"wedding food" news and stories

By Josie Swindler

The Hungry Bride has been sated. She was married last Saturday in a simple and beautiful ceremony on the grounds of an estate in Washington D.C., the city in which she and her handsome groom, Jon, fell in love years ago. In addition to being Sarah's co-worker (visit me at ShelterPop.com for home decor ideas!), I was lucky enough to be one of her bridesmaids.

On the day of the long-awaited event, Sarah was as calm, cool and collected as ever and in true food-editor form, she remembered to eat breakfast. The details were thoughtfully chosen and worked together seamlessly. The girls' bouquets even had fragrant herbs like rosemary tucked inside!

After the simple ceremony, guests sipped on lemonade and sangria and waited a bit impatiently for what we knew would be one of the best meals we had had in quite a while. We all knew that baked chicken with droopy carrots and dried-out fondant-covered wedding cake wouldn't be on Sarah's menu. Instead, we were treated to lamb chops, macaroni and cheese, dim sum, s'mores and even cookies and milk.

Click through the gallery of pictures after the jump for pictures of the spread and the beautiful bride.

A mound of lobster. Photo: Sarah De Heer.

By the end of November, I will have attended six weddings (including my own) in less than five months. I happen to really enjoy these celebrations, though I know others begrudge them as obligations. While some affairs were more simple, others more extravagant, the food at all of them blew me away -- so much so, that if I had more time before my own, I would have swiped some of their ideas!

Let's start from the beginning: I know I've written about Josie and Adam's wedding in numerous posts, but I just can't help it, it was a night to remember. From that wedding, I would have ''borrowed'' the main course. It's true what comfort food does for the soul -- it just makes people happier. In place of their tapas station, I might have added fried chicken and shrimp and grits.

If it were in my budget, I probably would have taken all of Jaimee and Charles' (Jon's college friend) cocktail hour stations. That's right, the convention of passed hors d'oeuvres has somehow transformed into food stations, along with a few passed items. Where should I begin? Unlimited lobster tails and jumbo shrimp, sushi made to order, grilled scallops, caviar, french fries, thin-crust pizzas and pastrami were just a few of the amazing cocktail-hour bites they served.

Stylish sips. Photo: Bella Grace Studios

Very rarely does a wedding come along that stops me in my tracks. Usually they're too over-the-top, too stuffy and not personal enough, more for show.

The unforgettable wedding of my friend Josie to her now-husband, Adam, gave me hope again. It took place at the 21c Hotel and Museum in downtown Louisville. The ceremony was short and to the point, but a tearjerker for sure.

And the food -- oh the food! I can still taste it. After the completion of the ceremony, bags of popcorn and peanuts were up for grabs, along with refreshing Izze sodas in red hues with gray-striped straws to match the decor.

Read on for the complete menu along with jaw-dropping photographs.