 El Kantina | Jade Chilcott Photography When I say I’m a foodie, I really do mean it! If you didn’t already know, my background is in catering. I began by working in hotels and restaurants doing all the standard stuff - waiting tables, laying out cutlery, folding napkins (I cringe at the thought now!), but I soon found a real love for events and I particularly got a buzz from being in the kitchen. I worked a catering job at the London 2012 Olympics, and I had my first taste of managing weddings soon after. I slowly worked my way up to be a Catering Manager for the NEC Group at the Vox resort, and by the age of just 25 i was well on my way in the corporate catering world. I was so excited to step away from the bland and unoriginal into this amazing world of contemporary catering. For two years, my job was to talk about food. I worked closely with our chefs to devise new catering concepts - street food stalls, barista coffee experiences and the most elegant and innovative plates of fine dine food - all for some of the biggest companies in the UK and worldwide. It wouldn’t be unusual to have a celebrity guest appear or to be witnessing the launch of some exciting new bit of tech (which would always be totally lost on me). I would host tastings, create bespoke menus for our clients, and then run around like a headless chicken on the day of the event trying to serve dinner to 900 people whilst wrangling 60 inexperienced agency workers into delivering what looked like top-notch service. amongst all of that We also hosted the after party of the 2016 Sports Personality Of The Year - I think I was awake for about four days straight, but it was the most incredible event of my career. It was all absolutely knackering. But it was such a joy. Between the three of us at the Vox (myself and the two other catering managers), we quickly slotted into our own roles. One looked after the bar (NEVER ask me to work on a bar, I will have a panic attack and want to die. Sorry.) One would “work the room”, and I would always run the pass. That is no mean feat when you have hundreds of guests, three courses, dietary preferences, allergies, and a choice menu of three different items. We’re talking thousands of plates of food every night. A kitchen is run with military precision and it still amazes me to this day how the chefs manage it! Food became my true love. Stylish plates, exquisite presentation, incredible flavours. And I loved having fun with food too - don’t get me wrong, I am a lover of a dirty burger or a bowl of loaded fries. And I love to try food from all around the world. These days, the closest I really get to showing off my food knowledge is passing judgement on the Masterchef contestants. “Did they really just serve that on a slate?”. “that lamb should be pink in the middle. Despicable”. I do miss that world from time to time, but I’m lucky that I still get to dabble every now and then.  Dark Peak Photography Food is a HUGE part of every wedding. From the canapes through dinner to the late night snacks, it is the ONE thing you do NOT want to scrimp on, and the ONE thing that EVERY couple wants to get right. Nothing upsets me more than seeing a sad plate of meat and two veg at a wedding, because you can do so much better and you deserve so much more than a half arsed plate with gravy dribbling over the edges. So, with all my experience (and as someone who LOVES all this stuff) here are my top five alternative catering concepts for weddings, as well as my best supplier recommendations for each: SHARING BOARDS: Are you having a more relaxed wedding but still want it to feel elegant and effortless? You don’t want the day to be stuffy and cliché but you still want it to feel a little fancy, right?! Sharing boards are a great way of providing food that looks stunning, is mouthwateringly moreish, makes everyone want to dive right in, but keeps things a little more low-key. It’s reminiscent of something you’d see at an Italian family feast - everyone digging in, simple but delicious food, bringing everyone together. Good food, good conversation, good company. Everyone leaves with full bellies and full hearts. It could be a rustic barbecue, mediterranean mezze-inspired dishes, indulgent antipasti, even a roast dinner presented as a help-yourself option. I guarantee it’ll fit the vibe, provide the tastiest food and make all your guests super happy.  wood-fired food that's hearty and warming, served with a lot of love from an incredible team, this is seasonal food served in abundance and by people who really care about you and your guests. their food is cooked in converted land rover defenders, adding a little theatre for your guests as well as churning out exceptional food. a real showstopper! STREET FOOD: There is SO much good street food out there these days. Real experts in every kind of cuisine; there’s no need to settle for average when you could have something super fun and so tasty. What I love about street food is the spectacle - if you’re having a fun festival wedding, a marquee at home, a relaxed tipi or garden party, food trucks add an extra dimension. The colour, the style… it sets a relaxed tone immediately. It’s also way more interactive for your guests; it can be playful and exciting, allowing people to really get stuck in. But at the heart of it is great food and incredible taste. Street food vendors pride themselves on their varied menus, their uniqueness but above all their quality. It’s a sure fire way to give your guests something REALLY tasty. why not try:
HEARTY PLATES: Still want to sit down and enjoy dinner with all your loved ones, but not sure a pretentious plate of food really feels right for you? Go for something a little more down-to-earth. Why wouldn’t you want to eat your very favourite food on your wedding day?! Pie and Mash. A proper summer BBQ. Real, authentic grub that’s good for the soul, delivered with love (and you can always ‘posh it up’ a bit!). There’s no need to stray too far from what you know. And if you do have any fussy-eaters amongst your guests, you know this will always go down a storm!  a proper family business which puts so much heart into everything they produce. they're super experienced in catering with a real understanding of what people really want - good, honest food that is delicious but not pretentious, served by people who care about you and who will do anything to make you happy on your big day! They offer a fab range of options and are super adaptable and approachable. a real fave of ours! GRAZING FOOD: There are few things in the world that bring as much joy as hearing the words “picky bits”, am I right?! A bit of cheese, some crackers, a little slice of pork pie… tell me that isn’t your idea of heaven?! Grazing food looks really impressive, it lets people choose what they want and how much they eat whilst still providing them with a good hearty snack. I love this at a drinks reception between the ceremony and the wedding breakfast (especially if you have a lot of time to fill and you don’t want your guests going hungry!). It’s great if you’re having a later ceremony and need to give people something to nibble on. And it’s perfect for an evening graze if you’ve had a big meal in the daytime and want to let people come and pick throughout the night. Comfort, style and satisfaction all wrapped into one!  stunning displays of scrumptious food, on beautiful grazing tables, boards and in pretty hampers and boxes. Not only are these ideal for weddings but they are great for hen parties, bridal brunches and even breakfast on your big day, too. artisanal ingredients, pretty presentation, all the best quality. All brought to you by the sweetest person and most gorgeous little business. PIZZA: You CANNOT go wrong by offering your guests pizza in the evening. There’s a reason it’s so popular, and I don’t see it going out of style any time soon! Filling, doughy and greasy enough after you’ve had a few beers, whilst being delicious, comforting and a real crowd-pleaser. Because you can have so many different flavours, there will always be something for everyone, and by the time the evening rolls around you’re ready to let your hair down a little and relax into a more chilled vibe. Cosy, comforting and never lets you down!  genuinely some of the best pizza i have tasted - their hot honey pepperoni is to die for! but what's more, the vans look great, the team are awesome and they've worked with lots of the best venues around so you know what must be good news! HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Here’s my little reminder that every wedding needs a good canapé (unless you’re going for the grazing option or you’ve got little snacks to hand!). Regular meal times go out of the window at a wedding so although you’ll have had breakfast, you (and all of your guests!) will have to travel, complete the ceremony, possibly then travel again… and by this time it’s almost 3pm and you’ve only eaten Cornflakes today!* By the time we get to the drinks reception, stomachs are rumbling so please consider having something ready for people to munch on to tide them over. Canapes look fancy, but can be really wholesome and tasty, and are a simple way to ensure guests don’t get too tipsy before dinner! *N.B. please treat yourself to a nicer breakfast than this on your wedding day. I’d also like to point out that there is NOTHING wrong with a good old two/three course meal. I just beg that you don’t book a generic caterer and you go for one that really makes an impression. There are some GORGEOUS options out there, so do a little research - or ask a wedding planner (hint, hint) if you need a little help!  Dearest Love Photography SO... WHAT KIND OF FOOD IS TAKING YOUR FANCY?! Let me know!
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5/11/2025 13:20:37
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Hope you enjoy reading my blog. This is where I share all the gorgeous weddings I've been doing, as well as a few other tips and bits too! Previously...
October 2025
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