Entree options: chicken and fish vs. chicken and beef?

Unless a smallish guest list (under 75) at what looks like a top-notch venue (hotel, restaurant), I’d be too scared to order fish at a wedding. My hubby would like fish though.

But that said, let your hubby have fish! I would prefer steak but I’d be fine with chicken or a vegetarian option. 👍

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Thanks! Our guest list will be over 100, but the venue is very nice and partners with a well-known catering company, so hopefully people wouldn't be scared of the fish. But you make a good point!

I would always pick fish as one of the entrees, as a guest & as a host. Lot of our people are pescatarians, us included, fish is a healthy & delicious option, so for us it’s a no-brainer.

I definitely see this as “know your crowd” thing. So if you already know that a lot of your people will like & order chicken & you are pescatarians, I’d go with chicken & fish! I see nothing wrong with skipping beef. And as you said, your cocktail hour will have beef options as well.

If your FH doesn't want to have the vegetarian option at his wedding, he shouldn't have to. The couple's preference should come before everyone else's, IMO. It's your day!

I am a pescetarian so I would appreciate the fish. I think having beef and chicken together is very heavy also

I would really prefer steak. Catered fish usually makes me sick.

I think the menu at the wedding should be things the couple themselves like overall.
That being said people have strong feelings about fish so you'll want to be specific (salmon, cod, ect) on the menu cards so people know. Chicken always seems like a safe bet, so if you think the same go with that. People also feel strongly about beef and red meats. 🤷
That being said fish is a top food allergen make sure you ask for allergies because you do not want a guest getting hives at the reception!

I'm sorry, this is nothing personal, but I hate chicken at a wedding. It's never good. Rubbery, dried out, etc. Just no. I wouldn't choose it, ever. Even if it were the only "meat' on the menu.

I would be looking for a beef and fish option.

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Yes, good point about the type of fish. I think our options are salmon or branzino (both available in different styles). I think we would go with the branzino since a lot of people do not like salmon.

This is tough. We are having prime rib, chicken, and salmon. We've gotten most of our rsvps back and more than half of our guest list has chosen prime rib (we have like 92 rsvped so far, and I have more prime rib orders than the other 2 combined). Clearly that's the popular choice.

That said, it's your and FH's wedding. If he wants the fish, I think you should go with the fish. For instance, I'm allergic to shellfish and we have no shellfish anywhere for cocktail hour or dinner because I didn't want to deal with accidental cross-contamination or anything (food will be cooked on premises). People can grumble about chicken instead of beef, but they'll survive. As you said, you will have some beef in the cocktail hour. I think this is 1 point where you should put yourselves ahead of your guests since this is affecting his meal choice for his wedding.

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To be honest I have never had great chicken at wedding either. We are doing our tasting in August, so we will definitely pay attention to the chicken taste. If it is far below the other options we would consider doing beef and fish. But, this would not be a great option because I happen to know we have several guests who would not order either of those. If I came from more of a traditional carnivore family I would agree with you!

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Yes, this is what I'm concerned about. I've heard from caterers that more than half of the guests usually order the beef option. That's why I think it will be missed. I appreciate the perspective! I'll talk to FH again about how important it is to him.

We did beef and fish and it went over really well with our crowd.
To be honest, if you’re set on the chicken, I think it’s fair to be selfish here, as the couple— go for chicken and fish so hubs gets to enjoy his wedding meal. Either way, you have enough food so that no one is going to starve; as many people as there are who expect beef there are just as many who don’t eat red meat! So it’s hard to try to please absolutely everyone perfectly. Hungry guests can find something to eat among your 2 proteins and veg options no matter what they are, so go with what makes the two of you the happiest with your meals!

So... Why not fish and vegetarian entrees? If y'all are pescatarian it seems well within reason to cater to your own preference. Especially if you don't have a strong carnivore presence.

View Quoted Comment Then safety-wise, I wouldn’t be concerned and my hubby would choose fish. 😊

Hey! Can you do beef or fish??? Then vegetarian as the 3rd option?

It depends on the fish for me and how well it's cooked. Often I've been given overcooked fishy salmon at weddings so I tend to stay away. A few times I've ordered fish at weddings close to the ocean and it's been better. My cousin in TX had sushi at her cocktail hour and it was good!

We did chicken and steak, and everyone loved it! I feel like when you only have 2 options, those are the most universally liked. Many more people would prefer steak to fish.

I also feel like the chicken and fish would be he smartest choice. In my experience most people cut out red meat from their diet before chicken and fish. Also since FH wants fish I’d definitely want him happy.

We originally were going to have chicken and salmon until my dad intervened and said he wants beef and will pay the extra. So now we are having beef and salmon. Chicken is fine enough if you think your crowd will eat it and do the fish simply because that’s what your FH wants and that’s fair!

I say chicken and beef, that's what we're having. I think having fish is a know your crowd type of thing. FH doesn't eat beef but he will have a special meal of chicken and fish. We're also thinking about adding salmon croquetts as a third option