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South African weddings in summer are something special. Warm afternoons that stretch into late sunsets, fairy lights twinkling under the stars, and the unmistakable buzz of family and friends celebrating love. And at the centre of it all? The food. Well, that’s after the bride and groom.

Planning a summer wedding menu here at home means you can embrace the best of the season: ripe mangoes, juicy watermelons, perfectly grilled meats, and refreshing desserts. Guests don’t just want to eat — they want to experience a taste of the season that feels fresh, light, and festive.

Get it right, and everyone will be ranting and raving about the food at your wedding long after it’s taken place. Get it wrong, and it will be a hot topic of discussion amongst the aunties for years to come.

To make sure that doesn’t happen and to help you build the ultimate summer wedding feast, we’ve put together a list of 40 menu ideas with a South African twist.

6 Tips for a Winning Summer Menu

Before we get into what you should consider adding to your menu item, here are some tips that can help:

Make it interactive:

Think food stations that double as entertainment. This is a great way for guests to get up and interact with each other, as well as to make memories. A good example of this is an ice cream bar for dessert where guests can pick their own flavours, and top it with all their favourite treats.

Keep it light:

Try and avoid overly rich or heavy meals in the summer heat. The last thing your guests will want is to be bloated and weighed down, especially when there’s a long evening of festivities ahead.

Use local produce:

Tomatoes, mielies, peaches, berries, spansek, watermelon and are all in season, and the posibilities to create fresh, memorable dishes are endless.

Add herbs:

Basil, mint, and coriander, and thyme bring freshness to any dish and can greatly enhance the flavour of your summer menu, so select dishes that will feature these herbs.

Presentation is Key:

People usually eat with their eyes, so get your guests excited with carefully laid out and colourful menu items. And everyone will no doubt be whipping out their phones for aesthetic pictures and Instagram reels. So really take a minute to think about how everything will come together. And, pretty plating makes your spread part of the décor.

Mix it up:

A one-size-fits all menu no longers makes the cut. In addition, many people now have special dietary requirements that need to be taken into consideration. So make sure to offer variety so everyone, from meat lovers to vegans, so that everyone feels catered for.

This might seem like a small gesture, but will no doubt mean a lot to your guests.

Top 40 Menu Items:

As summer is fast apporaching, lets get into some of the menu items for your big day.

Sushi Bar

Photo by Ricardo Honda on Unsplash

Sushi is a refreshing starter that always impresses. Include salmon roses, veggie maki, and prawn California rolls. Bonus: it’s easy to keep portions light for guests in formal wear.

2. Grazing Table

Photo by Marcus Wallis on Unsplash

A grazing table filled with biltong, droëwors, cheeses, olives, crackers, figs, bread sticks and berries makes a beautiful centrepiece and keeps guests happily snacking throughout the reception. There might be a bit of a wait between the ceremony and the reception, so this is a good option to have so that your guests don’t get too grumpy while they wait for you.

3. Tropical Prawn Salad

Photo by Yasmine Duchesne on Unsplash

Cucumber, prawns, fresh coriander, a dash of lemon or lime, and a hint of chilli — finished with edible flowers for a pop of colour. A fresh, zesty nod to coastal summers.

4. Fresh Flatbreads

Photo by Davey Gravy on Unsplash

Wood-fired flatbreads topped with goat’s cheese, figs, basil, and caramelised onion. Slice into small squares for cocktail-hour nibbles. Plain flat bread paired with hummus and falafels and tzatziki are also a good and light option.