Wedding Canapes Cornwall

The ceremony might be brimming with tender moments; the speeches might have you laughing so hard the tears trickle down your cheeks; and the evening party might be a riot of cocktail slurping and hilarious dance floor antics. But, for me at least, the drinks and canape reception is the most eagerly anticipated chapter in the story of a wedding day.

It's about those heady first moments of celebration when the bubbly flows and excited chatter fills the air. It's about taking in the venue, the dress and revelling in the joy of the ceremony. And, of course, it's about tucking into some food after you've forgotten to eat lunch amidst the rush to get ready (it's not just me, surely?)

The canape has its work cut out - and it's not just about satisfying hungry guests. As the first food your guests will be sampling at your wedding, your canape menu needs to make a delicious impression while complementing the style of the celebration.

Think about whether you'd like a variety of flavours, bases and textures, or whether you'd prefer your canapes to reflect a specific theme, for example, spring or autumnal, retro or contemporary. Consider the visual impact, too: canapes can look colourful, rustic, modern or fun - think about what works with your wedding, be it theme, venue or time of year.

Jamie Beetham of Beetham Food has detected an emerging trend in the way canapes fit into the wedding breakfast. "A growing number of our couples are choosing to serve a more substantial canape menu rather than a starter," explains Jamie. "After an extended drinks and canape reception, the guests will usually take their seats for the speeches, and we'll then serve the main course and dessert. This allows more time for drinking and mingling. It also creates a more relaxed atmosphere and saves guests from sitting down in one place for a long time."

With this in mind, Jamie has devised a canapes menu with some suggested main courses and desserts to complement them. Packed with Cornish produce, tender meats and fresh-from-the-sea delights, the creative menu is brimming with a diverse selection of flavours and textures, from warm saffron and chorizo paella with mussels and Cornish crab, chilli and avocado crostini to a chilled shot of gazpacho - brilliantly refreshing on a summer's day. Then there are the moreish meats: chicken in a luscious curry sauce and pork meatballs smothered in smoky barbecue tomato sauce and cheese. Each bite-size delight is a delicious taster of the sumptuous main course and dessert to come.

CANAP�S STARTERS
Cornish crab, chilli and avocado crostini
Chilled shot of gazpacho
Smoked salmon with dill, honey mustard on wholemeal
Cornish asparagus with Parma ham and hollandaise
Warm saffron and chorizo paella with scallops
Pork meatballs with smoky barbecue tomato sauce and cheese
Chicken curry