Summer wedding food!

What have your caterers recommended to you for weddings they did in the summer?

I see what you did there, @Jay. What time will your wedding be? Tea sandwiches may be okay for lunch, but I would want something heartier for dinner.

@BeachDreams, silly me, I thought I was being discreet

I'm having a summer wedding and im wedding thinking tacos

The caterers said they have done an array of things. They are really close friends of ours and will give us anything we desire. I'm just looking for something a little more out of the ordinary, rather than the traditional sit down two meat, side, roll, and salad.

I didn't know food had a season.

Are these friends professional caterers?

Also, what time is your ceremony? That helps narrow down what to serve.

You could do a cocktail style reception and serve a bunch of different small bites. It gives more variety and is a bit unique. But, it likely wont be cost efficient.

When I think of summer dishes, I think of pastas and meats with lots of fresh vegetables. Tacos are great, but may be hard to eat.

ETA: Just saw you mentioned kabobs. That would be nice with lots of fresh veggies, steak, chicken, and shrimp.

Well whether you do plated, stations, or a buffet, you are going to have 2-3 protein options, 2 sides, and usually a salad.

That's a normal meal, and people expect them.

My job (a catering company) does Build Your Own mac n cheese stations with pulled pork, crispy onions, and all sorts of other sides. They also do that with salads and mashed potatoes.

Who cares if it's "traditional" as long as it's delicious?

No friendors.

Jay, yes they are professional caterers. The ceremony will be around 4:30.

Formal Pajamas, I love the Mac and chs idea! And you're right, it just needs to be good quality food and delicious!!

I've seen a few people do paella which is pretty damn cool. We have a pretty well known paella caterer here in the bay, most people will get 3-4 different types. Covers all the food groups all you would need is a salad and some sort of beverage.

If you wouldn't be comfortable suing them for breach of contract, you shouldn't hire them. Period.

That said, I personally wouldn't go the kebab route unless you're going for a casual barbecue feel. Ditto for tacos. Tea sandwiches for supper? Nope. You need a good, substantial meal. That doesn't mean you have to go with "traditional wedding food," whatever that may mean to you, but try to keep the fare on the same level of formality as the rest of your wedding.

We're doing bbq for our summer wedding

Kabobs sound like a nice idea in my opinion because you can do so much with them. You can make kabobs of all sorts which can meet the needs of people with varying diet differences such as vegetarians, vegans, carnivores, gluten free, etc.

Since we are getting married at the end of June, and that can sometimes be scorching here in NY, we are doing chicken, fresh greens salads, a pasta dish and meatballs. Nothing to heavy, but still dinner. And open bar with wine, beer, soda, lemonade, and water.

The only thing I eat off of a kabob is the meat. I wouldn't be happy if that was the meal. Cocktail hour yes. Meal no.

Kabobs & tacos are cool, but IMO only if you're planning a very casual backyard wedding where people will feel like it's NBD to be gnawing on sticks with bib napkins, or trying to catch the filling of a taco.

Summer wedding food makes me think more fresh vegetables and meat, a summery salad, etc.