Amazing Wedding Trends: Yummy Tacos! - Ainsworth House & Gardens

Whether you are having a traditional, sit-down dinner or a buffet at your reception, tacos are trending! For a morning wedding, serve delicious breakfast tacos. For an afternoon or evening reception, you can offer familiar, much loved flavors such as shredded chicken or beef OR opt for innovative, upscale tacos with duck, steak & pineapple, lobster, or charred cauliflower. Read on to learn more!

Hey, Christie!

We are so thrilled to be an Ainsworth House & Gardens weddings! Ainsworth is a very beautiful place to have a wedding and the reception hall is incredible!!!

Jocelyn, the wedding coordinator, is very dedicated and very professional.

OK, one last question: Is it permissible to serve tacos at a wedding reception? Can the tacos be served at a sit-down dinner or does it have to be a buffet? Since we are foodies, can tacos be leveled up in the ingredients? OK, that was three questions. 😊

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

–Lizabeth D.

Hey, Lizabeth!

Jocelyn shared how much she enjoys collaborating with you two! I echo that!!!

Thank you for the great questions!

1. Is it OK to serve tacos at a wedding reception?

It’s your special day so select the foods you enjoy and you think your guests will enjoy.

Tacos could be the perfect way to spice up your reception.

Tacos will allow your guests to customize what they want to eat.

Depending on the ingredients you select, tacos can be a flavorful and savory main course OR a sweet and delicious dessert.

This gives you oodles of amazing options!

If you opt for a taco bar, you may want to offer:

Grilled chicken
Carne Asada (beef)
Tofu
Grilled veggies (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and zucchini)
Pickled veggies (carrots, radishes, or red onion)

Lettuce or cabbage
Diced tomatoes
Pico de Gallo (tomatoes, onions, cilantro, serrano or jalapeño peppers, and lime juice)
Cilantro
Jalapeños
Guacamole or avocado
Lime wedges
Sour cream
Shredded cheese
Salsa (mild and spicy)
Beans (refried or Pinto)
Corn tortillas
Flour tortillas
Hard shell tor
Gluten-free tortillas
Tortillas in red or other colors
Mexican beers
Pineapple or Watermelon Margaritas
Desserts: Flan, churros, or Tres Leches Cake.
Favors: Give your favorite salsa or hot sauce.

2. Can tacos be served at a sit-down dinner or does it have to be a buffet?

Tacos can be served as a sit-down dinner. Having a served dinner allows all your guests to get their hot food at nearly the same time instead of waiting in a buffet line while smelling the tantalizing food. When everyone is served at once, then they are ready to party all at the same time and dance the night away!

On your RSVP printed form or online form, I would list what the options are and allow your guests to delete any ingredients they don’t want. For instance, your response form might state:

Tacos (You may order 3 now. More can be ordered at our reception if you wish. Your dinner will include Mexican Rice, refried beans, and a green salad. Save room for dessert!)

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Chicken Taco (Pico de Gallo, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Ground Beef Taco (Pico de Gallo, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Vegan Taco (Tofu, walnuts, spices, black beans, tahini sauce, Pico de Gallo, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Breakfast Taco (Scrambled eggs, bacon OR chorizo sausage, salsa, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

3. Since we are foodies, can tacos be leveled up in the ingredients?

Absolutely!

Here are some of our favorites:

Upscaled Seafood Tacos:

Mango & Catfish Tacos (See photo to the left.)
Fish Tacos (cod, tilapia, or mahi mahi)
Shrimp, Lobster, or Crab Tacos

Chipotle Salmon Tacos with an apple cucumber salsa
Al Pastor Red Snapper Tacos with guacamole
Battered fish tacos with citrus-pickled onions

Upscaled Meat Tacos:

Steak & Pineapple Tacos
Texas Chile Short Rib Tacos
Birria (slow cooked, marinated beef chuck roast and succulent short ribs)
Barbacoa (beef short ribs braised until tender and then shredded)
Carnitas (pulled pork)
Crispy Pork
Crispy Pork Belly Tacos
Chorizo & Potato Tacos

Upscaled Poultry Tacos:

Charred Chile-Marinated Grilled Chicken
BBQ Chicken with Queso and Pico de Gallo
Chicken & Poblano Chile with Crema Sauce
Duck

Upscaled Vegetarian or Vegan Tacos:

Sweet Potato
Charred Cauliflower with Romesco Salsa
Jackfruit Tacos (which taste like Carnitas)
Crispy Ricotta Kale Tacos
Fried Yuba Tacos (and a sweet corn relish)
Tempeh & Cabbage Slaw Tacos
Rajma (Kidney Bean Curry) Tacos

Upscaled Dessert Tacos:

Apple Pie Tacos
Cheesecake Tacos
Strawberry Dessert Tacos.

Ask your caterer. They may have even more ideas that you can taste test!

If you have any other questions, please reach out to me.

Your friend in the wedding business,

Christie Shyne

Images above are courtesy of Pixabay.com.

Image of the Taco Love Boat and the images below are from the Ainsworth House & Gardens wedding gallery.

Hey, Christie!

We are so thrilled to be an Ainsworth House & Gardens weddings! Ainsworth is a very beautiful place to have a wedding and the reception hall is incredible!!!

Jocelyn, the wedding coordinator, is very dedicated and very professional.

OK, one last question: Is it permissible to serve tacos at a wedding reception? Can the tacos be served at a sit-down dinner or does it have to be a buffet? Since we are foodies, can tacos be leveled up in the ingredients? OK, that was three questions. 😊

Thanks in advance for your guidance!

–Lizabeth D.

Hey, Lizabeth!

Jocelyn shared how much she enjoys collaborating with you two! I echo that!!!

Thank you for the great questions!

1. Is it OK to serve tacos at a wedding reception?

It’s your special day so select the foods you enjoy and you think your guests will enjoy.

Tacos could be the perfect way to spice up your reception.

Tacos will allow your guests to customize what they want to eat.

Depending on the ingredients you select, tacos can be a flavorful and savory main course OR a sweet and delicious dessert.

This gives you oodles of amazing options!

If you opt for a taco bar, you may want to offer:

Grilled chicken

Carne Asada (beef)

Tofu

Grilled veggies (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and zucchini)

Pickled veggies (carrots, radishes, or red onion)

Lettuce or cabbage

Diced tomatoes

Pico de Gallo (tomatoes, onions, cilantro, serrano or jalapeño peppers, and lime juice)

Cilantro

Jalapeños

Guacamole or avocado

Lime wedges

Sour cream

Shredded cheese

Salsa (mild and spicy)

Beans (refried or Pinto)

Corn tortillas

Flour tortillas

Hard shell tor

Gluten-free tortillas

Tortillas in red or other colors

Mexican beers

Pineapple or Watermelon Margaritas

Desserts: Flan, churros, or Tres Leches Cake.

Favors: Give your favorite salsa or hot sauce.

2. Can tacos be served at a sit-down dinner or does it have to be a buffet?

On your RSVP printed form or online form, I would list what the options are and allow your guests to delete any ingredients they don’t want. For instance, your response form might state:

Tacos (You may order 3 now. More can be ordered at our reception if you wish. Your dinner will include Mexican Rice, refried beans, and a green salad. Save room for dessert!)

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Chicken Taco (Pico de Gallo, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Ground Beef Taco (Pico de Gallo, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Vegan Taco (Tofu, walnuts, spices, black beans, tahini sauce, Pico de Gallo, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

Check one: Hard shell or Soft shell taco

Breakfast Taco (Scrambled eggs, bacon OR chorizo sausage, salsa, lettuce, cheese, avocado, lime, cilantro)

Delete any ingredients? __________________

3. Since we are foodies, can tacos be leveled up in the ingredients?

Absolutely!

Here are some of our favorites:

Upscaled Seafood Tacos:

Mango & Catfish Tacos (See photo to the left.)

Fish Tacos (cod, tilapia, or mahi mahi)

Shrimp, Lobster, or Crab Tacos

Chipotle Salmon Tacos with an apple cucumber salsa

Al Pastor Red Snapper Tacos with guacamole

Battered fish tacos with citrus-pickled onions

Upscaled Meat Tacos:

Steak & Pineapple Tacos

Texas Chile Short Rib Tacos

Birria (slow cooked, marinated beef chuck roast and succulent short ribs)

Barbacoa (beef short ribs braised until tender and then shredded)

Carnitas (pulled pork)

Crispy Pork

Crispy Pork Belly Tacos

Chorizo & Potato Tacos

Upscaled Poultry Tacos:

Charred Chile-Marinated Grilled Chicken

BBQ Chicken with Queso and Pico de Gallo

Chicken & Poblano Chile with Crema Sauce

Duck