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Italian Wedding Menu

There's no doubt that Italian food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. Italy is blessed with a climate that allows the production of fresh ingredients of the best quality – from olive oils to wines to cheeses – and with an outstanding regional variety that ensures that there really is something for every taste. Our legendary passion is especially channeled into the way we cook, eat and talk about food. In no other country is food so much a part of everyday life as it is in Italy. Eating in Italy is a serious business, we definitely have strict food rules, especially when it comes to wedding food.

Italian welcome dinner in Tuscany

Ask any Italian who has just attended a wedding what was the most special thing of the event… very likely the answer will be something like “The food was amazing!”, “What a rich buffet there was!”, or “The cake was delicious”. Admit it—you chose Italy as your wedding destination also because you love Italian food, which is also the reason why you’ve probably visited the country a dozen times and can’t stay away for too long.

We created this guide to help you plan the best wedding menu for your unforgettable wedding in Italy, with tips and suggestions from our expert italian wedding planners. Here are the most important things you need to know about Italian wedding menus.

Regional rhymes with phenomenal

 

In Italy’s local gastronomy and culinary culture, regional differences are vibrantly alive. Italian dishes vary widely depending on the region, and these differences are of course reflected in wedding menus.

A general rule is that by the coast the prime ingredient is fish and seafood, while in the hinterland regions and areas meat-based recipes and specialties are the best. It may seem like a generalization, but this is the number one rule to stick to when planning the perfect Italian wedding menu.

Fish course
Meat course

The finest local caterers will only propose what is regional and in season, celebrating traditional recipes and the produce of the land they operate in. Thus, Tuscany for example is renowned for its mushrooms, truffles, wild boar, excellent steak, delicious olive oil. The Campania region, where the legendary Amalfi Coast is located, is famous for its exquisite seafood, tomatoes, mozzarella, lemons and fresh Summer vegetables, especially eggplant and zucchini. Sunny Apulia is the land of fresh homemade pasta with durum wheat, amazing focaccias and calzoni, burrata cheese and delicious fish recipes.

  

The list is long, especially if we include the hundreds of unique recipes that each region of Italy proudly boasts. It’s not only a matter of local ingredients but also of traditional cooking methods which vary greatly from one place to the other. Make sure that you pay tribute to Italy’s rich food scene by selecting some of the specialties of the destination you choose for your wedding in Italy. Wherever you choose to tie the knot in Italy, the food will not disappoint!

Traditional Italian pasta dish
Traditional food of Campania
Tuscan mushroom soup
Apulian orecchiette with cime di rapa

Pairing the courses

 

Aperitif —

At Italian weddings, the aperitif marks the start of the exceptional food experience that every wedding celebration is. Similar to a “cocktail hour”, it’s normally a standing affair, guests will arrive here after the ceremony and enjoy a wide variety of Italian appetizers, both hot and cold, served on trays by waiters passing around.

 

Planning for a selected number of food stations with local specialties is a great idea, to give even more variety in terms of food and of experience, as guests are attracted to the special food stall and will be very engaged to taste different delicious types of food. From “Mozzarella bars” – with different kinds of fresh cheeses including Apulian burrata, Bufala mozzarella, Fiordilatte cheese, a variety of different tomatoes, breads and focaccias – to typical cured meats, from a raw fish corner with tartare and carpaccio to a scampi and oyster bar, we will make it special and very Italian!

The aperitivo is best paired with a Prosecco to drink or light cocktails such as the famous Aperol Spritz, Campari spritz, Hugo or Bellini.

Italian aperitif on the Amalfi Coast
Italian waiter preparing prosciutto
Finger food for Italian aperitif
Finger food for Italian aperitif
Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes
Fresh Italian ricotta cheese
Freshly sliced Italian prosciutto
Food station for Italian aperitif
Traditional Italian Bread
Local cheese for Italian aperitif
Italian cocktail Bellini
Italian cocktail Aperol Spritz
Aperitif for Italian wedding
Crudités for Italian aperitif
Fresh mixed Italian vegetables

Antipasti or Starters —

At this point, you and your guests will relocate to the reception area, where three to four courses are normally served. First comes the antipasto, which is normally the lightest course and could be a salad, beef or fish tartare, a special bruschetta.

Fish and shellfish platter from the Liguria sea
Morone “a la Meunière”, potato and yuzu purée and baked cherry tomatoes
Starter for Italian wedding reception
Starter for Italian wedding banquet

First course or Primi —

Then comes an amazing primo, which is a pasta dish. There is a lot to choose from, according to your taste, as the variety of styles, textures, shapes, and sauces is wide: a wonderful risotto, fresh pasta, ravioli or other filled pasta, gnocchi or soup… there are endless options, with fish, meat or vegetarian.

Homemade pasta with truffles
Risotto with porcini mushrooms
Homemade ravioli
Pumpkin soup for Italian wedding reception

Second course or Secondi —

The secondo offers the main dish and is traditionally either fish or meat (beef, veal, lamb, or pork) and is paired with a contorno, side dish.

Main course with meat
Main course with lobster
Main course vegetarian
Main course vegan

Desserts or Dolci —

To crown your unforgettable wedding meal, dolci will be served. You can either decide to serve a portion at the table of one of the many delicious famous Italian desserts, such as Tiramisù or Panna Cotta, or you can plan a wonderful Sweet buffet with small portions of different specialties, including cannoli, babà, chocolate or fruit tarts, and much more! For a treat in the heat, there is nothing better than Italian ice cream, you could plan a gelato cart.

 

What follows dessert in Italia? A cup (or shall we say “shot”) of coffee of course, an espresso or macchiato with some milk or cream. Ending with “un caffè” is a must for your wedding reception in Italy!

Buffet with Italian desserts
Buffet with Italian desserts
Gelato cart
Italian sorbetto
Italian cannoli
Italian tiramisu
Italian dessert served at the reception
Italian espresso coffee
Italian coffee and limoncello

Wedding Cake —

We can get creative with desserts and offer them in a variety of styles or not offer them at all, but something you must have is a wonderful cake cutting moment. If you want a truly Italian experience, go for a Millefoglie wedding cake, which traditionally is a single-tier cake made of pastry layers filled with Chantilly cream, chocolate drops or almond brittle and fresh strawberries or berries on top. Of course, it is also possible to request a multi-tiered cake, in the American style, which is undoubtedly more photogenic.

Multi-tier wedding cake
Millefoglie wedding cake

Italian Confettata —

Last but not least, the famous Italian confettata, a dessert table where confetti are served to all guests. In their classic version, confetti are white sugar coated almonds, symbolizing the bitter and sweet that life may bring, or as a wish of happiness and prosperity for the new family.

 

Today there are many varieties of confetti, available in different shapes, colors and tastes. From classic dark chocolate and white chocolate to creamy flavors such as coffee, pistachio, vanilla, coconut, or fresh flavors like limoncello, peach, melon, and many more.

 

These traditional dragées are a must-have for your Italian wedding reception: it is impossible for Italian guests to leave the wedding banquet without filling their pockets with confetti!

Italian confettata with sugared almonds

Now that you are familiar with the typical Italian Wedding Menu format, there are some things you should know to create the best wedding menu for your event:

  • Don’t expect your guests to be able to choose the menu during a wedding meal. The food options are limited to what you pick and confirm during your tasting. Of course, guests with special dietary requirements will be taken care of and will be served with suitable alternatives. Such special diets or allergies must be communicated in advance.
  • Some caterers are able to accommodate a selection between two courses, for example meat or fish main course. However, the selection will not be done on the spot, it will be communicated in advance together with the seating plan. Expect to be charged extra in this case, as probably it will be necessary to hire more kitchen staff.
  • Italians generally don’t mix fish and meat in a menu. If you choose to serve a meat main course, then the antipasto and primo will likely be vegetarian or meat options. This is not a rule set in stone, of course you can pick your courses and create a customized menu, but you will see mostly “menu di terra” (land) or “menu di mare” (sea) and not a combination of both.
  • Kids are generally served a special simplified menu, with two or three courses, which is charged less than an adult menu. We recommend discussing a children's menu based on the exact age of the kids who will be attending your wedding.

Wine is the star

 

Italy is one of the best producers of wine in the world and any region of Italy is famous for some of the finest wines available on the market. It’s not difficult to understand why we love to serve wine at wedding receptions. Typically, during the seated dinner, only wines are served. An open bar throughout the event is something that most foreign guests are accustomed to, but it is not the rule in Italy. We, Italians, expect to drink bubbles during the cocktail hour, be it famous Prosecco from Veneto or Franciacorta from Lombardy or Trento, the latter being produced with the same method as champagne. Then red or white wines during dinner, which is then ended with a digestivo such as limoncello or a herbal amaro (bitter), only after enjoying a passito wine with desserts. Cocktails, shots and other hard liquor is left for the last portion of the celebration, the dancing party!

 

The art of food and wine pairing is very important when creating a perfect Italian wedding menu. Every region and area of Italy boasts exceptional wines and native varieties which happen to be the perfect match for the traditional dishes of that region. Just imagine tasting a fabulous t-bone Chianina steak paired with a glass of Chianti or an exceptional seabass fillet with a glass of Fiano watching a spectacular Amalfi Coast sunset.

Italian sparkling wine
Italian Prosecco
Red and white Italian wines

Rehearse in Italian

 

Is there a better way to start your wedding celebration than with a wonderful rehearsal dinner, stepping into the heart of local tradition?

The rehearsal dinner is a great occasion to set the tone, break the ice, and serve authentic Italian food! You don’t want to steal the thunder to the main event, that’s why the way food is served and presented, and the actual specialties offered should be different.

 

Our favorite welcome events are Italian-themed rehearsal dinners, they are fun, relaxed and pay tribute to Italy’s traditions. Here are the ingredients to organize the ultimate Italian rehearsal dinner: a typical local restaurant or trattoria, mouthwatering food and wine, family-style serving, very colorful presentation and decors. We can incorporate some of Italy’s most authentic traditions such as mozzarella or pizza making in front of your guests: not only will your guests taste bites of freshly made mozzarella and slices of pizza, they will also remember the show forever!

 

Make sure that the best homemade recipes of Italian culinary tradition are served, such as parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parm), insalata caprese, tagliatelle al ragù (with “Bolognese” sauce), penne alla Puttanesca, tortellini… are you hungry yet?

We are sure that your guests will say a heartfelt GRAZIE to you, as you gift them with the chance to eat many delicious and authentic Italian specialties!

Welcome dinner in Tuscany
Guests at the welcome dinner
Happy moments during an Italian welcome dinner
Italian buffet for rehearsal dinner
Salad buffet
Bridal couple announcing the dinner menu
Parmigiana bites
Decorations for Italian dinner
Bruschetta
Caprese with tomatoes and mozzarella
Beers for Italian welcome dinner
Rehearsal dinner in a Tuscan village
Hand painted sign for pizza corner
Pizza for Italian rehearsal dinner
Outdoor rehearsal dinner in a Tuscan village
Crostini for Italian dinner
Pasta buffet
Welcome dinner in Italian style

Some photos copyright of Aman Venice© Belmond Italia Spa© Betsi Ewing©

Contact us

Contact our expert wedding planners and receive professional assistance for your destination wedding in Italy
Italy Office  +39 0432 913513
Start creating your dream wedding - Share your vision with our team by filling out this extended form.

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