific foods go, Kurre recommends avoiding placing crackers directly on a charcuterie board to preserve their freshness and prevent sogginess. Ware also advises steering clear of any foods that are quick to spoil such as avocado and apples as well as some foul-smelling cheeses.

Ensuring all of your guests are accommodated to the best of your ability is also important by ensuring no noted allergens (such as shellfish or gluten) are present on your wedding charcuterie board or boards (if you're creating multiple), Lopez adds.

Since charcuterie boards are often served during cocktail hour or during the early portions of wedding receptions, you want to make certain that what you're serving your guests is not messy or too sticky. Ware adds that the more finger-friendly options the better to reduce the likelihood of possible spills.

Does a wedding charcuterie board work for every season?

Yes, a wedding charcuterie board works for every season as long as it maintains the proper temperature to ensure freshness. "Just be sure that the board is displayed indoors in an air-conditioned space in the warm weather seasons, if possible," Freidank advises. "If the display must be outdoors, consider doing several small boards rather than one large one so that they can be rotated and fresh ones can be put out when appropriate."

Furthermore, our experts recommend modifying the charcuterie board offerings to match the flavors of the season during which you're tying the knot. "For example, on spring charcuterie boards, I love to incorporate fresh thyme and cheeses with edible flowers (like Aux Fleurs Goat Cheese) to really tap into the floral theme of spring," Kurre says.

Wedding Charcuterie Board Ideas

Once you've decided whether you want to execute a DIY wedding charcuterie board or hire a caterer to help you, we've compiled some wedding charcuterie board ideas that you can refer to and bookmark for cooking time.

1. Long Summertime Charcuterie Board

Photo: Hannah Bryerton Photography

,Catering: Babz BBQ,

Avvino Restaurant

Celebrate your summertime wedding with a refreshing summertime-inspired charcuterie board. Topped with some summer favorites including strawberries, baby carrots, olives, blackberries and chocolate pretzels, your guests are sure to find something they'll enjoy. And, with extra length (larger than your average-sized charcuterie board), this one is suitable for those larger celebrations.

2. Rustic Meat and Cheese Charcuterie Board

Photo: Heidi Elyse Photography

Make or work with your caterer to create a simple meat and cheese charcuterie board atop a rustic board. Spread out each of your elements to show off the wood and add some flowers for an extra country aesthetic.

3. Personal Charcuterie Board

Photo: MNC Photography

,

Catering: 23 City Blocks Catering

Treat each of your guests to their own individual charcuterie board. Custom order the miniature boards to include your initials, wedding date or specialty design so your guests can take them home as a wedding favor to remember the wonderful time they had celebrating with you.

4. Italian Charcuterie Board With a Cheese Wheel

Photo: Katerina Kutas Photography,

Catering: Preludio Noleggio

Transport your guests to Tuscany with this Italian charcuterie board. Although different from traditional wedding charcuterie boards, your guests will appreciate the inclusion of an entire cheese wheel in addition to tomatoes, fennel and cabbage.

5. Traditional Charcuterie Board

Photo: onelove photography

It's hard to go wrong with a traditional charcuterie board. Fill your board with meat and do so in an eye-catching fashion—the last thing you'll want to do is serve your guests an unappetizing tray of meat. If you still want to have some cheeses, pair your charcuterie board with a tiered "cheese cake" directly next to it.

6. Floral Charcuterie Board

Photo: Twah Dougherty Photography

Add a fun twist to your charcuterie board by strategically placing some flowers onto your spread. Although slightly different from your traditional wedding charcuterie board, this style offers a sophisticated look and is a great way to tie in florals significant to your big day.