Italian weddings showcase the perfect blend of culture, history and family values, and nothing is quite as renowned or beloved as their cuisine. Food is at the heart of Italian culture and holds a special significance during weddings in Italy. Whether you’re looking to host a traditional wedding or you’re looking to enjoy a modern affair, authentic Italian cuisine is a must-have on your big day.
With so many different delicious options it can be hard to narrow them down to just a few dishes. To help you pick the perfect choices for your big day, we’ve listed 10 amazing Italian wedding menu ideas from regional specialities to beloved staples.
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Italians are well-known foodies. Authentic Italian weddings often feature food at the heart of the celebrations, with a wide range of dishes and drinks enjoyed throughout the day. Here’s the structure of a typical Italian wedding menu you can expect to see when selecting your choices:
Your wedding menu can be fully personalised to your own tastes and preferences so you don’t have to include all of these courses on your big day, but this will give you an idea of how much food to plan. If you do need any planning tips, we have a dedicated blog with 5 top tips for planning a wedding in Italy.
Start your dining celebrations with an aperitif and Antipasto combination. Usually paired together, an aperitif is a light alcoholic beverage that starts off your evening. These can include traditional options like Negroni and Aperol but also more common drinks like prosecco you’ll usually see at a wedding.
Your guests can pair their drinks with an antipasti platter made from a range of authentic Italian cheeses and cured meats like pecorino, salami and prosciutto ham. You can also expect to see things like olives, breadsticks and bruschetta alongside your meats and cheeses to create a salty, rich and flavourful starter that gets ready for the delicious meal ahead.
With an option like antipasti starters, you can choose to include them as part of a set Italian wedding menu or have an open bar for people to create their own plates.
You can’t have a wedding in Italy without having pasta on the menu and with over 350 types of pasta and thousands of dishes to choose from, it’s not unusual to see pasta as the first, second or sole dish on your main course.
Pasta is more than just a tasty meal in Italy, it has cultural significance and represents prosperity, making it an even more prominent dish to have during your wedding celebrations.
Start off with a simple but effective dish of Cacio e Pepe which means spaghetti with pecorino cheese and pepper or dive straight in with a rich bolognese sauce topped with fresh herbs.
Incorporate fresh seafood into your pasta or enjoy a platter made from a range of fish and shellfish from prawns to clams. Fish is an ideal option if you’re having an Amalfi Coast wedding where there’s an abundance of fresh seafood caught daily to add to your dishes.
You don’t have to stick to a strict dish to make an authentic pasta dish, you can use a wide range of pasta and seafood from oysters to calamari, salmon and sardines. With your Italian wedding menu, you have the freedom to create dishes that you can your guests will love whilst still honouring the traditions of Italy.
Italy isn’t only famous for pasta, and if you want something else to spruce up your menu then a risotto dish is perfect. Choose Risi e Bisi or rice and peas made from a vegetable broth and accompanied by pork, pancetta and onions for a warming and hearty main dish. For a richer and unique option, you can opt for Risotto alla Milanese, made with a base of saffron and beef marrow.
All kinds of meats are loved across Italy and you’ll have an abundance of options to add to your Italian wedding menu from succulent lamb, to classic dishes like Chicken Scarpariello, or meatballs made with fresh herbs to add to your pasta dishes.
If you’re having a wedding in Florence, you can’t pass up the opportunity to include a classic Florentine steak as an option for one of your main dishes. This fresh and locally sourced meat served with a side of crispy potatoes and a squeeze of lemon is an irresistible main course for any meat eater.
If you’re a vegetarian or you’re just not in the mood for meat, you’ll also find plenty of regional dishes full of flavour without adding meat or fish. If you’ve chosen a Tuscany wedding, you can enjoy an ever-delightful regional ravioli dish with spinach and ricotta.
You can also create a range of dishes using meat alternatives or stick to simple but amazing flavours from roasted vegetables, tomatoes and cheese.
Just be sure to double-check your cheeses as things like parmesan aren’t suitable for vegetarians!
One way to make your wedding extra special and to honour the area in which you’re tying the knot is by adding regional foods to your Italian wedding menu. There are so many famous delicious dishes from regions all across Italy, so you’ll never be short of fantastic local food options.
If you’re looking to pair your dishes with drinks, Italy offers a huge range of 350 official wines, with Tuscany being the most popular location for wine lovers. Those planning a Tuscany wedding can enjoy Chianti, the region’s most famous red wine, alongside a range of other options to complement your food.
A marriage in Italian tradition isn’t just for the couple, it’s a family wedding where the bride and groom’s relatives join as one with a celebration of food and drink. Nothing ends your feast on a sweet note quite as well as dessert and there's no shortage of irresistible dessert options to include on your Italian wedding menu.
If you’re thinking of arranging lighter desserts to make room for your wedding cake then you can consider cream-based options like Tiramisu or a classic Panna Cotta.
A wedding cake is an important part of traditional weddings in Italy, but the style of cake differs greatly from the chocolate or Victoria sponge you’d expect at a British wedding. If you’re looking to have an authentic experience you can have a millefoglie, a puff pastry dessert with layers of whipped cream and fresh seasonal berries.
You don’t have to have this type of cake, of course, and you’re free to have any sort of cake with your choice of toppings, fillings and flavours.
An optional but thoughtful addition to your Italian wedding menu, a confettata, is a table of sweet snacks for your guests to enjoy throughout the evening. This spread features sugared almonds in various flavours alongside chocolate and cream-filled treats.
If you’re ready to select each divine dish for your big day, the easiest way to get your menu and the rest of your wedding planner is with a dedicated planner at The Wedding Travel Company.
Our planners can handle everything from catering to venue set-up and even document handling. You can choose a package that’s personalised as you need or opt for an all-inclusive option for stress-free planning. With so many stunning venues and locations to choose from in Italy, it can be hard to know where to start.
Get in touch with our team to find out which location suits you best based on your wedding dreams and check out our testimonials to see why other couples love us!
