The Top Wedding Food and Drink Trends of 2025

While food and drinks have always been a priority at weddings, the past few years have proven that these culinary components are no longer just a mandatory part of the festivities or an obligation that to-be-weds feel the need to cross off of their list. Instead, modern couples are putting a lot of thought into planning their big-day menus, with the intention of disclosing meaningful aspects of their relationship and creating an unforgettable experience for their guests.

In 2024, this was certainly the case: Over the course of the year, weddings saw a rise in personalized cocktails and dishes tailored to the couple’s tastes, interactive food stations with unique selections, glamorous Champagne and martini towers, and intricately designed cakes with custom touches. Across the board, these trends were a result of couples’ growing desire to throw an event that was both reflective of their love story and filled with photo-worthy moments and details. 

Most of these wedding food and drink trends will continue to expand and take shape in 2025, according to wedding caterers and cake bakers. Throughout the year, to-be-weds will still prioritize an authentic, highly impactful affair with handcrafted, aesthetically pleasing culinary elements. For their clients’ 2025 nuptials, industry experts in the catering space are working with clients to create handpicked beverages, appetizers, entrées, and desserts, all presented in an eye-catching way—some with sculptural-like displays and some with interactive features. They also predict that health-conscious dishes (both on the global and individual level) and nostalgic aspects will be other notable themes across big-day fare.

Wondering what wedding menus have in store for this coming year? Read on for the top wedding food and drink trends that experts are excited to serve up in 2025.

Made-to-Order Cocktail Bars

Interactivity was a popular feature in 2024 wedding menus, and its presence will continue to expand in 2025. According to Ernest Sturm, owner of Runway Waiters, in the coming year, to-be-weds will reimagine the passive experience of waiting in line and ordering from a limited selection of cocktails at the bar. Instead, he says nuptials in 2025 will include made-to-order cocktail bars, where guests will have the ability to choose the ingredients that they want mixed into their drinks. “Personalized experiences continue to be highly sought after, and this adds a fun, interactive element to your reception,” he expresses. Since the couple of honor will pick which flavors to incorporate, this interactive bar idea will still represent the duo’s desires while catering to each of their guests’ individual preferences.

Creative Alcohol-Free Alternatives

For another year in a row, mocktails will be making a considerable appearance at weddings in 2025. Over the past few years, as couples have become increasingly more interested in health-conscious ingredients and making every attendee feel included, alcohol-free drinks have made their way onto many menus. Mixers infused with adaptogens are particularly appealing to consumers because they provide the “buzz” of an alcoholic alternative without the negative consequences (i.e., hangovers). 

This year, husband-and-wife duo VIjay and Elizabeth Goel, co-owners of Bite Catering Couture, reveal that these alcohol-free options will include a range of innovative designs and garnishes, from infused ice cubes to ombré bases, making them just as beautiful and appetizing as the standard choices. “We’re seeing couples ask about the options for their non-drinking guests that would give them the same level of experience as the alcoholic bar,” they say. “And we’re seeing venues and bar companies respond with creative options.”

Innovative Plant-Based Menus

In keeping with the heightened focus on health, 2025 weddings will see more plant-based menus. Usually, future spouses add one meat-free entrée to the mix of meat-focused options so that their vegan and vegetarian guests have something to eat. However, as the wellness industry continues to expand, Sturm says fully plant-based menus (or ones with a majority of plant-based dishes) will be more common in the coming year, particularly ones that are palatable to all taste buds. “If you want to include this in your wedding, work with a caterer who specializes in plant-based cuisine to ensure the dishes are creative and satisfying for all guests, even non-vegans,” he recommends.

Zero-Waste Catering

Couples aren’t just considering their own health on their wedding day, but also the health of the planet. While sustainability isn’t necessarily a new concept in the world of nuptials, it will have a newfound catering focus at 2025 weddings. Instead of solely concentrating on locally sourced ingredients or farm-to-table dishes, engaged duos will also be hiring caterers who have an eco-friendly approach that attempts to reduce food waste, according to Sturm. “More couples will choose caterers who prioritize zero-waste practices, such as using all parts of vegetables or redistributing leftover food to local shelters,” he says.

Colorful Lambeth Piping

Vintage details were popping up all over 2024 weddings, and this trend will continue to materialize in the following year—but with a twist. While vintage-inspired buttercream cakes with Lambeth piping were an in-demand option in 2024, Jenae Cartwright, owner of Cake & Crumble, suspects that these nostalgic confections will showcase more playful colors and unique details in the ensuing months. “With the variety of unique buttercream piping tips available, both tone-on-tone and multi-colored Lambeth cakes and piped floral cakes are trending hot for 2025,” she says. Heather Anne Leavitt, owner of Sweet Heather Anne, adds that colorful embroidery and pressed flowers will also make their way onto piped wedding cakes in 2025.

Dome-Shaped Cakes

Those tying the knot in 2025 will also be experimenting with different cake shapes, namely the “dome cake,” otherwise known as the “anti-bride cake,” according to Cartwright. This confection is exactly what it sounds like: A wedding cake that’s shaped like a dome. Whether it’s a single-tier creation or one with multiple layers in various shapes, this type of wedding cake allows couples to think outside of the box, from garden-grown flowers to colorful fruit finishes. “This whimsical concoction of flavor and eye candy gives so much to soak in,” Cartwright mentions. “Simply put, the harmony in slight chaos, paired with non-traditional lines and design elements, really allows this domed cake design to steal the show.”

Artistic Architectural Confections

The experts say another unique wedding cake trend will enter the scene in 2025: architectural confections that double as works of art. “We’re seeing more couples paying attention to how the cake is displayed and treating the whole vignette as an art piece,” Leavitt explains. While minimalist buttercream cakes will always be a classic go-to, in the coming year, couples will experiment with one-of-a-kind, structural cake designs that mirror original sculptures.

Late-Night Food Stands

To elevate the guest experience, many soon-to-be newlyweds will be integrating late-night bites, complete with a statement-making presentation, into their 2025 weddings, the experts predict. After hours of dancing on their feet, attendees certainly work up an appetite, so to keep the momentum going until the wee hours of the morning (and to make a big impression), couples will be stocking elaborate stands, from snack stations to food trucks, with some of their favorite treats. “Guests appreciate having a late-night snack after hours of celebrating, and comfort food adds a playful touch to the evening,” Sturm notes. VIjay and Elizabeth predict nostalgic choices, like s’mores, milkshakes, and donuts, will particularly be in the running.