Wedding Catering Menu Options for Fort Lauderdale and Broward County

Couples researching wedding caterers in South Florida often share one consistent frustration. Many catering websites offer inspiration, ideas, and possibilities without clearly showing the actual food. Galleries feature beautifully presented plates without dish names, while menu descriptions remain so broad they could apply to almost any caterer in any city.

This page solves that problem by showing what Hugh’s Catering actually prepares and serves at South Florida weddings. Every dish below comes from our real wedding catering menu, organized around the natural flow of a wedding reception. Every package reflects actual pricing. Nothing here is hypothetical, aspirational, or borrowed from another catering portfolio.

Our wedding catering menu includes more than 150 items developed by Executive Chef Daniel Alvarez, a CIA graduate with Michelin-star training and culinary heritage spanning Switzerland, Belgium, and Northern Italy. Every wedding dish is prepared fresh on-site at your venue. Nothing arrives reheated or prepared earlier at a commissary kitchen across town. When guests sit down for dinner, our culinary team is finishing their food just steps away.

Couples can first explore how these menus fit into our complete wedding catering experience, or move directly into planning a realistic budget through our detailed Fort Lauderdale wedding catering cost guide and breakdown of wedding catering pricing per person. For everyone ready to explore the food itself, the menu starts here.

Wedding Catering Menu: Cocktail Hour Selections

The cocktail hour creates your guests’ first culinary impression and sets expectations for the wedding reception that follows. Hugh’s Catering combines butlered selections and stationed displays according to the venue, guest count, event style, and overall reception timeline, giving couples flexibility in how they welcome guests before dinner begins.

Our butlered hors d’oeuvres include cold selections such as Caprese Skewers, Tuna Crudo, Beef Tartare, and Smoked Salmon Flatbread, alongside hot favorites including Petite Crab Cakes, Beef Tenderloin Crostini, Lamb Chops, Filet Mignon Souvlaki, Thai Chicken Satay, Hot Honey Chicken and Waffles, Spanakopita, Praline Brie Cups, and Tomato Bisque Shooters. Signature sliders include Filet Mignon, Cheeseburger, Mini Cuban, Meatball, and Portobello Mushroom Korean BBQ options, providing additional variety for different tastes.

Stationed displays provide another focal point, with choices such as Artisan Charcuterie and Cheese Boards, Smoked Salmon Displays, Raw Bars featuring oysters and jumbo shrimp, Mini Chilled Lobster Rolls, sushi, and Ahi Tuna Poke Tacos. Couples can also incorporate interactive food stations into their wedding reception to complement the cocktail hour, encourage guests to mingle, introduce additional flavors, and create a natural transition from cocktails into the main dinner service.

Wedding Catering Menu Section: Plated Dinner

A plated wedding dinner brings structure, elegance, and careful presentation to the reception dining experience. Each course arrives directly at the table, allowing guests to enjoy the meal together while our culinary team manages preparation, plating, timing, and service. Hugh’s Catering builds plated wedding menus around complementary first courses, entrees, and sides, giving couples the flexibility to combine different flavors while maintaining a cohesive menu from the opening course through the main dinner service.

Plated First Course Options

Caesar Salad with housemade dressing and shaved parmesan. Caprese Salad with heirloom tomato, fresh mozzarella, and aged balsamic. Pear Salad with arugula, gorgonzola, candied pecans, and champagne vinaigrette. The Wedge with blue cheese, bacon, and cherry tomato. Market Garden Salad with seasonal vegetables and herb vinaigrette.

Couples incorporating Italian influence can introduce Italian-inspired pasta selections such as Butternut Squash Ravioli and Rigatoni alla Vodka as the first course of a plated wedding dinner.

Plated Main Course Options

Every plated entree is prepared fresh at your venue, with our main course selections offering choices from land, poultry, and seafood for different wedding menus.

• From the Land: Petite Filet Mignon with mushroom demi-glace. Grilled Lamb Chops with mint chimichurri. Pork Tenderloin with rosemary and apple chutney. Korean Spareribs with gochujang BBQ and sesame. Lechon Asado with Cuban mojo marinade and tostones. Beef Brisket with dry rub and bourbon BBQ.
• Poultry: Chicken Parmigiana with San Marzano marinara. Chicken Marsala with wild mushroom sauce. Chicken Francese with lemon white wine sauce. Chicken Piccata with lemon caper butter. Caribbean Chicken with mango papaya pineapple salsa. Duck Breast with cherry port wine gastrique. Moroccan Tagine with lemon, olive, and chickpeas.
• From the Sea: Faroe Island Salmon with lemon dill beurre blanc. Wok-charred salmon with miso tamari glaze. Chilean Seabass with tamari mirin and miso mustard glaze. Florida Mahi Mahi with citrus herb seasoning and mango salsa. Sea Scallops with artichoke hearts, fennel, brown butter, and capers. Black Grouper with coconut rum broth and orange jicama slaw. Yellowtail Snapper with toasted coconut and key lime curry. Lobster Tail with drawn butter and lemon. Crab Cakes with jumbo lump crab and lemon caper aioli. Shrimp Imperial with crab stuffing.

Sides and Accompaniments

Couples can complete each plated dinner with fresh salads and complementary sides such as Wild Mushroom Risotto, Truffle Mac and Cheese, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Potato Gratin, Fingerling Potatoes with rosemary, Brussels Sprouts with bacon and balsamic, Haricot Vert, and Potato Pavé, among many additional options.

Wedding Catering Menu: Buffet and Family-Style Dining

Wedding dinner service does not have to follow a formal plated format to feel polished and memorable. Buffet and family-style dining give couples greater flexibility while creating a warm, social atmosphere that encourages guests to enjoy the meal at a comfortable pace. Hugh’s Catering prepares both formats fresh at the wedding venue, with menus built around complementary proteins, seafood, pasta, salads, and sides. The right approach depends on the guest count, venue layout, reception schedule, and overall dining experience each couple wants to create.

Buffet Wedding Dinner

A Hugh’s Catering wedding buffet is not a steam-tray operation. Every dish is prepared fresh at your venue and replenished continuously throughout the service period. Buffet format works particularly well for larger guest counts and outdoor venue settings across South Florida where the energy and movement of a buffet dinner matches the atmosphere of the event.

Buffet combinations most requested at South Florida weddings include Filet Mignon alongside Faroe Island Salmon with a Wild Mushroom Risotto and Grilled Asparagus accompaniment, Caribbean Chicken alongside Mahi Mahi with Caribbean Rice and Caesar Salad, and Chicken Parmigiana alongside Shrimp Scampi with Truffle Mac and Cheese and Market Garden Salad.

Family-Style Wedding Dinner

Family-style service places generous shared platters at each table, creating a communal dining ritual that is perfectly suited to the warmth and connection that wedding receptions are designed to generate. Large platters of Lasagna al Forno, bowls of Rigatoni alla Vodka, carved Chicken Marsala, and Shrimp Scampi arriving simultaneously at every table create a visual abundance and shared energy that formal plated service and buffet lines both approach differently.

Couples choosing between buffet and family-style catering can consider their venue, guest count, reception flow, and desired atmosphere when deciding which approach fits their wedding best.

Interactive Chef Stations for a Memorable Wedding Reception

Chef-attended stations bring movement, interaction, and fresh preparation directly into the wedding dining experience. Rather than simply selecting food from a traditional buffet, guests can approach the station, watch our culinary team prepare or carve their selections, and receive dishes served immediately. Hugh’s Catering offers chef-attended station options that can complement cocktail hour, supplement dinner, or become a central part of the reception menu.

Carved-to-order selections include Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin with horseradish cream, Prime Rib with au jus and horseradish cream, Churrasco Steak with chimichurri, Tomahawk Board with garlic butter and flaky sea salt, and Beef Top Sirloin with peppercorn crust and horseradish cream. Couples can also choose signature live stations, including Paella with saffron rice, shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and chorizo, a Made-to-Order Pasta Bar, Taco Bar, or Mediterranean Pita Bar.

Combining multiple interactive food stations throughout a wedding reception gives guests opportunities to explore different flavors while naturally moving through the celebration. Stations can also be positioned around the venue to support guest flow, encourage conversation, and create distinct culinary experiences without requiring everyone to dine at the same moment.

Wedding Catering Packages: Pricing and Inclusions

Hugh’s Catering offers two comprehensive wedding catering packages designed to give South Florida couples a clear starting point for planning their reception. Each package combines food, service, and essential event elements while leaving room for menu customization based on the venue, guest count, and overall wedding experience.

The Grandeur Collection: From $150 per Guest
The Grandeur Collection includes four passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, one stationed cocktail display, a choice of two main course entrees, garden salad, two sides, full bar service with professional bartenders, complete service staffing, and tables, linens, and place settings. This package is especially well suited to South Florida wedding receptions serving approximately 75 to 150 guests.

The Legacy Experience: From $175 per Guest
The Legacy Experience includes six premium passed hors d’oeuvres, one chef-attended station during cocktail hour, multi-course plated dinner service, an upgraded bar program, a dedicated event captain, full bar and custom mixology, complete event setup, and post-reception cleanup. This option provides greater culinary variety and a more fully managed reception experience.

Both packages are customizable, and couples can explore additional combinations through our complete wedding menu and package options. Final pricing can vary according to guest count, menu selections, premium ingredients, and service format, making wedding catering pricing per person an important consideration when developing the overall reception budget. Couples planning their initial budget can also compare these factors through our detailed Fort Lauderdale wedding catering cost guide.

Late-Night Wedding Bites to Keep the Celebration Going

Late-night food gives guests something satisfying to enjoy after dinner has ended and the reception has shifted toward dancing and celebration. By this stage of the evening, couples often prefer casual, recognizable dishes that guests can enjoy easily without returning to a formal seated meal. Hugh’s Catering can incorporate late-night selections into the wedding catering menu according to the reception timeline, guest count, and overall dining style.

Popular choices include Mini Cuban Sliders, Cheeseburger Sliders, Meatball Sliders, Hot Honey Wings, Buffalo Wings, Truffle Mac and Cheese served in individual cups, and Guacamole with chips. These options provide a relaxed contrast to an earlier plated dinner or more formal reception menu while maintaining thoughtful preparation and presentation.

Couples seeking a more elevated late-night experience can incorporate Petite Crab Cakes and Mini Chilled Lobster Rolls from our handcrafted hors d’oeuvres selections into passed service. Late-night food can be served from a dedicated station or circulated among guests while they continue celebrating. Planning the service around the reception schedule ensures food arrives when guests are ready for it, helping maintain the energy of the evening through the final hours of the wedding celebration.

FAQs About Wedding Catering Menus

1. What types of food can we include in our wedding catering menu?

Our wedding catering menu includes passed hors d’oeuvres, cocktail displays, plated entrees, salads, sides, buffet selections, family-style dishes, interactive chef stations, and late-night options, allowing couples to build a complete reception dining experience.

2. Can we customize our wedding catering menu?

Yes. Wedding menus can be customized around your culinary preferences, guest count, venue, service style, and reception plans. Couples can combine different appetizers, entrees, sides, stations, and service formats to create their experience.

3. Do you prepare wedding food fresh at the venue?

Yes. Our culinary team prepares wedding dishes fresh on-site at the venue rather than relying on food cooked hours earlier. This approach helps maintain the temperature, texture, presentation, and quality of each course.

4. What wedding dinner service styles are available?

Couples can choose plated dinner, buffet, or family-style service depending on their venue and preferred reception atmosphere. Interactive chef stations can also complement dinner service and provide an engaging culinary experience for guests.

5. What are some popular main courses for weddings?

Popular selections include Petite Filet Mignon, Chicken Marsala, Caribbean Chicken, Faroe Island Salmon, Florida Mahi Mahi, Chilean Seabass, and Crab Cakes. Couples can pair entrees with salads, risotto, potatoes, vegetables, and other sides.

6. Are interactive chef stations available for wedding receptions?

Yes. Chef-attended options include carved Prime Rib, Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin, live Paella, made-to-order Pasta Bar, Taco Bar, and Mediterranean Pita Bar, adding fresh preparation, variety, and interaction to the reception.

7. How much do Hugh’s Catering wedding packages cost?

The Grandeur Collection begins at $150 per guest, while The Legacy Experience begins at $175 per guest. Both packages are customizable, with final pricing influenced by menu selections, guest count, service format, and premium items.

Build Your Wedding Catering Menu With Our Team

Every wedding catering menu we create is a custom composition built around your vision, your guests, your venue, and the story you want to tell through food on one of the most important days of your life. The dishes on this page are the building blocks. The menu your guests experience is something we build together.

Our team includes Executive Operations Director Steve Nothnagel, whose 25-plus years of luxury event management experience spans Philadelphia, New York, and South Florida’s most demanding wedding venues, alongside Chef Alvarez and a culinary team trained to execute every element of your wedding catering menu at the highest level regardless of guest count or venue complexity.

Hugh’s Catering
4351 NE 12th Terrace
Oakland Park, FL 33334

Phone: (954) 563-4844
Email: info@hughscatering.com
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Contact our team today to begin building your South Florida wedding catering menu. Every dish fresh. Every detail managed. Every wedding reception we cater delivered without exception to the standard your celebration deserves.