Viva España
by Jill Ogorsolka, Trumpet Vine Catering
photography by Allyson Magda Photography 
& BB Photography

Spain is a spectacular country, rich in culture, history, food and wine.  And you can easliy incorporate all of these elements into your wedding day to create a bright and festive atmosphere for your celebration. While you could require your bridesmaids to wear Flamenco dresses, there are more subtle ways to share that Spanish atmosphere with your family and friends. 

Greet your guests with a chilled glass jar of red or white sangria, filled with fresh slices of Valencia oranges and juicy peaches, strawberries and raspberries. A classical Spanish or flamenco guitarist can entertain your guests before and during the ceremony as you and your wedding party walk down the aisle.  

Following the ceremony, have traditional Spanish tapas served during your cocktail reception or as appetizers to the main entree. These can include Spanish Tortilla which is similar to an omelet or frittata with sautéed chopped potatoes; Spicy Garlic Shrimp, or a selection of Spanish chorizos, roasted red peppers, roasted Marconi almonds, marinated olives, fresh figs wrapped with Serrano ham along with a selection of Spanish cheeses. Of course other non-Spanish appetizers can be served as long as they are served in the tapas or “small-plate” style.  The tapas can be accompanied by a dry glass of sherry, Spanish Cava or any of the many wines from the varied wine regions of Spain.

As you sit down to dine, serve a glass of Albarino, a crisp Spanish white wine and enjoy a live performance of Flamenco dancing and singing accompanied by one or more guitarists.  For the first course, serve a beautiful chilled red gazpacho.

For a main course, paella is the most famous dish from Spain.  Treat your guests to a sampling of paellas.  The paellas could be served plated, family-style or in a buffet.  If you go the buffet or family-style route, your caterer could prepare one of the paellas tableside on a large burner made especially for large paella pans. If you prefer to serve a plated dinner, the three paellas could be served side by side on a rectangular shaped plate with different garnishes.

There are an infinite number of paella recipes, but the main ingredient is short-grain rice and most recipes call for saffron. One of the paellas considered to be the “traditional” by Americans is a mix of fresh clams, mussels, fish, with chicken and Spanish chorizos. For a vegetarian paella, you can use fresh, colorful and flavorful seasonal vegetables topped with a red pepper-garlic sauce.  For a crowd-pleasing paella, try lamb, lentils and eggplant, and for the adventurous, serve a Paella Negra, a seafood paella with fresh calamari, shrimp and firm whitefish cooked in a fish broth with squid ink to turn the rice dark black. Serve with garlic aioli.

If you want to really give your guests a special experience, pair each paella with a different Spanish wine. The wines could be served side by side for the plated entrée or for family-style service,  and little menu cards can suggest the best pairing of a particular wine with a particular paella.  For buffet or station service, you could set up a wine bar adjacent to each paella station, offering the wine you selected to pair with that particular paella. 

For dessert, in addition to a wedding cake, you could serve a platter of fresh fruits and berries. Another specialty would be serving warm churros with a demitasse of thick hot chocolate for dipping! 
Whether you are expressing your own cultural heritage or are exploring the traditions and cultures of some of your favorite places around the world, a touch of Spain can only brighten your wedding day.