Traditional Italian Wedding Food

Food is a centerpiece at a traditional Italian wedding.

Italy and food are synonymous, and a big part of Italian wedding tradition is food. There is an abundance of meaningful and tasteful dishes that are part of Italian wedding tradition.

Antipasto

To begin the traditional Italian feast, serve an appetizer course of delicacies such as stuffed olives, pickled peppers, meats like prosciutto or salami and calamari.

Main Courses

Pasta is usually served at the traditional Italian feast. Unlike smaller meals where there may be only one or two courses and the pasta is combined with meats and sauces, the Italian pasta course is a simpler fare. Hearty pasta with a simple sauce of olive oil and garlic or marinara are possible choices. Five to 14 courses can follow with a dizzying array of soups, meats, and salads. Traditional wedding feasts can take hours.

Treats and Sweets

"Confetti," or candy-coated almonds, are a favorite tradition that symbolize fertility. They sometimes thrown when the bride and groom exit the church. Ornamental boxes or bags of sugared almonds called bomboniere are sent home with guests. Each guest is served a slice of cake at the conclusion of the meal. Twisted fried dough powdered with sugar called wanda is always served.

References

• Hudson Valley Weddings: Italian Weddings
• World Wedding Traditions: Italian Wedding Traditions