Weddings are all about love, and what better way to show love than through food. Couples are increasingly turning to “foodie” weddings that create memories, reflect their story and create a unique experience for family and guests.
Patrizia Cilli, a Rome-based planner whose company PCEvents stages weddings and events worldwide, advises wedding planners to focus on a few fundamental strategies for foodie weddings.
The first: collaborate with the couple to design a menu that reflects their tastes, cultural backgrounds, and personal stories.
“Consider incorporating family recipes or favorite dishes from their childhood and relationship to create a meaningful culinary journey for them and their guests,” she said.
Cilli suggests an interactive dining experience with food stations or live cooking demonstrations where guests can engage with chefs.
“Options like a pasta station, sushi rolling, or gourmet sliders allow guests to customize their meals, enhancing the overall dining experience,” she said “During one of my weddings, the couple and their guests could enjoy a “mozzarella station” where an authentic ‘mastro casaro’ made the mozzarella in front of them.”
She also recommended looking for local ingredients and seasonings and an artful presentation.
“Food is art! Get creative!” Cilli said. “I suggest they collaborate with caterers to create beautiful plating and stunning buffet displays that not only taste great but also look exquisite and elegant.”
Since Cilli is based in Italy, she has offered couples unique food experiences based on the country’s rich culinary heritage.
“Many Italian weddings embrace the concept of a multi-course meal, including antipasti, fresh pasta, meat or fish dishes, and delectable desserts made live during dinner,” she said. “The ‘wedding cake cutting’ is becoming a more interactive moment, and couples now can finish the last part of the cake by adding the last ingredients live in front of the guests. This way not only showcases regional specialties but also encourages communal dining, which is an essential aspect of Italian culture.”
A Tuscany wedding featured an olive oil station with an "oil fountain" at which guests could taste a homemade sliced bread with extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany.
“We incorporated local wines and the artisanal olive oils into the menu creating an authentic Italian experience,” she said. “Around midnight a live pizza station including a wood oven was arranged for a late-night snack.”
Noting new wedding food trends, Cilli said recent developments include more requests for vegetarian options, and a plant-based menu.
“Couples want to provide delicious and innovative meals that have diverse dietary preferences,” she said. “Also mixing different culinary traditions to create fusion menus that represent their backgrounds and provide an international culinary experience.”
Another trend is also the personalization of beverages, from cocktail to mocktails with not only the unique ingredients but design of the cocktails with their monogram on it, Cilli said.
“It’s a signature drink that not only represents them, their personalities but also their wedding theme,” she said.
ALHI properties across the globe are embracing foodie weddings. Here are four examples of food experiences offered by ALHI hotels.
InterContinental New York Barclay, New York City
Danielle Bonsignore, catering sales manager at the Barclay, said the hotel transforms locally sourced, sustainable and seasonal ingredients into exquisite dishes in a farm-to-table approach.
“Each plate showcases a thoughtful selection of produce, enhanced by vibrant herbs and honey harvested from the hotel’s very own rooftop garden and bee apiary,’ she said.
Bonsignore said incorporating the New York food and wine experience into a wedding creates a memorable culinary journey that reflects the city’s vibrant and diverse culture as well as the couple.
“Couples can choose from signature cocktails that showcase New York’s finest spirits and wines from renowned vineyards,” she said. “We also emphasize unique culinary experiences, such as interactive food stations such as our sushi stations and chef-curated tastings that allow guests to explore a range of New York-inspired dishes.”
The Barclay has a themed buffet section featuring items sourced exclusively from Arthur Avenue in New York City, including focaccia, ciabatta, cavatappi pasta, and ricotta cake.
“Couples are increasing demand for interactive stations during cocktail hour, often paired with signature cocktails that highlight each couple's unique personalities,” she said. “Late-night stations have also gained popularity, with couples favoring handheld mini food options like sliders, mini hot dogs, and mini pizzas.”
Nobu Hotel, Barcelona, Spain
Álvaro Morejón, sales executive at Nobu, said the hotel is known for offering a distinctive culinary experience. The Nobu restaurant combines signature dishes with panoramic views of the city. Each month, the hotel introduces special dishes inspired by Barcelona’s vibrant food culture.
“We bring the rich flavors of Barcelona and Catalonia to life in our weddings by designing custom menus,” Morejón said. “Fresh Mediterranean seafood, locally sourced produce, and premium Catalan wines are at the heart of our offerings.
“Our team collaborates closely with the couple to craft a menu that celebrates the culinary heritage of the region while meeting their personal preferences,” he said.
Nobu features several regional specialties, ranging from raspberry sea bass to smoked oysters to beer chocolate cake.
Couples often request a combination of Nobu’s signature dishes and locally sourced dishes, Morejón said. Many opt for our canapé or family-style menus that allow for a more communal dining experience. Rooftop cocktail receptions with personalized drinks also are popular.
Live Aqua Urban Resort, Mexico City
The resort, located in one of Mexico City's most exclusive neighborhoods known for high-end designer boutique shops and fine restaurants, offers an individualized experience for couples.
Experiences include farm-to-table food from local suppliers, including sustainable fish from the region and vegetables obtained through local producers. Preparations are according to the customer's request.
Couples often request dishes with universal appeal with a diverse range of flavors and presentations.
Silverado Resort, Napa, California
Silverado Resort’s culinary offerings reflect all that Napa Valley has to offer, said Ryan Stirtz, marketing and communications manager. Napa-inspired wine pairings are a frequent request of couples, along with menus that highlight fresh, seasonal produce.
“Our chefs artfully weave together locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, creating an experience that’s as vibrant and joyful as our surroundings,” he said. “Every bite is crafted to celebrate the essence of the region, inviting guests to savor the tastes of Napa’s rolling vineyards, fresh produce, and the love we pour into every dish.”
Napa is at the heart of everything that Silverado does, including weddings, he said, and farm-to-table dinners play a big role.
‘’Our commitment to fresh, local ingredients means that many of our dishes are inspired by what’s in season and grown right here in Napa Valley,” Stirtz said. “That means specialty dishes that pay homage to Napa.”
Among the offerings are locally crafted artisanal cheeses paired with Napa wines, creations that showcase fresh produce grown right here in Silverado’s 6,000-square-foot Chef’s Garden. The garden produces everything from aromatic herbs to heirloom tomatoes and citrus, to pollinator-friendly edible flowers. One special dish is Silverado’s bruschetta, which tops grilled sourdough with creamy burrata, preserved tomatoes from the garden, topped with grated frozen tomato and finished with fresh basil, olive oil and aged balsamic.
Silverado also offers interactive food experiences, like live cooking stations, that allow guests to fully immerse themselves in the culinary journey.
“These experiences add an extra dash of whimsy and engagement that couples love,” he said.
Learn more about Destinations Weddings by ALHI and subscribe to our newsletter.