Weddings are all about creating happy memories – not only for the couple but for their guests. And what better way to create an unforgettable experience than to work with a celebrity chef to design a bespoke wedding menu with food as a central part of the celebration.
Three renowned chefs at ALHI properties offered insight on a chef-led culinary experience: Michael White, a Michelin-starred chef with restaurant Paranza at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas known for his inventive takes on Italian food; Paolo Della Corte, executive chef at Nobu Hotel Los Cabos in Mexico, an Italian chef with Michelin Stars training experience; and Walter Alvarado, Executive Chef at the Salamander Washington, D.C., bridges his Caribbean roots, Spanish training and modernist techniques into a luxury dining experience.
These chefs and others at ALHI hotels across the world are more than culinary experts. Their experience can elevate wedding food from ordinary to extraordinary.
“I believe a chef-led culinary wedding experience takes your wedding dining to an entirely new level, offering more than just a meal—it creates an immersive, memorable event for you and your guests,” Alvarado said.
Making the Experience Unique
For White and Della Corte, their training and experience make the wedding food experience unique.
“Based on my travels in France and a long time living in Italy, I bring a learned and cultured sensibility to a wedding,” White said. “I am the type of person who will take the time and understand what a couple will want to enjoy about their special day. I bring pan Italian food, French technique, ingredients of the Bahamas and the world to your wedding.”
Gathering information from the couple is also high on Della Corte’s wedding food planning.
“The most important thing is to listen to the idea and type of food or style of event that they want and, above all, to listen to the nationality of the guests who will be attending your wedding,” he said. “Based on this information, an idea is offered or even a change in some recipes to get much closer to a palate and a culture.”
Della Corte also has had diverse studies – including Italian, French, British, Japanese, Mexican and Thai and likes to fuse traditional, international and new flavors to create new dishes.
Alvarado said he gathers “love story details” from the couple to try to craft a unique food experience.
“Creating a wedding menu that reflects a couple’s wishes, including their ethnic and cultural traditions, requires a thoughtful and personalized approach,” he said. “If the couple comes from different cultural backgrounds, I find ways to blend flavors, techniques, or signature dishes from both traditions.”
Advantages of Working with a Chef
The chefs listed several advantages of working directly with them to plan a bespoke menu.
“The fewer people between the planner and the chef – the better the message,” said White, whose restaurants have garnered three stars from The New York Times, a Michelin star and multiple nominations from the James Beard Foundation. “I’m experienced working with planners of the most sophisticated and special events and have the interest and ability to make meals magical.”
Alvarado said a bespoke menu allows him to tailor every dish to the couple’s taste, dietary preferences and cultural influences.
“A chef can source the freshest, most seasonal ingredients, ensuring the highest quality and flavor,” he said. “You can work together on innovative presentations, interactive food stations, or multi-course tasting experiences. A chef like myself, who loves wines, can recommend and pair wines, craft cocktails, or specialty beverages to complement your menu seamlessly.”
And the chef could even become part of the experience, through cooking demonstrations, explanations, or even taking selfies with guests.
Della Corte said selfies can easily be arranged, and Alvarado said if a couple desires, he’s happy to make a presentation at the wedding.
Tips for Wedding Planners
The three chefs also offered tips for wedding planners seeking celebrity chefs.
“All the chefs are very good,” Della Corte said. “The most important thing is to find a chef who not only cooks but who takes care of every detail starting with the planning because he understands from the beginning the essence of the event. Obviously, a famous chef contributes a lot to making your wedding quite prestigious.”
Alvarado had some timely tips: “Do your research. Identify chefs who align with the couple’s vision, cuisine preferences and budget. Establish a clear budget – and book well in advance.
But beyond that, White offers this most important advice: “Find the right chef, with a personality that meshes well with the bride and the groom.”
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