Summer is hot and heavy enough already. Want guests to get up and dance at the reception? Don’t weigh them down with rich food. Read on for ideas to make your party food fit the steamy season.
1. Stay Fresh
Fresh fruit: the ultimate juicy summer food. Keep things simple by laying out trays of fruit, or go the extra mile and serve fruit-based desserts at your celebration. Heather Emmanuel and Jason Ormand had these gorgeous tarts at their wedding. For ultimate freshness, make sure to serve fruits that are in season, like watermelon, strawberries and peaches.
2. Pick it Up
Not feeling a sit-down dinner? If you have a buffet or snacks set out, keep your guests moving by serving food they won’t have to put down. By serving finger food, you can let your guests pick and choose to fill their plate so they won’t get too full. And everyone is more sociable when they’re holding Tikka Chicken Skewers instead of sawing through a steak. Just don’t forget the monogrammed napkins!
3. Keep it Classic
What’s more classic than milk and cookies? Yes, you’ll already have a cake, but some people prefer cookies over cake. Obviously, you don’t need to let your guests dictate the wedding menu, but why wouldn’t you want cookies? As an added bonus, pairing cookies with miniature glasses of milk looks adorable! Check out Maggie Griffith and David Guarno’s Real Wedding to see how they did it.
4. Savor the Moment
Desserts are usually the star of the party; everyone loves wedding cake. Still, you need to make sure your guests have access to a savory option or two. Whether you serve meatballs, black-eyed peas and biscuits, or bite-sized chicken and waffles, one menu item should give guests a rest from all the sweetness.
