With tools like Azazie and WeddingWire, it’s easy to find the perfect dress for your summer wedding and get inspiration for colors, decorations, and venues. When it comes to planning a menu, though, it might be more difficult to figure out exactly what you want to serve. Obviously, soup isn’t the best option for a summer wedding, so what is? Here are some of the best drinks, hors-d’oeuvres, main dishes, and desserts for a summer wedding to keep guests cool and full:
Drinks
- Raspberry Limoncello Prosecco. Kind of like a grown-up raspberry lemonade, your guests will feel nice and refreshed with this delicious drink.
- Bourbon Peach Sweet Tea. What says summer better than sweet tea? Add a little bourbon and peach you’ve got the perfect summer wedding cocktail.
- Cucumber Water. It’s important to stay cool and hydrated, so serving cucumber water is a good idea. It adds flavor and can keep guests fresh and cool, and it has some health benefits, too.
- Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade. For younger guests or guests who don’t drink, sparkling strawberry lemonade is the perfect refresher. What’s more delightful than bubbles and a summertime classic?
- Ice Cold Soda. If in doubt, get some sodas and put them in bins of ice. Everybody has a favorite, and you can include some bottles of water and non-carbonated drinks like lemonade for those who don’t drink soda or prefer to hydrate with water.
Hors-D’oeuvres
- Veggie Cups. They’re easy to make, beautiful, delicious, and refreshing. All you have to do is put some dressing or tip in the bottom of a cup and add a few veggies like carrots, celery, broccoli, and tomatoes, then voila.
- Fruit Kabobs. Fruit is a great refreshment for a hot summer day. Skewer a few of your favorites like grapes, pineapple, and strawberries onto some sticks and let guests enjoy.
- Caprese Bites. Rather than serving Caprese salads, you can put a tomato, mozzarella ball, and fresh leaf of basil on a toothpick, then drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve them to your guests. They’re easy to eat and serve and a refreshing appetizer for a summer wedding.
- Bacon Wrapped Avocado Wedges. Bacon and avocado go well together, so when you wrap avocado wedges in bacon then cook it to a crisp, it makes an incredible appetizer to hold guests over until later.
- Chips and Salsa Fresca. Salsa Fresca is full of flavor and refreshing. You can spoon it into serving cups then place bowls of chips around and let guests enjoy snacking until it’s time to eat.
Main Dishes
- Grilled Meat and Veggie Kabobs. Summer is the season of grilling, so a meat and veggie kabob is the perfect main dish for a summer wedding. You can grill up steak, chicken, peppers, onion, and zucchini to serve to guests on a stick.
- Chicken Salad Sandwiches. Chicken salad served on croissants is classy and a meal that guests can serve themselves. You can save time and money by placing bowls of chicken salad on a serving table and letting guests put together their own sandwiches to eat.
- Pasta Salad. Pasta salad is extremely versatile and can include cheese, meat, and veggies—making it a side dish or an option for a main dish. You can get as creative as you want with it, but since it’s served cold, it’s a great dish to help guests refresh and keep them full.
Desserts
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries. A classic wedding food, chocolate covered strawberries are one of the most delicious desserts you could serve at your summer wedding.
- Sorbet. What’s more beautiful than a scoop of sorbet in a citrus rind? Not much. Plus, it’s a cold and refreshing treat that guests will love.
- Berries in Cream. Fruit makes a great dessert, but add some sweet cream, and your guests will be in heaven. It’s cool, it’s refreshing, and it’s on the healthier side, making it a great dessert option for your wedding.
- Shaved Ice. Who doesn’t love shaved ice? You can hire a local food truck to come and serve shaved ice to your guests, and if you hire the right one, they may even include sweetened condensed milk or other add-ins to make the dessert creamy and irresistible.
- Chocolate Covered Bananas. Frozen bananas are a great way to cool down on a hot summer day. Dip them in chocolate; they get even better. They aren’t too messy since the chocolate hardens right away.
What other drinks, hors-d’oeuvres, dishes, and desserts do you think would be perfect for a summer wedding?