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07/30/2025

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Al Fresco Feast: 12 Summer Wedding Menu Ideas Your Guests Will Actually Talk About

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1. Welcome Drinks & Grazing Boards

Start as you mean to go on. Greet guests with something cool and refreshing – think sparkling elderflower with cucumber, chilled rosé, or a summer spritz bar. Pair that with a rustic grazing table: artisan cheeses, charcuterie, olives, fruit, sourdough crackers... It’s chic, stress-free, and completely Instagrammable.

Tip: Choose local, seasonal ingredients to elevate flavour and keep costs sensible.

2. Skewers That Do the Rounds

Mini skewers are your summer wedding secret weapon. They’re easy to eat standing up, don't require cutlery, and can suit every diet. Options we love:

  • Halloumi with courgette and red pepper (veggie)
  • Teriyaki chicken with pineapple (meaty and fun)
  • King prawns with lime and chilli (for seafood lovers)
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3. Interactive Salad Stations

Let guests build their own bowl! Think base greens, grains like quinoa or orzo, and toppings like roasted veg, feta, grilled chicken or falafel. Drizzle over some herby dressings and voilà — a fresh, healthy main that caters for all.

4. Gourmet BBQ With a Twist

Forget burnt sausages and dry buns. A wedding BBQ can be elegant. Try:

  • Lamb koftas with minted yoghurt
  • Marinated tofu steaks with chimichurri
  • Buttermilk chicken burgers with slaw

Bonus points for a live chef station – guests love watching their food grilled to order.

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5. Garden Picnic-Style Hampers

For ultra-casual or countryside weddings, why not pre-pack picnic baskets for each table? Include:

  • Mini quiches
  • Fresh-baked focaccia
  • Seasonal fruit pots
  • Homemade lemonade bottles

It’s charming, easy to manage, and creates a lovely laid-back feel.

6. Global-Inspired Food Stalls

Set up a mini food market! It’s interactive and lets guests pick what they fancy. Ideas:

  • Bao bun bar
  • Mexican tacos with all the toppings
  • Mediterranean mezze platters

This also works brilliantly for multicultural weddings or couples who love to travel.

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7. Chilled Soup Shots

Yes, really. Serve small glasses of gazpacho, pea and mint, or cucumber and yoghurt soup as a cool appetiser or in-between refresher. They’re light, colourful, and surprisingly popular.

8. Late-Night Snack Cart

After dancing (and a few drinks), guests need something hearty. Roll out a cart of:

  • Mini cheese toasties
  • Cone-shaped chips with aioli
  • Mini Cornish pasties or sausage rolls

Comfort food, but cute.

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9. DIY Lemonade or Pimm’s Bar

Perfect for hot afternoons. Let guests customise drinks with fruits, herbs, and flavoured syrups. It adds colour and keeps everyone hydrated (well, mostly).

10. Dessert Grazing Table

Instead of a single cake, offer a spread: macarons, brownies, fruit tarts, eton mess cups, scones with cream and jam. More choice, more fun, and you avoid the queue for cake cutting.

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11. Ice Cream Van or Gelato Bike

An absolute crowd-pleaser. Choose local flavours or even have a custom flavour named after the couple. Bonus: great photos.

12. Coffee & Espresso Martini Bar

Keep the energy going with a coffee cart or espresso martinis on tap. Add biscotti or mini donuts for a little sugar boost as the night rolls on.

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