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A home garden reception sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a laid-back, intimate summer wedding. And what better way to match the setting than with a proper barbecue feast?
If you’re thinking about this for your big day—or hosting for a friend or family member—we’ve put together some brilliant wedding BBQ ideas to help you make it memorable without breaking the bank. This guide covers menu tips, catering style and grill recommendations, decorations, and more.
Ready?
What Your Wedding BBQ Menu Could Look Like
Let’s kick things off with some light bites, move on to the main BBQ feast, and wrap it up with a tasty dessert. Here’s an idea:
Starters & nibbles
A few quick bites before the BBQ is in full swing—something for both meat lovers and vegetarian guests. Pick at least one or two (or more, if you fancy) from these crowd favourites:
- BBQ prawn cocktail with a smoky twist: The prawns are grilled before being served in a classic cocktail glass, either perched on the rim or arranged in the middle. Fill the glass with a tangy sauce of your choice, or follow the recipe guide like this from Food Network.
- Mini brisket sliders with slaw: The brisket is slow-cooked until tender, then finished on the grill for a smoky, caramelised crust. It’s served in a soft bun with slaw, giving guests a hearty starter that’s satisfying but still small enough to leave room for the main feast.
- Grilled halloumi skewers with honey drizzle: Halloumi is made from a mix of goat’s and sheep’s milk, making it a great alternative to meat. The cheese gets a crispy, golden crust while staying soft inside—something meat lovers will enjoy, too. A drizzle of honey (or agave syrup) balances the saltiness with a touch of sweetness. Serve them on skewers so guests can grab and enjoy while mingling.
- Stuffed mushrooms with garlic and herbs: Another hearty, flavour-packed appetiser worth adding. Grilled mushrooms are a perfect fit for a BBQ wedding, stuffed with garlic and herbs that bring a savoury depth to the smoky flavours.
There are plenty more options, so don’t be afraid to get creative—use this guide as a starting point and make it your own!
Main course
It’s time for the main BBQ feast, a.k.a. the heart of the meal. We’ve put together a list of dishes to help your guests tuck into a proper spread, with a mix of grilled favourites and hearty sides. Choose the ones you think will bring everyone together over good food, fresh from the grill:
- Smoky grilled chicken thighs with a tangy glaze: If you want to give guests a satisfying meal while still leaving room for dessert, this is it! The rich, juicy texture and smokiness of grilled chicken thighs are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. They’re easy to dish up in generous portions, too. Serve them with classic BBQ sides like grilled veg, potato salad, or slaw to create a well-rounded plate.
- Sticky BBQ pork ribs: This is one of those dishes that keeps everyone satisfied. The pork ribs are slow-cooked until they’re falling off the bone, then grilled for a sticky, caramelised finish. Top them off with some homemade BBQ sauce for that familiar BBQ taste.
- Lamb koftas with yoghurt dressing: These are seasoned lamb, shaped into skewers or patties, and grilled over an open flame – yum! They’re flavourful and cater to guests who enjoy something a little different from the usual barbecue fare. The yoghurt dressing makes it even better; drizzle it over the koftas or serve on the side for dripping.
- Grilled tofu steaks: A simple marinated tofu that grills up with a satisfying, steak-like texture and flavour. Top it off with a punchy chimichurri, BBQ glaze, or a zesty lemon and herb dressing to bring out even more savouriness. Follow this 30-minute recipe from Plantbased on a Budget if you’re interested.
- BBQ jackfruit burgers: The more variety you have in the main feast, the better—and you can never go wrong with BBQ jackfruit burgers. Jackfruit has a great pulled-meat texture and soaks up smoky BBQ flavours well. It’s quite light on protein, though, so it might not be as filling as other options. You can still include it as part of the menu or make it more satisfying by serving it in a proper bun with toppings like slaw or a side of guacamole for dipping.
- Stuffed peppers with smoky rice and cheese: Another meat-free option that’s always a hit is barbecued stuffed peppers. The peppers soften on the grill, while the cheesy rice filling melts in. Veggie guests will appreciate this, while being a fantastic side for meat lovers, as well.
This is the main course, so be sure to have a good variety to keep everyone well-fed and satisfied!
Desserts
Desserts are arguably the best way to balance out all the smoky, savoury flavours from the grill. So, we’ll go for something sweet and a few that can be grilled for more variety.
- Eton mess: This classic British dessert is a mix of berries, crushed meringue, and whipped cream. It’s light, fruity, and a great way to round off a summer BBQ.
- Strawberry trifle: Layers of sponge cake, fresh strawberries, jelly, custard, and cream make this a standout on the dessert table. The trifle bowl looks stunning, making it a real showstopper for a BBQ wedding, and a hit with the kids too!
- Lemon drizzle cake: Another British classic dessert that takes just 10 minutes to prep and serve, provided the cake is already baked. It’s zesty, moist, and a great match for warm, sunny weather. Serve it in slices, as cupcakes, or even as a tiered wedding cake—how lovely would that be?
- Grilled peaches with honey and cream: The heat brings out the sweetness of peaches and that bit of char for extra flavour. Drizzle with honey and top with cream (or ice cream), serve, and they’ll go down a treat on a warm day.
- Charred pineapple with rum glaze: Grilling the pineapple brings out its natural sweetness and adds a nice smoky flavour. The rum glaze gives it a boozy kick, perfect for the adults. You can serve it on its own or with a scoop of ice cream, too, for a tasty way to finish the meal.
Choose Your BBQ Serving Styles
There are two ways to serve your guests your grilled delicacies: cookout, buffet, or a mix of both.
BBQ Cookout style
With a BBQ cookout style, food is grilled in real-time by assigned helpers, maybe family, friends, or hired cooks. This means guests get their food straight off the grill for each course, hot and ready to eat. However, this also means someone must be manning the grill throughout while others handle plating and serving.
This works well for a smaller guest list, where managing grilling and service at the same time is easier. The same goes if your garden has enough space and the right set-up to keep the BBQ running smoothly without long waits. Even better, if you’ve got family or friends willing to help, it might be worth considering.
Tips: If you’re going for this option, we recommend using or getting a 4 burner BBQ (or 6 if space allows), like the BillyOh Indiana gas BBQ, for faster cooking and less waiting. With more cooking space and burners, you can grill a mix of meats, veggies, and even sides—perfect for cooking large batches at once.
BBQ Buffet style
A BBQ buffet style might suit the occasion better if you’re hosting a larger crowd or want a more hands-off approach. Instead of grilling throughout the event, each meal course is cooked in advance and kept warm in serving dishes. Guests can then line up and help themselves when it’s time to eat.
What’s great about this setup is that it allows you to cater to different preferences, offering a variety of mains, sides, and sauces all at once. It also takes the pressure off having to man the grill the whole time. Other than the assigned caterer, you’re free to relax and enjoy the day with everyone—or with your guests if it’s your wedding!
Why not both?
Feel free to mix and match both serving styles. For instance, you can have the appetisers and main courses pre-grilled or cooked hours before the reception, while the desserts (if you’re going for the grilled peaches or charred pineapples) are served straight from the grill. This way, you get the best of both worlds—fresh off-the-flames BBQ without someone being stuck at the grill all day.
Go with whatever makes serving your guests the easiest and most hassle-free.
Garden Wedding Decor Ideas
The highlight of a BBQ wedding is the food, of course. Once you’ve finalised your menu and decided how to serve it, it’s time to set up the garden to match the theme and keep everyone comfortable. Here are a few ideas:
Gazebo-style pavilion
A gazebo would look perfect as the main ‘wedding shelter,’ giving the bride and groom a space to eat, cut the cake, dance, and celebrate with their guests.
A small structure works, but if it’s large enough, you could fit a few extra tables for the couple’s parents. The rest of the guests would be seated in the open garden with their own garden chairs and tables.
This setup is especially practical if the garden already has a suitable structure. If not, a pop-up gazebo works just as well, or you could go for a DIY pergola decorated with faux climbers or wisteria for a magical touch. The latter creates a fairytale-like walkway for the newlyweds as guests cheer them on from both sides!
Garden furniture set
For a more intimate BBQ wedding reception layout, a dining set or two can be enough. You can use your existing 6- to 8-seater rattan dining set, or opt for folding tables with tablecloths and scatter them around.
Put up some signs for seat designations so guests know where to sit. A couple of extra chairs never hurt either—someone will always appreciate the option to take a seat.
Smokeless fire pit
Keep guests warm as the evening goes on without smoke getting in their faces. A smokeless fire pit does the job, giving everyone a spot to gather, chat, and enjoy the night.
Less smoke doesn’t mean less heat, though. Take the BillyOh Smokeless Fire Pit, for instance. It’s designed to burn more efficiently, so you get plenty of heat without all the smoke. With one, you can invite everyone to toast marshmallows, melt chocolate, and make s’mores for a treat!
Hang outdoor lights
String up some festoon or fairy lights around the posts or drape them along the roofline of a gazebo or pergola. If you want to add more, run strings from the centre of the structure to the edges for a tent-like effect.
For overhead lighting, grab a pair of tall wooden or metal poles and fix them into the ground. Then, string the lights between them like a clothesline.
Tip: We recommend solar string lights, such as this BillyOh Solar Powered Lantern String Lights. No need for extension leads, just let the sun do the work.
There you have it! We hope these wedding BBQ ideas help you host a celebration to remember.
What do you think ?