What’s a wedding without curated company and delicious dishes? In 2025, wedding trends have been all about personalization, aesthetic appeal and novelty, leading couples around the world to think beyond the buffet on their big day.
Want the complete picture of what is coming in 2026? Get the full food trends forecast guide and explore the data, insights, and opportunities driving the industry forward.
Top 15 wedding food trends in 2025
Whether you’re a caterer, wedding planner or recently-engaged couple on the hunt for menu inspiration, you’ll want to do a deep-dive into all the latest wedding food and beverage trends. With Tastewise data indicating that social media discussions about wedding food are on the rise, it’s fair to say couples are looking to embrace the latest trends when planning their celebrations.
To help you get a sense for what’s out there, we’ve compiled this overview of 15 tempting trends we saw in 2025:
- Globally-inspired flavors: Today’s wedding guests have evolved palates and elevated tastes. Incorporating global flavors and dishes into your wedding menu can appeal to a wide range of guests and can represent the joining of multiple cultures on your special day.
- Plant-based options: Research suggests that roughly 6% of Americans identify as vegan or vegetarian, and it’s important to have meal options available for guests who don’t eat meat. Plant-based meat alternatives, farm-fresh salads and grain-centric dishes like pastas can help provide a substantive meal for vegetarian guests.
- Grazing tables: In 2025, caterers took charcuterie trends to the next level by offering a variety of grazing table options for adventurous spouses-to-be. Charcuterie, antipasto and even dessert grazing boards can serve as a photo-worthy centerpiece or an accessible snack station guests can enjoy at any point throughout a celebration.
- Food stations: Couples who want to add more variety into the mix have increasingly sprung for interactive food stations like pasta bars, sushi counters and carving stations. These stations infuse excitement into any meal and give guests greater control over their culinary choices.
- Mini, mini, mini: Bite-sized indulgences have historically been confined to the passed appetizer portion of cocktail hour, but modern weddings are changing the game. Today we’re seeing mini versions of all kinds of things making appearances from cocktail hour to send-off and just about everywhere in-between.
- Late-night snacks: All that partying can get exhausting, which is why so many couples are adding late-night snacks to their wedding menus. Food truck favorites like burgers, french fries and pizza give people the extra boost they need to keep the party going and go home feeling happy and satisfied.
- Signature cocktails: You’ll be hard-pressed to find a wedding these days without a signature cocktail on the menu. Inspired by the latest cocktail trends, many couples are working to curate beverages that capture their essence and incorporate their favorite seasonal ingredients.
- Family-style dining: In lieu of a traditional buffet or plated meal, many caterers are offering an in-between option inspired by family-style restaurants. In this arrangement, caterers will invite guests to pass large platters of different dishes around their tables and allow each celebrant to choose the items that most appeal to them.
- Premium options: If couples with moderate budgets are looking for ways to elevate their menu offerings. We’re seeing luxury twists on old classics (think truffle grilled cheeses, bruschetta bites and hot honey chicken and waffles) being incorporated throughout modern wedding celebrations.
- Regional cuisines: Weddings represent the joining of two families, and sometimes those families come from different parts of the U.S. Many couples are looking to incorporate their go-to regional favorites into their wedding menus in order to provide a snapshot of their identities and family cultures.
- Diverse desserts: While wedding cakes still take center-stage at many events, we are seeing an ever-growing list of alternative wedding desserts showing up on catering menus. Pies, cannolis, donuts and trifle-inspired tiramisu cups are all making appearances at events and giving guests delicious alternatives to traditional wedding cake trends.
- Creative presentations: Photo-worthiness is at the top of many couples’ priority lists, leading caterers to offer a wide variety of visually stunning presentation options. Donut towers, champagne walls and even ice luges provide impactful focal points that are sure to make many Instagram appearances throughout the night.
- Minimalist cakes: There was a time when larger-than-life, multi-tier wedding cakes were the talk of the town, but 2025 has been all about minimalism. As a result, many couples are ditching large tiered cakes in favor of small, single-layer options that are ideal for photo-friendly cake-cuttings.
- Elevated beverage options: In line with other wine trends and beer trends, wedding beverage trends are all about luxury. Many couples are opting for craft beers in lieu of domestic pours and upscale wines rather than more “table-friendly” options to give guests an elevated experience during their event.
- Mix-and-mingle meals: In 2025, we saw many couples opting for mix-and-mingle style events rather than traditional plated meals or buffet stations. This format favors finger-foods like sandwiches and other heavy appetizers over more formal food choices to mimic more of a social or cocktail-style gathering.
All of these trends highlight the growing desire for events that balance tradition with personalization. Rather than conforming to cookie-cutter expectations, many couples are embracing new and exciting menu options that empower them to curate an event that feels uniquely “them.”
Data trends: Sales and consumption
Research indicates that there are roughly 2 million weddings conducted in the United States every year. That constitutes a pretty substantial market size for consumers in need of wedding food. In fact, the global wedding services market was valued at almost $900 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a rate of 12.7% between now and 2030.
While Tastewise data indicates ongoing interest in traditional wedding menu options like chocolate cake and sparkling wine, consumer data also reveals that engaged couples are increasingly looking to add multicultural and global options into the mix. While 24% of consumers still rank taste as their most pressing consumer need, nearly 30% of consumers are searching for wedding foods that deliver “fun” experiences and “attractive” aesthetics.
All in all, it’s fair to say that today’s wedding clientele is motivated by quality over quantity and experience over predictability. Interactive experiences, customizable menus and mix-and-mingle events all speak to a growing emphasis on one-of-a-kind celebrations that feel emblematic of the couple while appealing to guests with diverse palates and interests.
Weddings of the future: Outlook for 2026
Looking ahead, wedding food trends are expected to become even more experience-driven. We may see more overlap between wedding food trends and broader food and beverage trends that embrace both luxury and individuality. Custom cocktails, elevated wine pairings and even wine and beer flights will likely drive beverage trends moving forward Similarly, grab-and-go, build-it-yourself custom food offerings will likely continue to gain momentum in the wedding space by offering guests fun and unique ways to indulge throughout the entirety of a celebration.
Final thoughts
Weddings are deeply personal events for couples and their guests. As a result, many rising newlyweds are opting for food and beverage options that tell a compelling story about who they are – both separately and together. Global flavors, interactive experiences and elevated offerings will likely define the next year of wedding culture and usher in a new slate of traditions.
Whether you’re a curious couple, experienced event planner or cutting-edge caterer, consumer data can help you make more informed decisions about which wedding foods are “must-haves” and which aren’t worth a second look. No matter what, the right wedding menu is the menu that appeals to you! So don’t be afraid to get creative while planning your special day – your guests (and tastebuds) will thank you for it!
FAQs about wedding food trends
Wedding menus can be as unique as the couples who curate them. Global fusion dishes, grazing tables, bite-sized appetizers and luxury twists on comfort foods are all making appearances in this year’s celebrations.
Yes! Interactive dining experiences like food stations and “BYO” food bars are perhaps more popular than ever before thanks to the excitement and customizability they provide.
Tastewise data reveals that Mediterranean, Asian-fusion and Latin-inspired menus are gaining popularity among engaged couples in 2025, with search terms like “Mexican,” “Pakistani,” “Tandoori” and “South Indian” gaining major traction online.
Beyond choosing menu items that suit their preferences, many couples are selecting options that represent unique elements of their personal histories and cultural heritage. Regional favorites, curated color schemes and travel-inspired international dishes can all help a couple tell their love story.
We are definitely seeing more vegan and vegetarian options popping up on wedding menus in order to accommodate guests with dietary preferences.
While classic wedding cakes still have their place, other assorted and mini desserts like pies, cannolis and trifles are showing up on a growing number of menus. Assorted dessert stations, mini cakes, and creative twists on traditional cake trends continue to rise.
Big time. Many couples are adding late-night snacks into the mix to ensure guests don’t go home hungry. Pizza, burgers and even fast food are all popular choices – particularly with younger newlyweds and their guests.
In response to ongoing calls for greater sustainability, many eco-conscious couples are taking steps to cut down on waste and ethically source the ingredients used in their menus. Even opting for re-usable plates over single-use plastic options can help reduce an event’s carbon footprint and allow attendees to feel good about the impact they’re having on the world around them.
We’ve recently seen a major push for signature cocktails to the point that this trend has almost become a tradition. We’re also seeing more elevated wine and craft beer offerings in addition to fun, experiential twists like Champagne walls and ice luges.
Yes! Traditional wedding food can be boring so incorporating interactive, personalized food and beverages into an event can break up the monotony and make for a killer Instagram post.
Read more from Kelia Losa Reinoso
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