Summer’s seasonal ingredients are ripe and ready to add bursts of flavor to any summertime wedding menu, whether for a small, intimate gathering, or an all-out party for hundreds of guests that will last well into the night.
“Summertime is made to highlight vegetables and fruits,” Lynn Easton, founder of Easton Events, tells Brides magazine. “Ask your catering chef what will be in the peak of the season during your wedding month and lean into those delicacies for a more ‘farm-to-table’ approach.”
Anna Hess, of Anna Hess Events, suggests paying attention to drinks, too, noting on her blog, “Keep your guests cool in your hot summer wedding with fresh drinks and some refreshing summer cocktails – and plenty of cold water and non-alcoholic beverages to alternate with your cocktails.”
See how chefs and culinary teams at ALHI Member hotels and resorts highlight summer’s seasonal ingredients into innovative and refreshing dishes, cocktails and mocktails.
The Apurva Kempinski Bali
Committed to culinary excellence and exceptional service, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers summer menus of food and drinks that pleases everyone’s palate, from authentic Balinese flavors to international dishes, all of which highlight the freshest ingredients to create culinary works of art. For sips, the Acaraki Mocktail tastefully blends pandan leaf, Bali tangerine marmalade, rice galangal cordial and sparkling water into a refreshing drink.
The Grand America Hotel
The culinary team at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City sweetens weddings with their house-made gelatos in fresh, seasonal flavors like peach gelato with a raspberry sauce swirl and lemon sorbet with a splash of champagne, served from the Bonne Vie gelato cart. Cocktails get in on the summertime fun, too, with sips like the Strawberry Moscow Mule and Lavender Lemonade featuring locally made Dented Brick gin.
InterContinental New York Barclay
Couples are welcome to invite their guests to join them as they spritz their way into married life with InterContinental New York Barclay’s Aperol spritz bar featuring fresh rosemary and botanicals, with a citrus-themed décor of oranges, yellows and pinks to set the mood. A signature margarita bar and watermelon basil cocktails are other refreshing options, with charcuterie cones for guests to nibble on while they sip.
Kempinski Hotel Cancún
Inspired by the season, the culinary team at Kempinski Hotel Cancún delights in curating unforgettable experiences for their guests by celebrating summer with cocktails, mocktails and appetizers created to enhance the atmosphere and ambience of its beachfront location. Fresh, seasonal appetizers include Romantic Green Bites, crisp cucumber slices with hummus and fresh, vibrant vegetables; and a Summer Love Trio with watermelon, goat cheese and asparagus; and Fruit Caresses highlighting summer’s freshest flavors. Guests can also cool off with Summer Dreamsicles, refreshing popsicles in myriad fruit flavors.
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden
Couples leave the bustling Miami city life behind when they host their weddings at Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in the quiet enclave of Coconut Grove. Summer menu highlights here include fresh ceviche, summer craft cocktail bars and an oyster station, all of which can be enjoyed in the open-air rooftop and garden space.
Noelle
Southern hospitality blends with classic hors d’oeuvres and dishes with a twist when it comes to summer weddings at Noelle in downtown Nashville. To start, think a refreshing bite of Tennessee-grown tomatoes served with Boursin cheese and fresh basil on a toasted crostino, or a crisp confetti salad with edible flowers. For entrees, fresh seafood may be the way to go, like Peruvian scallops, chargrilled octopus, salmon crudo or a Summer Avocado Potpourri Dip. The mixology team is at the ready to find the perfect drink that blends couples’ preferences, like an “ours” cocktail that blends a mezcal margarita with an Aperol spritz.
The Royal Sonesta San Juan
The Royal Sonesta San Juan is committed to incorporating seasonal ingredients, unexpected twists and refreshing drinks to create unforgettable dining experiences at the summer weddings it hosts throughout the season. One highlight is the resort’s house-made sorbets, not only refreshing in the warmer months, but cleanse the palate between courses. Flavors include lemon mint, tamarind, passion fruit and coconut.
San Diego Mission Bay
The relaxed yet elegant vibes of San Diego make their way to the culinary offerings found on summer wedding menus at San Diego Mission Bay. Two new additions to this season’s summer wedding hors d’oeuvres menu are a mango bruschetta with cilantro, lime and jicama; and ceviche and aguachile featuring shrimp aguachile verde, fish ceviche, lime and corn tostadas. Couples’ favorite signature drink at the resort is the Lavender Mexican Mule, a blend of tequila, lavender syrup, ginger beer and lime.
Silverado Resort
With all that Napa Valley has to offer at its doorstep, it’s no surprise that summer wedding menus at Silverado Resort shine. But what really shines is the availability of the Spritz 66 Cocktail Cart, a vintage Italian mobile bar that brings the party wherever it goes.
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
Complementing the Thai wedding ceremonies at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, including water blessings and chanting monks, are the exquisite culinary offerings from Saneh Jaan, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Local and regional Thai ingredients are meticulously prepared using traditional methods to create dishes and cocktails bursting with fresh flavors.
Stein Eriksen Lodge
The Stein Collection’s award-winning culinary team has unlocked the secret to the perfect hors d’oeuvres, and it’s readily available for summertime weddings in Park City, Utah’s Stein Eriksen Lodge: the grazing table. The table elevates a traditional charcuterie board by extending it to a six-foot table filled with locally cured meats and cheeses, fresh and dried fruits, an antipasto of grilled and pickled vegetables, a variety of tapenades and preserves, and grilled artisan bread and crackers. An Insta-worth spread indeed!
The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Drawing from the freshest ingredients from its own One Oak Farm, the mixologists at The Umstead Hotel and Spa near Raleigh, N.C., craft stunning cocktails to the delight of their guests. A few that are featured on summer wedding menus include The Lilac with house-infused vodka, lychee and blueberry puree, yuzu and créme de violette; The Eden with gin, lemon, egg white and garden honey infused with cucumber, basil and mint; and The Ruby which really highlights the farm with tequila infused with farm-grown beets, strawberries and a rhubarb syrup, served with a splash of citrus. These three cocktails can also be served as refreshing, flavorful mocktails.
The Wigwam
Fresh and flavorful is the name of the summer wedding cocktail game at The Wigwam near Phoenix. Inspired by the Sonoran Desert that surrounds the resort, the Hibiscus Margarita blends tequila, agave, lime and house-made hibiscus syrup for a glass worth raising a toast to. Or opt for the Pineapple Coconut Mojito with coconut rum, lime, mint and pineapple juice and sink into the tropical vibes found right there at the resort.
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