If you’re tying the knot soon and your stomach’s doing somersaults at the idea of your families meeting for the first time on your wedding day… pause. Breathe. There’s a simple, stress-saving solution for that: Welcome Dinner.
This isn’t just a trendy new thing – welcome dinners are actually an old Scottish tradition making a massive comeback, especially across Lanarkshire. And it’s no wonder! These pre-wedding soirées are a genius way to break the ice and let both sides of the family mingle before the pressure-cooker moments of the big day.
Take Carly and Christopher, for example. This past Friday, we at Hog Roast Arbroath had the pleasure of catering their welcome dinner at the breathtaking estate they’d chosen for their wedding. Think: rolling green lawns, palace-like interiors, creaky-chic wooden floors, and twinkling fairy lights wrapped around marble pillars. It was the perfect blend of timeless elegance and cosy intimacy.
As the sun dipped behind the estate, the Hog Roast Arbroath team got straight to work. The scent of slow-roasted, free-range hog filled the air, drawing guests like bees to honey. We served up succulent pork with that oh-so-satisfying crispy crackling, fluffy sage and onion stuffing, and a generous bowl of tangy applesauce. For the plant-based foodies? We had BBQ-pulled jackfruit rolls with vegan slaw that had even the carnivores coming back for seconds.
Add in colourful seasonal salads, herb-dressed new potatoes, and a table loaded with sauces and toppings, and you’ve got more than just a meal – you’ve got a moment.
The result? Strangers turned into friends, awkward small talk turned into real laughter, and two families started to feel like one. There’s something about sharing a hearty, flavourful meal that melts away the tension and sets the tone for a joyful wedding day.
So if the thought of that first cross-family handshake makes you sweat more than saying “I do,” remember Carly and Christopher – and consider throwing a welcome dinner of your own. With Hog Roast Arbroath great food, relaxed vibes, and everyone getting to know each other ahead of time, it might just be the best (and tastiest) decision you make.