Simple wedding menu ideas to impress your guests

Your wedding menu is a time to bring your loved ones together for something truly memorable. Unlike traditional venues with fixed catering options, our beautiful Yorkshire setting gives you the freedom to make your wedding meal your own, with spaces that suit everything from street food trucks to sit-down dinners.

Understanding the basics of wedding menus

Different types of wedding menus

There are several approaches to wedding catering, each with its own unique charm:

• Sit-down meals: Traditional plated service where guests are served at their tables
• Buffet-style: Guests serve themselves from a selection of dishes
• Food stations: Multiple themed stations offering different cuisines
• Family-style: Large sharing platters placed on each table
• Food trucks: Mobile caterers serving specialist dishes
• Grazing tables: Beautifully arranged displays of finger foods

How to choose your wedding menu

Consider your theme and setting

Think about the feel of your wedding. At a rural venue like Lineham Farm, you could lean into a relaxed, festival-style wedding with street food trucks and picnic blankets, while a classic hotel reception might inspire a plated dinner with all the trimmings. The key is to match your food to the atmosphere. There’s no right or wrong choice – just what feels right for you.

Our versatile spaces at Lineham Farm lend themselves to different dining styles. Our courtyard creates an intimate setting perfect for long banquet tables, while our spacious event field offers endless possibilities for larger celebrations including festival-style food truck villages.

Budget considerations

Food often accounts for a significant portion of your wedding budget. If you’re looking for wedding menu ideas on a budget, you should:

• Be upfront with caterers about your budget
• Consider serving fewer, high-quality dishes rather than numerous options
• Think about timing – afternoon receptions can be less expensive than evening meals
• Remember you can mix approaches – maybe a simpler main meal followed by a show-stopping dessert station

Dietary needs and preferences

A great wedding menu makes everyone feel included. Ask about dietary requirements on RSVPs so you can plan ahead and avoid last-minute stress.

It’s common to have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free guests, as well as picky eaters and kids who prefer simple meals. Work with your caterer (or plan your own DIY wedding menu) to ensure everyone has something delicious to enjoy.

Simple wedding menu ideas

Three course wedding meal ideas

A traditional three-course meal doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s an example of a classic, crowd-pleasing menu that works beautifully in our rustic barn:

Starter:

• Seasonal soup with artisan bread
• Goat’s cheese and caramelised onion tart
• Yorkshire ham hock terrine with piccalilli

Main:

• Roast chicken breast with seasonal vegetables and herb-roasted potatoes
• Slow-cooked beef with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings
• Wild mushroom and truffle risotto (vegetarian option)

Dessert:

• Classic lemon tart with raspberry coulis
• Chocolate brownie with local ice cream
• Seasonal fruit crumble with custard

This straightforward menu focuses on well-executed classics rather than complicated dishes, making it easier for caterers to deliver consistently excellent quality for large groups.

Wedding buffet menu ideas

Buffets offer flexibility and variety, allowing guests to choose exactly what they want. A simple but impressive buffet might include:

Cold wedding buffet menu ideas

• Selection of local charcuterie and cheeses
• Freshly baked breads and flavoured butters
• Roasted vegetable and grain salads
• Poached salmon with lemon and herbs
• Coronation chicken
• Seasonal green salads

Hot wedding buffet menu ideas

• Slow-cooked pulled pork with apple sauce
• Roasted vegetable lasagne
• Herb-roasted new potatoes
• Seasonal vegetable medley
• Yorkshire puddings with onion gravy

DIY wedding buffet menu ideas

If you’re working with a tighter budget, a DIY approach can be both cost-effective and personal. Lucy and Olly, who celebrated their wedding at Lineham Farm, took a creative approach: “We asked twelve friends to bake us a cake and guests could take a slice whenever they fancied. In the evening, we had our local curry restaurant bring in curry and sides.”

Other DIY buffet ideas include:

• Gourmet sandwich platters with interesting fillings
• Build-your-own taco stations
• Pies and cold cuts from local butchers
• Cheese towers instead of traditional wedding cakes
• Dessert tables with contributions from family members

Food truck wedding menu ideas

Food trucks offer a relaxed, festival vibe that works perfectly in our event field or courtyard. Popular options for weddings include:

Pizza vans: Wood-fired pizza is always a crowd-pleaser. Many of our couples choose to bring in pizza vans for evening food – the perfect way to refuel for more celebrations.

BBQ and hog roasts: Pulled pork buns, burgers and ribs with homemade slaws are hearty options that work perfectly for a countryside setting.

Street food: From tacos to loaded fries, street food adds variety to your menu. Lucy and Olly told us: “We used two food vans – pizza and tacos. There was no sit-down meal, which worked really well and the guests loved it.”

Sweet treats: Ice cream vans make for a fun alternative to traditional wedding cake and are perfect for summer celebrations.

Food trucks can serve throughout the day or just appear for evening food, giving your guests something satisfying after hours of dancing.

How to serve and present your menu

Timing and flow of food service

Consider how your food service will fit with your day:

• Allow enough time between the ceremony and meal
• For food trucks, staggered service works better than everyone trying to eat at once
• Schedule speeches around food service to maintain flow

Creative presentation ideas

Simple touches can make even the most straightforward menu more visually impressive:

• Use fresh herbs and edible flowers as garnishes
• Serve sharing platters on rustic wooden boards
• Consider how food will be displayed on buffet tables
• Incorporate your wedding colours into food presentation

Keeping food fresh

Keeping food fresh is a must, and especially important for outdoor celebrations at Lineham Farm:

• Work with caterers who understand outdoor service requirements
• Consider seasonal menu options that work well in your wedding season
• Ensure there’s adequate refrigeration for summer weddings
• Have a wet weather plan for your catering if you’re planning to eat outside – our team can help you develop this

Yorkshire’s finest: local caterers who know our space

At Lineham Farm, we’re proud to work with some truly fantastic local food suppliers who understand our unique setting:

Baba Ganoush transforms our spaces with their seasonal, locally sourced feasts. Their flexible approach means you can have anything from elegant canapés to hearty sharing platters.

“We went with Baba Ganoush who had come highly recommended to us – and we definitely didn’t regret it. We had their canapes, starter and pie menu, and their service was impeccable for both the canape reception and our wedding breakfast.”

Alex and Oliver

The Striped Pig creates mouthwatering hog roasts that complement our rustic farm setting perfectly.

Good Food Story specialises in creating bespoke menus, with a focus on high-quality, seasonal ingredients.

Embers York offers up restaurant-quality BBQ with a modern twist, ideal for relaxed celebrations in our countryside setting.

Duke’s Pizza and Fired Up Pizza Co bring wood-fired cooking to your celebration with their mobile pizza ovens – perfect for keeping the party atmosphere going into the evening.

“In the evening we used Duke’s Pizza who filled our guests with unlimited pizza for two hours – which was needed by that point!”

Alex and Oliver

Take a look at all of our recommended partners

Your food story starts here

At Lineham Farm, we believe your wedding menu should tell your unique story as a couple. Our flexible approach gives you the freedom to create exactly what you want – whether that’s a simple, elegant three-course meal or a fun, festival-style food truck experience.

From the first canape to the last late-night snack, every bite is an opportunity to create lasting memories. Our team is always on hand to offer advice, share ideas and help coordinate with your chosen food suppliers to ensure everything runs smoothly on your big day.

Ready to start planning your perfect Lineham Farm wedding menu? Book a visit today and we’ll talk about the options available for your big day while you explore our beautiful Yorkshire venue. Contact our friendly team on 0113 3783939, email us at weddings@linehamfarm.co.uk or drop us a message through our contact form to arrange your tour.