Incorporate fresh fruits and other Hawaiian food into your wedding plans.
Hawaiian weddings typically make advantage of their gorgeous scenery by taking place outside on a beach or in a tropical garden. Some couples even choose to hold intimate, private wedding ceremonies on a small boat and then celebrate with friends afterward with a reception at a nearby marina. You can bring the tropical feel of Hawaii into your wedding by incorporating Hawaiian dishes into your reception meal plan.
Hawaiian Cuisine
Modern Hawaiian food is a blend of several types of cuisines brought to the Hawaiian islands by the various ethnic groups living there. American, Japanese, Korean, Polynesian, Chinese and Portuguese influences all play a role in Hawaiian cuisine. Dishes are typically sweet and saucy with a variety of seafood as well as pork and vegetables mixed in. Fresh fruit is a must and can be used as decoration as well as eating at your wedding. Include colorful tropical fruits like pineapples, mangoes, coconuts, kiwis, oranges and even star anise.
Hawaiian Luau
One of the best ways to incorporate Hawaiian food into your wedding is with a luau. It lends itself well to a tropical, festive atmosphere, which can be the perfect complement to spring and summer weddings. Have a caterer prepare (or prepare with family ahead of time if you are ambitious) traditional luau dishes like oven Kalua pig, Hawaiian Laulau, Mochiko chicken and macadamia nut crusted coconut dhrimp.
Hawaiian Side Dishes
Include Hawaiian side dishes at your wedding-reception-turned-luau like chicken long rice, sesame cabbage salad, and Lomi Lomi salmon. Garnish your side and entree tables with fresh pineapple and leis and pink, white and yellow rose petals. Decorate reception tables at which guests are seated with hurricane glasses filled one-quarter way with sand, shells and tea-light candles to reinforce the tropical feel of your Hawaiian-themed cuisine.
Hawaiian Desserts
In addition to (or in place of) your wedding cake, serve traditional Hawaiian desserts like haupia, which is a light and sweet coconut pudding; or, serve coconut pie. Create a dessert buffet with other dishes like Hawaiian ambrosia, butter mochi, pineapple macadamia nut loaf, banana guava pie, Hawaiian sweet potato pie and Lilikoi cake. Note that the last item can be made in layers and combined with Liloki chiffon frosting and used to create a scrumptious and elegant wedding cake.
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