Planning a wedding menu can be lots of fun, and it can also be stressful. After all, this meal is the signature dinner party for newlyweds.

Most couples try to select a menu that will please themselves and their guests, all while working within their budget. It's not an easy task but it's doable. Read on as wedding experts share tips to help couples navigate planning their big day cuisine.

"It's your day as a couple, so to make the reception authentically yours, it should please you more than anyone and in some way reflect who you are as a couple," says Amanda DiUglio, event director at Great Performances, a catering and events company.

She reminds couples that while you can't please all of your guests, you should try to be gracious and hospitable by selecting a menu that's likely to please the majority of their preferences. Consider who will be attending. Will guests like more traditional meat-and-potato fare? Are there children? Will adventurous foodies be attending?

*Budget Basics

According to WeddingWire, the average wedding catering cost is $4,000, with couples spending between $1,800 and $7,000.

How much will you spend? Look online or call caterers in your area to get an idea of meal pricing per person, plus tax and gratuity. WeddingWire says the average price for a plated dinner in the U.S. is $40 per person; it's $27 per person for a buffet.

Next, look at your guest list.

"Sit down, set a realistic budget and guest count, and that will help steer you in the right direction," says Thai Nguyen, a wedding planner and owner of Entrez Events, a full-service company.

For example, a casual buffet-style dinner or a family-style dinner may be the best option for couples with a large guest count but a limited budget. She says this style of service cuts the cost on staffing and labor, while still maintaining food taste and quality.

Couples on a budget who want a more lavish sit-down dinner experience should rework their guest list.

"As the host, you're not expected to serve caviar and champagne," says Nguyen. "All is expected is that you are throwing a party that is thoughtful and gracious with your guests in mind."

If food is your priority, get creative and come up with a menu that meets all of your food and budget needs.

One of her couples served fancy plated fried chicken because it was their favorite. Instead of filet mignon and salmon, serve a less expensive and equally delicious short rib or branzino. If you really want lobster for your wedding, skip it as an entree and serve it in a smaller portion as a tray-passed hors d'oeuvre.

*What's Cooking?

Event producer Abby Borden of Table Set Go often works with clients who are foodies who don't want a boring "chicken or fish" dinner.

She asks them a series of questions to spark their menu musings:

--Are there any cuisines that you, as a couple, especially love?

--Is there a local restaurant that you enjoy and would like to share with your guests?

--Are there dishes from childhood, or your cultures/backgrounds that you'd like to pay tribute to on the special day?

--What are your favorite desserts? Are you chocoholics? Do you want a fruit option?

*Cuisine Considerations

If you want an active reception, consider food stations, which encourage guests to mingle. "Providing guests with different food presentations can help make your event deliver a major wow factor that and be talked about for weeks on end," says DiUglio, who reminds couples to also serve up fun cocktails.

A family-style dinner or food stations are great options for guests with dietary restrictions. Still, it's smart to offer more than just salad and sides for variety. Ask your caterer about offerings that for guests with specific food preferences or allergies to the eight major allergens: eggs, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, shellfish and fish.

Consider offering a tasting menu instead of a three-course menu. "Place your guests on a feasting journey of more courses in smaller portions," says Nguyen. "It will definitely let them know that you put a lot of thought into the planning."

While couples put so much effort into planning their wedding menu, they often don't have time to enjoy it. That's why it's smart for newlyweds to ask their caterer to put together a "to-go" meal for them enjoy after the reception. They can savor the moment a little while longer.