Your wedding food sets the mood, adds comfort and fun, and becomes one of the things your guests talk about long after the last dance. And when your day includes the gorgeous green lawns and heritage oak trees of Rough & Ready Vineyards, you’ll want a wedding menu that’s just as memorable.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most-loved outdoor wedding food ideas served here at our Nevada County venue, along with creative beverage and dessert inspirations to complete your celebration. Whether you’re thinking about a relaxed barbecue, a vibrant taco spread, or something entirely custom, we’ve got you covered with plenty of wedding food inspiration!
The Best Wedding Food Ideas for Outdoor Venues
Planning a wedding menu for an outdoor reception in Northern California allows for more flexibility, creativity, and fun than you might expect. Our favorite catering vendors provide a wide variety of options! Here are a few styles and flavors our couples have raved about the most.
1. Barbecue with a Gourmet Twist
Barbecue remains one of the most popular wedding food choices for outdoor venues, and for good reason. Smoky tri-tip, pulled pork sliders, or grilled chicken paired with cool salads, roasted vegetables, and mac and cheese make for a satisfying meal that fits perfectly into a relaxed setting like Rough & Ready Vineyards.
Dress it up with craft sauces or a signature rub – both great ideas for small wedding favors, too! And don’t worry that you have to have a barbecue theme with red gingham tablecloths. Barbecue goes with everything!
2. Mexican-Infused Wedding Menus Bring the Flavor
Taco bars, burrito bowls, and sizzling fajitas—Mexican food is always a hit, especially for spring and summer weddings in Northern California. Its bold flavors and fresh ingredients make it an ideal choice for an outdoor wedding food idea that feels festive and fun. Favorites include:
- Elote (Mexican street corn) served on sticks or elote salad
- A variety of salsas, guacamole, and chips for cocktail hour grazing
- Refreshing agua frescas in flavors like hibiscus and pineapple-mint
3. Hawaiian-Inspired Feasts
Looking for tropical and lighthearted food ideas for your Northern California wedding? Hawaiian menus are a rising favorite. Think kalua pork (like pulled pork), grilled pineapple skewers, coconut jasmine rice, Hawaiian rolls, and colorful tropical fruit platters.
A themed menu like this works especially well in summer and adds an unexpected, playful twist to your wedding reception menu ideas.
4. Farm-to-Fork Freshness
In Nevada County, couples love sourcing fresh produce and seasonal ingredients for their wedding menu. Farm-to-table style dinners are not only delicious—they reflect the values of many modern couples who want sustainability, quality, and connection to the land. Menus often include:
- Roasted or grilled seasonal vegetables
- Herb-marinated chicken or tri-tip
- Freshly baked bread with compound butters
- Salads with heirloom tomatoes, local greens, or stone fruit
Wedding food trends continue to favor local ingredients and menus that change based on what’s in season. Rough & Ready Vineyards is surrounded by agricultural richness, making local ingredients delicious and easy to implement.
5. Food Trucks for a Laid-Back Vibe
Mobile food options are perfect for outdoor spaces, and at Rough & Ready Vineyards, food trucks are not only allowed—they’re celebrated. A pizza truck, a crepe station, or a gourmet slider truck can help break up the formality and encourage guests to mingle. Popular options include:
- A pizza truck for dinner
- A crepe or waffle cart for dessert
- A coffee or espresso cart for that end-of-night energy boost
Food trucks are a great way to personalize your wedding food experience while keeping things fresh and casual.
Creating a Wedding Menu That Reflects You
The best wedding menu reflects you as a couple. Maybe you love comfort food, or maybe your favorite dates involve discovering new global flavors. Either way, designing a menu around your personalities and preferences makes your day feel even more authentic.
Tips for designing your perfect menu:
- Start with your story. Think about the restaurants and cuisines that you both enjoy.
- Plan for the setting. Outdoor weddings call for food that holds up in warmer temps and is easy to serve.
- Be inclusive. Include vegetarian or gluten-free options so all guests are well-fed.
At Rough & Ready Vineyards, couples are welcome to bring in their own licensed caterer, giving you total control over every bite. From Indian buffets to brunch-style menus, we’ve seen couples create truly unique wedding reception menu ideas that wowed their guests.
Beverage Ideas Guests Will Remember
Especially for summer weddings or dry receptions, non-alcoholic beverages deserve just as much attention as the food.
Sparkling Water & Soda Bar
Set up a self-serve drink station with:
- Canned soda and flavored sparkling waters
- Fresh garnishes like lemon slices, lime wedges, mint, and cherries
- Optional mixers like fruit syrups or juice splashers
Refreshing and Instagram-worthy, this setup keeps everyone hydrated and happy.
Coffee & Cocoa Bar
As temperatures drop in the evening, a warm beverage bar becomes a cozy draw. Offer regular and decaf coffee, rich cocoa, and extras like:
- Cinnamon sticks
- Marshmallows
- Flavored creamers (vanilla, hazelnut, almond)
- Whipped cream and chocolate shavings
It’s an easy way to create a sweet and satisfying close to your wedding evening.
Dessert Ideas to Make It More Memorable Than Just Cake
Your dessert can be more than tradition—it can be a moment of surprise and delight. Here are a few fun, interactive dessert station ideas that go beyond the classic cake slice:
Ice Cream Cart
Perfect for hot summer days, especially at an outdoor wedding in Northern California. Offer cones and cups with a selection of toppings and unique flavors like blackberry sage or maple pecan. Or choose a vendor that provides custom flavored ice cream bars – we have a couple of options on our list of favorite vendors.
Cook-to-Order Sweet Stations
Live-action stations serving crepes, mini pancakes, or waffles are crowd-pleasers. Let guests top their creations with fresh berries, syrups, whipped cream, or chocolate drizzle.
Cupcakes with a Twist
Your baker can beautifully display cupcakes with creative flavors like lavender vanilla, chocolate chili, or lemon elderflower. A labeled flavor wall or tiered stand adds style and visual impact. (Check out our cupcake ladders in our Something Borrowed Barn that you can style as you wish for free!)
Gourmet Cookie Bars
A mix of flavors like snickerdoodle, espresso chip, and shortbread gives guests something to munch on with their coffee—or take home for later. These ideas reflect wedding food trends, where couples are leaning toward interactive, multi-choice dessert offerings over traditional tiered cakes.
Most-Asked Questions: Wedding Food at Outdoor Venues
Can I bring in my own caterer at Rough & Ready Vineyards?
Yes! We welcome outside caterers, which gives you complete freedom to design your perfect wedding menu and work with your preferred cuisine or local business.
Is your venue suitable for food trucks?
Definitely. Our layout and parking areas are ideal for one or more food trucks, whether for the main meal or late-night bites.
Can I set up stations like dessert carts or coffee bars?
Absolutely. There’s plenty room for interactive stations, carts, and displays that flow with your event timeline.
What types of menus are most popular with your couples?
Our most popular wedding food choices are barbecue and Mexican. But we’ve also hosted pizza feasts, brunch-themed weddings, Indian buffets, and comfort food spreads among others.
Let the Wedding Food Tell Your Story
Your wedding food isn’t just about feeding your guests—it’s about sharing who you are as a couple and making your celebration memorable in every sense. Whether you’re going casual and creative with tacos and sliders or elegant and local with a fresh seasonal menu, your food choices help tell your love story.
At Rough & Ready Vineyards, we believe that the best wedding menu is one that feels personal, thoughtful, and totally you. Nestled in the heart of Nevada County and surrounded by Northern California beauty, our venue offers the perfect backdrop for whatever flavors you want to share.
Ready to create a delicious experience your guests will never forget? Contact us to schedule a tour and start planning your outdoor wedding celebration—menu and all.
Mardie has been a successful businesswoman since 1981. The Rough & Ready Vineyards was created out of Mardie’s desire to contribute to the community. Mardie's vision to serve the community is rooted in her love of Nevada County, and it provided her with the opportunity to revitalize an old Ranch property into a breathtaking wedding venue.
Her innovative mind and commitment to environmental accountability contribute in a positive way to our community and the surrounding area. With the Rough & Ready Vineyards, Mardie seeks to create the best wedding experience for our clients and their guests, creating memories that will last for generations.
0 Comments