25+ Interactive Food Station Ideas
When it comes to your menu, one of the biggest trends right now is to get your guests involved in the process. Interactive food stations allow your guests to customize their fare to fit their preferences, making it all but guaranteed that your guests will be raving about the food at your wedding. From breakfast-themed bars to appetizer stations to dessert buffets, here are some of our favorite ideas.
By: Kristen Klein
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Carving Station -179530
A carving station has been a wedding staple for decades; modernize it with a variety of fix-ins next to the meat for guests to personalize their dish.
Photo Credit: Ashley Garmon Photographers
Hot Chocolate Bar
Make your dessert hour even sweeter with a hot cocoa bar, filled with delicious mix-ins for your chocolatey treat.
Photo Credit: Pen + Paper Flower
Potato Bar
Baked, mashed, or fried? You don’t have to choose at this potato bar, where you can mix a variety of potatoes and toppings for your own creation.
Photo Credit: Milou and Olin Photography
Philly Cheesesteaks
Pay homage to your hometown with a food station featuring local fare, like this Philly cheesesteak bar. Include a sign on how to order like a local.
Photo Credit: OneLove Photography via Jay’s Catering Co.
Avocado Bar
Give your appetizer bar a healthier spin with “avocado sundaes” – avocado halves topped with salsa, limes, bacon crumbles, fried onions, and dressing options like Ranch, Italian, and honey mustard.
Photo Credit: Claire McCormack Photography via Cartewheels Catering
Skewers-to-Go
During the cocktail hour, utensil-free dishes reign supreme. Meat on a stick with an array of dipping sauces is sure to satisfy your guests.
Photo Credit: Savoury City
Nachos
Surround an overflowing basket of tortilla chips with toppings like salsa, guacamole, corn, refried beans, and nacho cheese.
Photo courtesy of Tony McClanahan of First Fruits Catering
Soda Bar
Create an Italian soda bar with club soda, fruit-flavored syrups, and whipped cream. Guests of all ages will love personalizing their beverages.
Photo Credit: Making the World Cuter
Bibimbap Bap
These Korean rice bowls are the ultimate comfort food; let your guests personalize their dishes with what they crave.
Photo courtesy of Elegant Affairs
Trail Mix Bar
Blend sweet and savory morsels for a one-of-a-kind trail mix.
Photo Credit: Jordan Remke of Kojo Designs
Popcorn Bar
Whether you prefer sweet or savory, make your own flavored popcorn with shakers featuring options like grated cheese, cinnamon sugar, garlic, chocolate, buffalo wing, and more. Make it even more delectable with candy mix-ins.
Photo Credit: Pen + Paper Flowers
Mac & Cheese Station
Skip the box mix and make your macaroni & cheese wedding-appropriate with a homemade version featuring various mix-ins, like bacon and soft cheese.
Photo Credit: Erin Lee at The Collection via Fête Nashville
Gourmet S'mores
Take the classic s’mores dessert up a notch by including flavored marshmallows, white, milk, and dark chocolate, and even multiple flavors of graham crackers.
Photo courtesy of Cookie Creatives
Fry Station
D’Amico Catering designed this fry station, where guests can choose from traditional fries, sweet potato fries, and waffle fries, then top with favorite mix-ins – like scallions, caramelized onion, sour cream, blue cheese, even cheese curds to create your own poutine.
Photo Credit: Studio Laguna Photography via D’Amico Catering
Ice Cream Bar
Make your own ice cream sundaes! Waffle bowls, sweet sauces, and crunchy toppings will delight guests of all ages.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Leiper Photography
Mimosa Bar
Combine fresh juices, cut-up fruit, and sparkling wine for a mimosa bar your guests will love.
Photo courtesy of Intertwined Events
Pasta Bar
Customize your noodle of choice with a mixture of add-ins, like vegetables, meats, cheeses, and sauces.
Photo Credit: Sarah Whitmeyer Photography
S'mores on a Stick
Get the taste without the mess with s’mores on a stick, created by 240sweet Artisan Foodworks Catering. After toasting a flavored marshmallow, guests can roll the sweet treat in a variety of toppings, like graham cracker crumbs or chopped nuts.
Photo Credit: Stacy Able Photography via 240sweet Artisan Foodworks
Design-Your-Own Doughnut
Personalize doughnuts with various dippers and toppings.
Photo courtesy of Divine Party Concepts
Bar-on-the-Go
Add to the guest experience with a mobile bar, where guests can skip the long lines and get a fresh drink made for them as they continue to mix and mingle.
Photo Credit: Mae Batista Photography
Tandoori Chicken
Give your chicken skewers an spicy twist with Indian flavors. Suspending the meat bowl from the ceiling makes it a treat for the eyes as well.
Photo courtesy of Cartewheels Catering
Snow Cones
Recall happy childhood memories with a snow cone machine, featuring an assortment of flavor options your guests can mix and match.
Photo Credit: Olivia Leigh Weddings
Cotton Candy Bar
Another fun choice that’ll delight guests of all ages is a cotton candy station. It’s easy for guests to make their own, and you can infuse a variety of flavored sugars.
Photo Credit: Kayla Lupean Photography via Oak & Honey Events
Crepe Station
Crepes are as versatile as they are delicious. Fill your crepe station with sweet or savory options that’ll please any guest’s palette.
Photo Credit: Sabrina Hall Photography via Oak & Honey Events
Pretzel Station
Pretzels with dipping sauces – like mustard, nacho cheese, and caramel – are sure to delight your guests. It's also super easy to create an eye-catching display; event planner Oak & Honey Events created this simple display with plywood, copper pipes, and metal hooks.
Photo Credit: Lizzie Schlafer Photography via Oak & Honey Events
Biscuit Bar
A sandwich just tastes better on a flaky, buttery biscuit. Fill your buffet with various protein options, like fried chicken, smoked salmon, and eggs, with plenty of toppings like cheese, fruit butters, and spreads. Josh Tart, director of catering at Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel, also displays pre-made sandwiches for inspiration and for those who don’t want to build their own.
Photo courtesy of Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel
Cookie Dough Bar
Capitalize on the edible cookie dough trend with a build-your-own buffet, where guests can create their own custom flavors from a variety of mix-ins. "Cookie dough bars have taken the place of ice cream sundae bars," says Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs. "Kids and adults love it."
Photo courtesy of Elegant Affairs
Acai Bowl
Give your dessert bar a healthy twist with acai bowls, which guests can top with delicious fruit, seeds, and nuts.
Photo courtesy of Elegant Affairs
Guacamole Bar
Can't picture your guests chowing down on half an avocado? Try the more mainstream version — guacamole. Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs adds gourmet toppings like grilled pineapple, crispy slab bacon, mango, lump crab, and smoked pulled chicken to her guac bars.
Photo courtesy of Elegant Affairs
