The Worst Wedding Food That Is a Hard Pass, According to Caterers

When planning your wedding, every detail matters—from your dream dress to the venue to the decor. One aspect that can really make or break the big day is the food. To help you avoid the worst wedding food choices, we chatted with pros to share the scoop on what foods you should definitely not serve at your wedding. Spoiler alert: One of the keys is finding a good wedding caterer that will work with you to bring your ideal menu to life. (Pro tip: Find yours via The Knot Vendor Marketplace.)

Keep these tips in mind as you craft your menu because, let's face it, no one wants their guests to remember the meal as some of the worst wedding reception food they've had.

1. Stinky Foods

Foods with a pungent aroma will quickly ruin the ambiance of your wedding. That's why Sarah Chianese, owner and executive chef for Mangia and Enjoy! based in Saugerties, New York and Colorado Springs Colorado, and Jon Beattie, head chef of The Renaissance in Richmond, Virginia, recommend skipping them. Examples of stinky foods to avoid on your wedding day include fish and stinky cheeses and foods that cause bad breath such as garlic and raw onion.

Alternative: Beattie notes that fish can be a huge hit, particularly for summer weddings. So if you do want to go that route, he suggests working with your catering team to create a non-smelly menu with options such as tuna, tilapia or cod.

2. Raw Fish, Seafood or Meats

Even if raw foods such as sushi, sashimi or tartare are some of your favorites, experts advise against having them at your wedding. "While even the most highly professional, food-safety-certified caterers make the most significant efforts to ensure no food-borne illnesses occur at your wedding, avoiding raw fish, seafood and meats is wise," Chianese says of why raw foods top the list of worst food to serve at a wedding. "Save these delicacies for other occasions, as the risk factor for someone falling ill is heightened significantly, versus not taking the chance by having these offerings available."

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Alternative: As an alternative, Beattie recommends grilled shrimp or cooked cuts of beef to achieve a similar taste but without the risk of serving raw foods.

3. Messy Foods

With everyone dressed to the nines on your special day, serving messy foods that can drip, stain or require getting dirty to consume are definitely wedding foods to avoid. Think red sauces, beets, chicken wings, soups, crab legs, whole lobster or noodles that require slurping or twirling.

Alternative: Chianese suggests clear soups or pasta dishes with flavorful non-staining sauces. And instead of whole lobsters or crab legs, she suggests mini-lobster rolls served during cocktail hour or fresh tiny crab cakes.

Furthermore, Beattie recommends charcuterie boards during cocktail hour as they don't require spoons and won't result in a mess. And in place of chicken wings which are impossible to eat while dressed up, he suggests small boneless chicken tenderloins that are easier to dip and don't leave bones behind. In general, he recommends avoiding passed hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour that are larger than one bite as that can be quite messy as well. Think bite-sized mushroom or crab ball appetizer.

4. Non Aesthetically Pleasing Foods

Ensuring your wedding food is delicious is important but it's also key that it looks beautiful too. "Avoid using the same color of food for the protein and sides," Beattie says.

Alternative: "Green beans and broccoli can be a popular option for a simple side that most people will eat, but mix it up by serving fresh steamed vegetable medley options instead," Beattie says. "Bright colors from peppers, tomatoes, and other vibrant vegetables will make the boring side dish a hit instead of a miss."

5. Foods That May Trigger Allergies

Another big food category that lands on the wedding day foods to avoid is common allergens. "While some allergies are easy to circumvent (gluten intolerance for a popular one), some are a big no-no," Beattie says. "For instance, if a guest is coming who may be allergic to nuts or shellfish, it's best not to have those items anywhere on the menu. Some guests can be a bit more tolerant of these items, but some guests can react by just being in the same room as them."

Alternative: Some alternatives to nuts on salads include feta or goat cheese and rather than a crab, opt for a tuna dish.

6. Non-Traditional Foods

It's common for couples to want to serve some of their favorite foods or opt for wedding food traditions on their big day. However, it's important to be mindful that your guests may not have the same tastes. "Serving non-traditional foods can be fun, to an extent," Beattie says. "Not recognizing the food on your plate can be a serious faux pas. So stay away from wild game (boar), non-traditional seafood (octopus) and food that may turn a smile into a frown for some people (pate)."

Alternative: Beattie suggests "sticking to a somewhat normal menu but do some fun things with the sauces, glazes and gravies."

7. Poorly Executed Vegan/Vegetarian Options

While it's thoughtful to have vegan and vegetarian options for your guests, Chianese's biggest piece of advice is for those options to be just as memorable rather than a bland or boring meal. "Get creative and make those vegan/vegetarian dishes so tasty that the carnivore beside them is jealous," she says. It's important to ask your wedding caterer about vegan and vegetarian options before signing a contract.

Alternative: For cocktail hour, Chianese suggests "assorted crudités and multi-flavored fresh hummus boards, roasted seasoned cauliflower bites with a kick, oodles of phenomenal bean salads/dishes, loaded flatbreads, gazpachos and lentil soup shooters or vegetable-filled steamed ginger dumplings with lemongrass." For entrees, some ideas she shares include gourmet baked quattro-formaggio macaroni and cheese with leeks and local oyster mushroom; chipotle enchiladas topped with queso fresco; and fresh polenta with roasted and garlicky spinach.

8. Chocolate Fountains

Lastly, as fun and beautiful as a chocolate fountain may be, they're also considered one of the worst wedding food options and Beattie highly recommends skipping them. "You cannot have a chocolate fountain and not have a drippy mess around the tables it's on," he says. "And if you have some kids at the reception, they will stay at the fountain until they are covered in it and then hug mom, dad or the bride."

Alternative: Instead, he recommends serving melted chocolate in a smaller display for a more "fondue" effect so you and your guests can still enjoy fancy chocolate but without the mess.