More couples say ‘I do’ to food trucks

When Hannah Hershey looks at her wedding photos, taken May 31, 2014, she’s certain she looks “happiest” in the one of the bride and groom standing in front of the Moose Truck window, paper boats in hand.

“As we looked into catering options, we kept coming up with the same rubber chicken offerings, and we just kept thinking about those (duck) tacos,” says Hershey, who lives in Parkville with her husband, Chris.

Wedding season is in full bloom and this year an increasing number of brides and grooms will say “I do” to food trucks. Bridal magazines and websites like the Knot don’t mince words: “Food trucks are the next big wedding catering idea.”

Meanwhile, Kansas City food truck entrepreneurs have seen an increasing number of couples bypassing the formal sit-down dinner in favor of a less expensive, casual meal with a menu that reflects their tastes. “We wanted to create an event we’d like to go to,” Hershey says.

The Hersheys like to support local businesses, especially local food businesses. Hannah was working part time at Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery at the time of the wedding. Chris is an avid homebrewer and winemaker, as well as the cook in the family.

But using their favorite food truck also solved another dilemma: Their wedding was at the Journey Home in Dearborn in Platte County, a rustic barn that did not have catering facilities.

Bethany Inman, catering and events director for the KC Hopps restaurant and brewpub chain that includes the Moose Truck, says her wedding bookings have more than doubled this year.

The Moose Truck offers a wide array of menu options, including burgers and ahi tuna sliders, with a choice of window or buffet-style service. In addition to the Hershey favorite duck tacos, their 115 guests celebrated the nuptials with crabcakes, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken kebabs and veggie burgers for what Hershey estimates was about $1,000 less expensive than traditional catering.

Beauty of the Bistro owner Sidney Fish has catered wedding parties that include the standard food truck fare, as well as events that feature fancier options, such as Tuscan Encrusted Pork Loin. But even some of these more upscale menu items can be served “truck-style” — through the window, in paper boats.

Chris Ireland, co-owner of Crave of KC Food Truck, caters sit-down wedding dinners and buffets, as well as late-night snacks for the reception and dance.

Recently two mothers of the bride called Ireland back to say that if they had it to do over again, they’d skip the sit-down dinner and go straight to the food truck fare because the uniqueness of the experience kept guests buzzing about the big day long after the honeymoon was over.

“The food was fantastic,” Hershey says of her own food truck reception. “People were tickled pink to see a novel concept.”

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 12:42 PM with the headline "More couples say ‘I do’ to food trucks."