As I mentioned in a previous Wed Loft post about multicultural weddings, serving traditional food and drink is an easy way to honor culture and family at your wedding. With our ever growing community of global caterers and restaurants, modern multicultural couples have a wide variety of reception options from which to choose. From simple appetizers to cocktail hour treats and even a full plated meal, food is the great mediator that brings families together and adds cultural flavor without overwhelming the entire wedding celebration. Here are some of my favorite dishes:
Ceviche is a popular seafood appetizer in the coastal regions of Latin America. Served cold, it is always fresh and relatively simple for caterers to create. The dish is perfect for a Latin inspired cocktail hour; add some gourmet chips, guacamole, and fresh farmer’s cheese for a fabulous appetizer plate.
Photo Credit: ColonyWineMarket.com
Your Italian ancestors surely dined on traditional wedding soup, a perfect first course for a sit down reception meal. Follow up with various fresh pasta dishes served family style, ending with fruit, salad and a generous shot of Limonchello to cleanse your palette.
Photo Credit: AdventurousFoodie.com
A Japanese sushi bar is an enticing addition to a cocktail hour. Remember to include vegetarian options for non-fish eaters. Sushi can be a brave choice so be sure to research your caterers and check out comments on the various online review sites.
Photo Credit: JillGordonCelebrate.com
A home style Brazilian BBQ is sure to please any grilling fanatic with its wide variety of meats, salads, and vegetables. Know for its simple yet flavorful seasoning, Brazilian BBQ and the accompanying side dishes are perfect for a buffet style reception.
Photo Credit: Samba via EthnicEats.ca
Of Greek decent? Fill a dessert table with traditional cakes and pastries. An old country family sweets recipe would make a perfect favor for your guests. Remember to include the instructions so they can pass on the tradition with their families.
Photo Credit: GreekIslandWeddingInspirations.com
Here are some of my favorite drinks:
Mead, a homemade wine-like drink, is common at Irish weddings. Easy to make at home, mead is a thoughtful, unique gift for guests.
Photo Credit: Emily Foran / Three Little Words
Beautifully colored and deliciously tasting, Sangria is the drink of choice at weddings with a Latin flair. Simple to make and serve, it is a perfect summer wedding signature drink.
Photo Credit: DelizieDelizie.com
Sake is a Japanese rice wine served at special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and holidays. Served chilled or warm, sake etiquette, pouring for others and receiving in specific movements, is a common custom in Japan. Advice from sake experts: sip slowly and never let a cup go dry.
Photo Credit: found on WeddingbyColor.com
I hope you’ve enjoyed our little global tour of traditional wedding food and drink. No matter how you choose to add culture your wedding, this special touch is sure to connect with your families and guests and provide happy memories for you newlyweds for years to come.
Happy Planning!
Mellissa
Plan a Stylish, Casual Dinner Party + Giveaway from Macy’s!
Any fabulous hostess will tell you that the key to planning a successful dinner party is attention to detail. Whether you are hosting a casual dinner for your bridesmaids, a couples’ night out or hosting visiting family, Macy’s Registry is here to offer some help. With Macy’s you can set a stylish table simply by taking a step up from your average white plates.
One of our favorite Macy’s Registry selections for casual entertaining is the Noritake Colorwave collection! The versatile collection allows you to mix and match for just the right balance of casual, color and touch of sophistication.
Photo Credit: Macys.com/Registry
For more than 90 years, Noritake has made an art of setting the table. The Japanese-inspired Colorwave dinnerware and dishes collection is a simple and versatile pattern in white stoneware accented with rich, vivid color. Mixing-and-matching hues in rim, coupe and quad shapes makes it easy to create a table that’s an expression of your personal taste.
When you’re creating your Macy’s wedding registry, be sure to sign up for the Macy’s Registry Star Rewards program. With this program you’ll earn Rewards Dollars back on all purchases from your registry. So say you register for 8 placesettings of this Noritake dinnerware and all get purchased for you. You’ll get $32 back on a Rewards Card to spend at Macy’s however you wish. Even better- say you needed a new dress to host your in-laws – you’ll get 10% back on that purchase, when made with your Macy’s card. Isn’t that a great deal?
Photo Credit: Macys.com/Registry
Can you imagine hosting a dinner party with Macy’s Noritake Colorwave dishes? In this week’s giveaway contest, you have the chance to win four place settings from Noritake Dinnerware, Colorwave collection, in any share or color that Macys.com offers!
Giveaway Details: One winner will receive four place settings from Noritake Dinnerware, Colorwave collection in your choice of color and style offered on the Macys.com website. Make everyday meals a little more fun with Colorwave dinnerware from Noritake, perfect for a bride’s first dinnerware set! Mix and match pieces of your set to create a tabletop with endless possibilities.
To enter for a chance to win, simply comment on this post with a link to a Macy’s item you’d like to include on your registry checklist! In order for comments to be accepted for this contest, they must include a link to a Macy’s item. You may comment as frequently as once per day through Tuesday, May 22 by 11:59 pm EST. You can ALSO do any of the following to increase your chances of winning:
Make sure to come back and leave a separate comment for EACH action you take. Please include links to your posts, tweets etc. when possible. Good luck!
*Email addresses in comments will ONLY be used to contact the winner. They will not be shared with the public or used for promotional purposes. It is only necessary to enter your email address into the email field and not in your comment. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 23.
Partnered Post with Macys.com