Introduction
Do you dream of a destination wedding in Tuscany that is overflowing with culinary delights?
As an Italy wedding planner, I understand your love of Italian food! The richness of the cuisine, made with fresh, local ingredients from this beautiful region, is not just a meal; it’s a celebration of life, love and, of course, you as a couple.
How to choose correctly an Italian wedding menu
From the welcome drink to the desserts that will make your wedding unforgettable, follow the guide 😊.
Choosing the Right Dishes: Seasonality, Classics, and Guest Comfort
- Embrace the Seasons: highlight seasonal ingredients to make a lasting impression on your guests;
- Don’t forget the classics: include iconic Italian dishes such as pasta and risotto;
- Prioritise comfort food: opt for familiar flavours that most guests will enjoy;
- The power of Italian cuisine: remember that Italian food is known worldwide for its perfect balance of flavours and textures.
Your Italian Wedding Banquet: From aperitif to dessert (Tuscan version)
In Italy we used to spend a lot of time with friends over aperitifs at the weekend – this is a way of life, so the meal here starts with the aperitifs.
Include a welcome drink before the ceremony or immediately afterwards in trays or at the bar. Aperol Spritz – Hugo Bellini, the Italian must-have!
Finger food, nibbles, canapés – just stay as local as possible! These small, delicious bites will greet your guests and will make all the difference to your meal: Chianina beef tartar, bruschetta with Valdichiana garlic and Seggiano extra virgin olive oil, vegetable and saffron cake from Monte Amiata, traditional Florentine lampredotto in small panini, pappa al pomodoro from the Tuscan countryside, which reuses old bread.
Then there are the classic sections of roasted vegetables, ham and cheese, bread, vegetarian dishes and soups.
The first part of the mingling lasts from 1.30 to 2.00 hours and we consider it immediately after the ceremony. The caterer or restaurant will ask you to choose some corners or to use all, it depends on how the rest of the dinner is going.
Going to the table we can go ahed with 2 primi (or lets say the before main dish).
We strictly recommend a risotto and a pasta, but if you go for 2 pasta’s one choose a filled pasta like lasagne, tortelli or cannelloni.
Think about fish too, even if your venue is inland don’t be afraid to ask the chef for a good risotto alla marinara.
Many years ago I had a couple who said to me that they had eaten the best risotto ever in Italy and they wanted to include the fish risotto in their wedding menu, and so the chef made it happen. (Fish may have a small supplement in the restaurants that use only meat).
The pasta, oh God bless pasta, maltagliati, tagliatelle, tortelli (ravioli), lasagne, cannoli, spaghetti, pici, trofie, gnocchi… Choose the seasoning you prefer.
Don’t forget pici all’aglione (garlic and tomato sauce) or the classic pesto or ragout for destination weddings, these are really important for your wedding menu.
Main dish – The meat and not only in these last years in the wedding industry, the needs of the guests has changed so the sliced beef is one of the top on the wedding menu (for some cultures we can accompany it with a good wine sauce) but vegetarians are coming more on these last periods, so a double flan with vegetables on cheese bad is one of the vegetarian plates as main dish, or a beautiful and tasty eggplant Parmigiana.
Being so found on local sustainability 2 of the courses I strictly recommend as main courses are the lamb and the pig, but obviously the last one is not proposed on halal and Muslim culture.
The side dishes, from the roast potatoes with Tuscan herbs to the grilled vegetables to the fresh salad with berries, can all be combined according to your needs.
Children’s menu – the light of our eyes, they will be hugged with their preferred menu! (Pasta al Pomodoro, Hamburger and chips).
The children’s menu must be priced differently from the adult menu. In some restaurants children are considered under 8, in others under 12.
To finish the dinner as Italians do, have dessert, espresso and liqueurs.
We can also think of including a fruit platter, but this will have to be evaluated based on how much time you want to sit at the table and how much time you want to go and spend on the dance floor.
Tiramisù, panna cotta & gelato are the top 3 of the meal, accompanied by a good glass of limoncello or moscato and immediately followed by a strong Italian espresso (if you prefer the American long coffee or tea, feel free to ask).
Your Italian wedding cake, not always obligatory, choose it even late after around 24.00 or 1 so you can refeed your guests – You can choose an Italian millefoglie or a classic sponge cake, remember that we collaborate with international premium pâtissier and the cake will be not only good but even photogenic [Marron Glacé, Corsini, Mario Barone, Brotini (gluten free and lactose free laboratory].
Around 2.00 am if night food is needed the catering can offer Italian pizza, sandwiches or spaghetti with garlic, oil and chili.
Let write the story of your love with the real Italian wedding menu.
