Menus For Wedding Buffet Luncheon

( Originally Published Early 1900's )

Many dining-rooms are too small to have a wedding breakfast served at the table, and for that reason buffet luncheons are most popular.

The dining table is decorated with flowers and often lighted with candles under colored shades, and on it are placed extra supplies of silver and small dishes of olives, nuts and bonbons.

As the guests leave the receiving line, they move informally toward the dining-room, where they stand to be served. If the wedding reception takes place directly after ceremony in the morning, or at high noon, the refreshments are more elaborate than at an afternoon affair and the guests may be seated to be served in the different rooms.

When a caterer is not employed, and the serving of the refreshments is managed by the hostess herself, it is a pretty and practical plan to ask several young girls to help in the dining-room. They should see that the guests are promptly supplied, and can relieve them of their plates when they have finished.

Below are half a dozen good menus for buffet wedding breakfasts and receptions, varying in degree of formality to suit individual needs.

(1) BOUILLON
SALTED CRACKERS
CHICKEN PATTIES
OLIVES PINEAPPLE
SALAD SMALL LETTUCE
SANDWICHES NEAPOLITAN
ICE CREAM WITH FRESH STRAWBERRIES
COFFEE CAKE

(2) Another one is:
CREAMED SWEETBREADS
CHERRY SALAD WATERCRESS
SANDWICHES RASPBERRY ICE
MACAROONS

(3) CHICKEN SALAD
FINGER ROLLS
FROZEN CUSTARD
SUNSHINE CAKE

(4) SCALLOPED CRAB MEAT
BREAD AND BUTTER SANDWICHES
STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM
ANGEL CAKE

(5) ICED CLAM BROTH WITH WHIPPED CREAM SALTED CRACKERS
COLD VEAL LOAF
SARATOGA CHIPS
OLIVES
PINEAPPLE ICE
SMALL CAKES

(6) ICED CONSOMME
SALTED CRACKERS
CHICKEN CROQUETTES
ROLLS
FRUIT SALAD
UNSWEETENED CRACKERS
LEMON CREAM SHERBET
SMALL HOME-MADE COOKIES

THE FAVORS

FOR wedding favors at a wedding breakfast or reception a number of interesting little souvenirs can be inexpensively prepared. For instance, there are wee fans (bought at the doll department) with the date lettered on each; tiny straw baskets that look like the one the flower girl carries and are filled with very small artificial forget-me-nots and rose-buds; airy butterflies of white and pale yellow silk, to be fastened to fine threads above the table in the dining-room, where they flutter realistically over the flowers beneath.

More frivolous are very diminutive bridesmaid's hats, and at the wedding of a bride who is going to travel far away there may be small boats, either real or of cardboard, with a flying flag of matrimony at the masthead.