A Gallery of Wedding Food; Simpler Wedding Food for the Recession

For a lot of people, choosing what to serve at their wedding starts with finding a caterer they like and can afford. Then they choose between the half-dozen entree choices and the assorted appetizers that caterer typically provides. But the catering bill will most like be the largest portion of your budget, it makes sense to think outside the box slightly and make sure the menu reflects your wedding and who you are as a couple.

That's why I love this new interactive feature on the New York Times website, a gallery of reader-submitted foods from their weddings. Looking at the different dishes and menus, you can really sense who each of the couples is, and what their wedding was like.

You might also want to read the accompanying article, which details how couples are opting for more "down home" menus in light of the recession. Unfortunately, the writer primarily profiled wealthy Los Angeles couples for whom the menu change is not really about spending less money, but rather the perception that they have. Here are some actual ways to save money on your wedding food.