Nothing paints a better picture of a casual outdoor wedding reception than a “backyard” barbecue. Menu ideas for a barbecue are endless and can range from thrifty to spendy, but always tasty. Tie your napkin around your neck and dig in!
Keep in mind what size crowd you’ll be serving and how much work you want to put into preparing and serving the food. Some ideas:
- Full potluck where everyone brings a dish
- Partial potluck where you provide the meat and wedding cake and guests bring a side dish
- Catered – some catering companies will even provide dishes, napkins, and utensils
- Rent-a-pit – rent a large bbq pit to maximize the amount of food that gets grilled and onto plates, and don’t forget to rotate the grill masters so one person doesn’t get stuck with the job all night
Wedding Menu Ideas
Drinks:
Iced tea (sweetened and unsweetened)
Soda
Water
Lemonade
Wine and beer
Signature drinks like mojitos and vodka-spiked lemonade
Main Dish:
Pulled pork
Chicken
Hot dogs
Burgers and veggie burgers
Shrimp, lobster, and other seafood
Sides:
Rolls
Jalapeno cornbread
Fruit
Baked beans
Pasta salad
Veggie kabobs
Coleslaw
Grilled vegetables
Corn on the cob
Macaroni and cheese
And if the party lasts well into the evening, consider setting up a s’mores table where guests can build their own s’mores for a late-night snack.
This backyard barbecue thing rocks. This is such a nice idea. Just having a good time, good food with family and friends after the wedding ceremony.