We’ll let you in on a little secret…
Texas summer weddings are actually our favorite.
While it’s traditionally the off-season for weddings, we think that’s what makes it so special. This time of year, everything from boosted availability and bright seasonal ingredients to flexible dates, bright sunshine, and longer days elevates the entire experience. Texas feels extra green, the flavors feel extra bold, and something about a Lone Star summer night feels like magic.
Now, is it hot outside? Well… yes.
But are there a myriad of ways to beat the heat and host a beautiful, elevated wedding? Oh, yes — especially with an icy cocktail, impeccable menu, and golden hour lighting.
If you’re planning a summer wedding in Texas, there are so many thoughtful ways to embrace the season and keep your guests cool, comfortable, and taken care of from start to finish. With a few intentional additions to your celebration (think: chilled watermelon skewers and misting stations), you can craft an absolutely unforgettable Southern celebration.
The key? Keeping your guests cool, embracing seasonal flavors, and leaning into the summery feel every chance you get. In true Vestals Catering fashion, we’re sharing our tried-and-true tips for planning a summer wedding in Texas that’s as thoughtful, cool, and delicious.
First… create a cool, comfortable wedding environment
While the menus and cocktails are obviously our favorite thing to talk about, they don’t matter if your guests are soaked in sweat. The foundation of every Texas summer wedding has to be creating a comfortable setting that your guests want to linger in, eat in, and dance in.
So, how do you keep guests cool at your wedding without feeling like you’re sitting at an amusement park? Here are some of our favorite ideas:
- Misting fans and luxe cooling stations: Tuck misting fans discretely into shaded areas during your ceremony, or go all-in with a designated cooling station. This can include chilled face mists, misting fans, and icy drinks — part comfort, part beautiful guest experience.
- Chilled towels and welcome drinks at the ceremony: Set the tone by letting your guests know that they’ll be taken care of. Greet everyone coming in with cool citrus-scented towels and a refreshing pre-ceremony drink. Need ideas? We love a cucumber water, iced herbal tea, or even a light mocktail. Be sure to have water available, too!
Custom fans and napkins: One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your guests cool is with handheld fans and napkins, and you can brand them for an elevated touch that still does the job. Consider going a little sturdier on the handheld fans (we love wooden ones), and print some fun details on the napkins.
Craft a Texas summer wedding menu made for the season
Once your guests are comfortable, it’s time for the real crowd-pleaser: the food. Texas summer wedding catering gives you some of the most delicious menu options around, and you’ll want to lean into it. Whether you’re packing your menu with fresh, seasonal ingredients or leaning into unique flavors, the possibilities are endless.
When you curate your Texas wedding menu with your Vestals Catering specialist, we’ll show you little ways to create a dining experience that simply feels like summer. Here are some of our favorite tips.
Set the table with seasonal summer ingredients
The summer season in Texas goes hand in hand with some of the highest-quality, juiciest, and most beautiful flavors of the year. From the produce — local peaches that fall off the stone, ripe, plump berries, huge grapefruits, heirloom tomatoes, and crisp corn, okra, and zucchini — to the Texas-esque flavors that feel even more delicious in the summer months, every menu has the potential to feel like a five-star restaurant.
At Vestals, we’re big on local and seasonal flavors. For wedding catering inspiration, here are some of our favorite summer menu ideas:
Summer wedding starters
- Watermelon & feta skewers sprinkled with fresh basil and crushed sea salt
- A raw bar featuring Texas oysters, chilled seafood, and summer ceviche
- Gazpacho shooters paired with melon balls
- Elote-inspired corn cups with fresh crumbled cotija cheese
- Grilled peach and burrata crostinis topped with toasted pecans
- Heirloom tomato tartlets with basil oil
Summer wedding salads & sides
- Herb-forward arugula and Texas peach salad with candied pecans
- Charred corn and black bean salad with cilantro & lime vinaigrette
- Texas caviar made with local produce
- Cucumber salad with dill, red onion, and lemony yogurt dressing
- Texas cheese boards featuring local cheeses, local honey, and seasonal fruits and jams
Summer wedding entrees
- Grilled Gulf snapper or redfish with citrus herb butter
- Roasted chicken or brisket with a peach glaze
- Smoked beef tenderloin
- Pecan-crusted chicken rubbed with chili
- Veggie-stuffed bell peppers
- Herb-marinated skirt steak and chimichurri
Summer wedding desserts
- Peach cobbler cups with vanilla bean whipped cream
- Mini vanilla and blackberry ice cream sandwiches
- Texas sheet cake bites
- Grilled pineapple skewers drizzled with honey
- Boozy homemade popsicles
Sip on special Southern flavors
No Texas summer wedding is complete without craft cocktails, mocktails, and non-alcoholic bevs that keep your guests hydrated and happy. In the summertime, you can have even more fun than usual with your drinks by weaving in Texas flavors across your entire drink menu! Here are a few ideas to consider:
No Texas summer wedding is complete without a curated drink menu! From craft cocktails and elevated mocktails to infused teas and sparkling water, your beverage stations and bar carts are a chance to be creative and keep your guests cool.
Plus, summertime makes this even more fun. Summer weddings mean you can infuse your menu with peak-season produce and distinctly Southern flavors: a little peach here, a little prickly pear there! Here are some of our favorite warm-weather drink menu options:
- Prickly pear everything: Bright pink and deliciously tart, prickly pear is a Texas summer staple. Add it to sparkling water (Topo Chico for the locals), blend it into margaritas, or serve it as a signature iced tea.
- Peach bellinis: Serve them classic with bubbly and a splash of Southern Comfort, or make a zero-proof version with peach purée and sparkling water.
- Blackberry smash: A crowd favorite — muddled blackberries, mint, and lemon with bourbon or mocktail-friendly spirits like Seedlip.
- Aperol spritzes: Give this Italian classic a Southern twist with local citrus garnishes or a splash of Texas grapefruit soda.
- All the sweet tea: It’s not a Texas wedding without sweet tea! Make it special with a tea bar including blackberry mint, lemon thyme, or classic peach. Bonus points for serving it in vintage glassware or custom monogrammed cups!
- Frozen lemonade: Light, icy, and heat-proof — a hit for every kid AND adult.
Is it time to plan your Texas summer wedding? We’d love to help you celebrate.
The temps might be high and the humidity might be heavy, but a Texas summer wedding is all about embracing the magic of the season. When you lean into the flavors, sunshine, and longer days that make this season so special, your wedding embodies the very best of the summer.
At Vestals Catering, we know how to create the kind of summer wedding you’ll be dreaming about forever. From refreshing cocktails and seasonal menus to dinner under the Texas stars, our team is here to help you plan a summer wedding that’s effortlessly elegant and entirely your own.
Our vendor partnerships, exceptional staff, and commitment to your experience make us the ideal catering partner. Whether you’re envisioning passed watermelon skewers under string lights, a signature peach and lime-rubbed chicken, or a candlelit dinner built around fresh Texas flavors, we’d love to be part of it.
