Smoke Signals: The Secret Ingredient to Your Perfect Wedding Menu

Crafting the perfect menu will wow your guests and help you create a memorable wedding experience. So whether you’re having your dream wedding lakeside at Smoke Signals (great choice!) or catering your wedding with us at another location, we have menus and catering options to help design an amazing dining experience for your big day. 

Sure, Smoke Signals is known for its incredible barbecue. But take a closer look, and you’ll see that we also offer dishes and service worthy of an afternoon brunch, a themed wedding with interactive food stations, or even a black-tie affair. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Plan Your Budget and Stick With It

Before choosing dishes, you need to establish a catering budget for your wedding. Knowing how much you can afford to spend will help you determine what type of food to serve and the serving style. 

The good news is Smoke Signals offers different options at different price points, so we’ll work with you to create a menu you love at a price you can afford. Several factors influence catering costs, including the number of guests, the type of service, the types of dishes you choose, and bar options. As you plan your menu, having a budget will help guide your decisions and still wow your guests with an amazing meal. And Smoke Signals can help you create the perfect menu that's as delicious as it is meaningful on any budget. 

Tell Your Story With Your Menu

Photo Credit: Mallory Dawn Photography

Adding personal details to your wedding menu will make your guests feel more connected to your story. It's your wedding, so you want to choose some of your favorite foods and dishes! Is there a particular food item that means something to you and your partner? Add it! Or maybe you want to add a dish that reminds you of your first date.

You’ll also want to consider your guests’ preferences when creating your perfect menu. 

Offering different options is a way to make sure everyone finds something they enjoy. Do your guests have dietary restrictions or preferences? If you want vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options, Smoke Signals can craft unique dishes, so there’s something for everyone. With offerings like vegetable enchiladas and grilled tofu pineapple skewers, your vegetarian dishes will be as decadent and tasty as your meat options. 

Of course, you want your guests talking about how great the food was long after your party is over, right? We’ll work with you to pick out the perfect menu with the perfect style of service. You may opt for a more formal sit-down dinner, or you may want to try out the latest food station trend. Whatever you choose, we’ll be right here to help you make your wedding everything you dream it can be.

Inspiration For Your Perfect Menu

Photo Credit: Joe and Jen Photography

The best part about creating your menu with Smoke Signals is you have so many choices. And if you’re having your wedding here, our catering staff is already onsite and familiar with all of our great dishes. From mini pork belly tacos to smoke primed rib with horseradish cream, you can design the perfect menu for your big day. Here are just a few ideas to help you get started.

Classic Barbecue Menu

If you love traditional barbecue, then a classic barbecue menu is a great option. You can add meats like smoked beef brisket, pulled pork, and smoked chicken. These meats are smoked to perfection and served with Smoke Signals' homemade barbecue sauce. The menu also includes sides like pork belly truffle mac and cheese, coleslaw, and garlic mashed potatoes—yum! 

Station Menu

Serving stations are THE latest wedding menu trend! They’re playful, whimsical, and way less formal than a buffet. With interactive serving stations, you build your meal around different stations of food with different themes, like a sliders station, a pizza station or a carving station. Be sure to ask Smoke Signal’s catering team for a list of station ideas.

Brunch Menu

If you're having a daytime wedding, you may want to opt for a lighter menu. A brunch menu is a great option, and Smoke Signals can help you create a fantastic brunch for your guests with custom dishes to fit your style with options like egg dishes, a waffle station, smoked bacon, and sausage.

Food Pairings Menu

Food pairings are another popular wedding menu concept that your guests will love. Let us help you surprise your guests with new and innovative food pairings for your perfect menu. With our full-service bar with craft cocktails, beers on draft, and wine by the glass, we can pair up different dishes with different beverages.

Start with appetizers like the ahi tuna wontons, smoked wings, or pastrami toast points paired with cocktails created just for you and your special day. Then plan a dinner with decadent dishes like baby back ribs, maple-baked salmon, or a custom carving station with all your favorite smoked meats paired with your favorite beer or wine. 

Plan Your Menu Around the When and Where of Your Wedding

Photo Credit: Smoke Signals

A lakeside wedding needs a dining experience worthy of such a scenic locale. And Smoke Signals offers just that. With an extensive list of menu options, you’ll have plenty of choices as you plan a meal for your big day. 

Using local and seasonal ingredients supports the local economy and ensures that the ingredients are fresh and at their peak flavor. Not to mention, Lake Placid is known for its farm-to-table traditions. Access to local ingredients can elevate your menu and make it even more memorable for your guests. Talk to your Smoke Signals catering team about what's in season and what local ingredients they can incorporate into your menu.

Consider an All-In-One Venue with Catering On Site

Here, you’ll enjoy the convenience of hosting your event all at one location. Imagine your ceremony on the lawn at the water's edge, followed by cocktails and appetizers on The Deck, dinner in the Main Dining Room, dessert and coffee service in the Lake View Room, and dancing in the Music Hall. 

Best of all, you can personalize the spaces to fit your style, and you don’t have to worry about renting tables, chairs, and other essentials from different vendors—it’s included. 

At Smoke Signals, we understand just how special your wedding day is, and we consider it an honor to be a part of helping you make your wedding dreams come true. Let us help you share your love story with your guests by designing the perfect menu for your big day. To learn more, visit our wedding and events page today!