A summer wedding provides an opportunity to add fun and exciting foods to your menu. It’s all about finding unique combinations that will hold up to the heat and humidity and help keep the guests cool and comfortable. Rather than sticking to traditional wedding menu trends, summer weddings give you the freedom to explore and create a one-of-a-kind warm weather wedding menu that will leave your guests impressed and satisfied.
Menu Ideas for the Perfect Summer Wedding
Instead of spending your time on complex wedding menu ideas, why not embrace the season’s warmth with a menu that reflects the occasion and the season. Use the gift of warm weather as an opportunity to craft your wedding menu to take advantage of all the flavors and colors that summer offers to make your wedding celebration memorable. When you are planning the perfect summer wedding menu, here are a few ideas you may want to try out.
- Keep it Fresh with Cold Drinks.
When planning a wedding menu, ensuring everyone has a wonderful time is the most crucial part. This means sticking by the summer wedding trends without compromising your guests’ comfort. Keep your guests cool in your hot summer wedding with fresh drinks and some refreshing summer cocktails – and plenty of cold water and non-alcoholic beverages to alternate with your cocktails.
Get the party started with a refreshing summer drink like a fresh glass of lemonade. This will give them energy and set the stage for a fun celebration. Try incorporating popular summer drinks like a mojito, margarita or aperol spritz. Fancy glasses with colorful straws and napkins add a festive touch to the cocktail bar. - Always Splurge On the Desserts
A perfect summer wedding menu requires a sweet course after the main meal. The dessert can be casual and refreshing for a summer wedding to boost your guests through the lingering summer heat. Instead of the usual pastries and cakes, go for something fun like a strawberry shortcake or ice-cream sundae bars.
Remember that you also have the ultimate dessert – your wedding cake. You can go bold and tropical with popular summer wedding cake flavors like lemon raspberry sponge cake or piña colada buttercream and sticky coconut cake. - Keep the Foods Light
For a relaxed event, don’t serve foods that are difficult to eat. A warm weather wedding menu can have light but flavorful foods that please your guests. You can choose lighter foods like watermelon gazpacho, seasonal vegetables and grilled chicken; spiced up with a mix of salads, potatoes or pastas.
Avoid spicy and oily foods that usually aren’t compatible with warm summer weather and large guests lists. - Create Interactive Food Stations
Adding interactive food stations to your summer wedding menu is a great way to create an experience. Look at easy ways to encourage your guests to move around the reception venue and socialize. The more fun, the better the wedding!
Interactive food bars have no limitations. However, you want your food stations to be guided by your summer wedding theme. Some of the easier warm weather foods to incorporate in interactive food stations include macaroons, ice cream sundaes, chocolates and cheese… and, of course, cocktail stations! - Celebrate the Season
A warm-weather wedding menu isn’t just about finding foods that will hold up to the heat and humidity – it’s about celebrating mother nature’s bounty when food is at its freshest and most voluptuous. Foods that would be out of place in colder months are surprising but ideal at a summer wedding, including ceviche, lobster rolls and ice cream cones!
And Also…
An ideal summer wedding menu is all about foods that are easy to serve and eat in the heat. The warm weather provides some of the best season foods and cocktails. You may opt for a nostalgic menu for your guests or go thoroughly modern with your wedding menu. As a South Florida wedding and event planner, I design warm-weather wedding menus that stand up to the heat and delight your guests. Whether you want to serve wedding classics at your reception or incorporate the latest summer wedding menu trends, get in touch for the best ideas to help you design a unique summer wedding menu.
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