Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Showers & Parties Rehearsal Dinner 13 Ways to Plan a Summer-Inspired Rehearsal Dinner Menu By Jess Levin Jess Levin Jess Levin is the founder & CEO of Carats & Cake, a premier network representing the best in the wedding industry. A native of Laguna Beach, California, Jess attended the University of Pennsylvania before heading to New York to work in venture capital at Burch Creative Capital, where she helped manage investments and brand development for a portfolio that includes Poppin and Tory Burch, LLC. After nearly three years identifying aspirational consumer-centric opportunities and strategies, Jess departed as an associate to pursue her MBA at NYU's Stern School of Business. While studying finance and entrepreneurship at Stern, Jess saw an opportunity to build upon her past experience as an investor and change the way local wedding vendors do business. The Carats & Cake network was built to connect affluent couples with elite vendors and venues, and is now supporting premium vendors with elegant business tools, exclusive media opportunities, and targeted cross-channel exposure. Editorial Guidelines Published on June 21, 2018 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Jen Rodriguez Industry experts share their secrets on the best ways to kick off your summer wedding weekend. 01 of 14 Jen Rodriguez Your rehearsal dinner is a way to showcase the style, design, and overall formality of your big celebration to come. In short, it's your guests' first impression of the wedding weekend! Why wouldn't you want it to be just as special and memorable as the rest of your events? One way to do just that is to serve a seasonal dinner menu that highlights the best aspects of summer, like fresh, crisp veggies, vibrant fruits, and flavorful herbs. To help you design the most creative, delicious meal around, we asked some of the wedding industry's top vendors to share their best advice for creating a summer-inspired rehearsal dinner menu. What kind of dishes should you serve at this pre-wedding bash? Well, it's really up to you, but the pros offered some unique ideas that are as delicious as they are beautiful. One wedding planner cites fresh melon and prosciutto as the ultimate passed appetizer. Colorful, flavorful, and so refreshing, you can't go wrong with this classic combination. Another popular menu addition? Mini baked potatoes! The pro who suggested them notes that, although potatoes are widely available all year long, they're technically in-season during the spring and summer. Serve the beloved dish in bite-sized form for something that's comforting and tasty, but still light enough for a warm-weather event. If you're not necessarily looking for menu suggestions, you're still in luck. Our experts also offered their best ideas for adding a little seasonal flair to your menu, no matter what you're serving. From choosing colorful veggies and highlighting regional classics to topping your favorite dishes with playful details like edible flowers, these tips will help you bring any meal into the season. Don't worry, they didn't forget cocktails! As you choose your signature drinks for the evening, take their advice: One pro loves a spiked milkshake as a playful option, while the other suggests shake up a cool sip made from freshly squeezed juices. Ready for more rehearsal dinner menu inspiration? Click through here for tons of expert advice. 02 of 14 Serve a Delicious Showstopper Sasithon Photography "I love to kick off a weekend wedding with a dinner made to impress. Our 'Golden Egg' amuse bouche is the perfect start to a fun and impressive dinner. Our version includes smoked custard, a vichyssoise sphere, truffle, and whipped crème fraiche." —Carla Ruben, Owner and Creative Director, Creative Edge Parties 03 of 14 Focus on Fresh Ingredients Stephen Ludwig "Locally sourced and fresh are the words trending for wedding menus this season. Couples are giving their chefs more freedom to use local ingredients and choose the freshest options rather than insisting on specific dishes for their menu." —Morgan Childs, Founder & Creative Director, Moana Events Should You Ask Your Wedding Venue's Chef to Create a Custom Dinner Menu? 04 of 14 Be Strategic with Your Starters Michelle Beller Photography "Combine fresh melon and prosciutto to make a flavorful and refreshing hors d'oeuvres. Cantaloupes have high water content and tons of vitamin C, which is essential for getting the party started. Plus, it serves as a perfect addition to a whole variety of hors d'oeuvres." —Claudia Hoste, Owner, Hoste Events 05 of 14 Embellish Favored Cocktails Ronnie Andren "Whether your rehearsal dinner is outdoors, on a beach, in an event venue, or your home, having a seasonal cocktail awaiting your guests is always a good idea. In the summer months, fresh fruit juices paired with a tequila or vodka, a hint of sweet, and garnished with a fresh flower or herb is a winning recipe." —Bill Coyne, Director of Business Development, Cloud Catering & Events 24 Rosé Recipes to Drink (or Eat) at Your Summer Wedding 06 of 14 Utilize Seasonal Produce Courtesy of Solage Resort "With the long, heavy winter behind us, it's time to take advantage of the bright and vibrant seasonal vegetables! What better way to welcome the season than letting the ingredients shine on their own? Asparagus, english peas, and artichokes are all wonderful vegetables that bring the perfect pop of color to any dish. Paired with Solage's homemade honey-lavender vinaigrette, and you are sure to forget winter was ever here at all." —Kristen Seaholm, Wedding Sales Manager, Solage Resort 07 of 14 Highlight Regional Staples Matthew Land Studios "We suggest having a bit of fun with the rehearsal dinner menu. We love to feature Northwest-inspired dishes (our homebase), whether it's a wild salmon or a bite that represents some of Seattle's most iconic ingredients. For nibbles, some of our favorites are oysters, salmon, clams, mussels, pears, and rhubarb. It's nice to have something refreshing from a farm table, such as Asian carrot slaw, a deconstructed flowerpot salad, our famous Street corn salad, or Bluebird grains farro salad." —Lisa Dupar, Owner and Chief Creative Officer, Lisa Dupar Catering 08 of 14 Source Local Ingredients Miki & Sonja Photography "Create and display charcuterie boards with items such as local cheeses, meats, and nuts for your guests to enjoy." —Miki & Sonja, Owners and Photographers, Miki & Sonja Photography 09 of 14 Go Bright and Bold Courtesy of Limelight Catering "Creating seasonal dishes means taking advantage of peak harvest time to ensure ultimate flavor and vibrancy. Concept meals with colors in mind. In this dish, we incorporated a vibrant green gazpacho sauce to the meagre to make the colors come alive. Remember, people eat with their eyes first." —Sarah Banasiak, Chief Creative Officer, Limelight Catering 10 of 14 Elevate Traditional Favorites Alisha + Brook Photography "While potatoes are generally available year-round, they're technically considered in season in the spring and summer months! We love this modern twist on a baked potato, made miniature!" —Amy Nichols, Lead Planner & Founder, Amy Nichols Special Events 11 of 14 Emphasize Playful Details Courtesy of Andrea Hubbell "Take any dish to the next level by adding an edible flower, like nasturtium. The pop of color will photograph beautifully, and it'll add the perfect finishing touch of the season to your menu." —Brianna Sumey, Director of Sales, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards 12 of 14 Curate a Light, Balanced Menu Katrina Sorrentino "Our summer menus tend to provide our guests with a balance of refreshment, hydration, and a lighter cooking touch. We find appetites are less hearty in the summer due to the heat, so we recommend lighter bites centered around melons, cucumbers, and tomatoes to keep guests hydrated while continuing to indulge and enjoy in their dining experience." —Halle Heyman, Director of Events, Haven's Kitchen Another Great Way to Keep Guests Hydrated? Drink Stations! 13 of 14 Play with Service Styles Blue Plate Catering "One way to get creative and beat the heat is to change up the style of service. Family-style is a great hot weather alternative. This type of service can mean many things. One version of family-style allows us as caterers to plate the entrées fresh right in front of the guests. It also gets the chef involved, which is always a fun touch." —Rachel Krieger, Sales Manager, Blue Plate Catering 17 Ways to Keep Guests Cool at Your Warm-Weather Celebration 14 of 14 Put a Twist on Classic Desserts Aaron Delesie "Ice cream can melt quickly in the summer sun, but a milkshake is a mess-free way for guests to enjoy this cool treat. Spike with some bourbon for a fun late-night surprise." —Laurie Arons, Founder, Laurie Arons Special Events 14 Mouthwatering Ways to Serve Ice Cream at Your Wedding Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit