Midlands, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire
Bethany & Sam's Italian Wedding at Dodmoor House
A Celebration Filled with Personal Touches, Great Food and La Dolce Vita
Every wedding we cater tells a different story.
Some couples come to us knowing exactly what they want. Others arrive with a few ideas and a vision for how they want their day to feel. For Bethany and Sam, it was never about choosing a menu from a list. They wanted their wedding breakfast to feel personal, relaxed and generous, where family and friends could gather around the table, share beautiful food and create lasting memories together.
Their May wedding at Dodmoor House in Northamptonshire brought together 94 daytime guests, with more joining for the evening celebrations. From the very first conversation, it was clear they wanted their guests to experience authentic Italian hospitality - not simply a meal, but an occasion where food became part of the celebration itself.
Creating a Menu That Reflected Their Story
Every Italian Celebrations wedding begins with a conversation.
Before menus are written or ingredients ordered, Sara spends time getting to know each couple. What food do they love? What atmosphere do they want to create? Which dishes remind them of holidays, family celebrations or special moments together?
For Bethany and Sam, one of the highlights of the planning journey was their personalised tasting.
Rather than rushing through samples, they spent time around the table discussing ideas, refining dishes and building a menu that felt completely their own. It was during this experience that they chose one of their favourite gelato flavours and even incorporated bespoke artwork to complement the overall style of their wedding.
As Bethany later said, the tasting became one of the biggest reasons they knew Italian Celebrations was the right choice.
That is exactly how Sara believes wedding planning should feel: personal, collaborative and enjoyable from the very beginning.
Welcoming Guests the Italian Way
Following the ceremony, guests gathered for drinks while enjoying a colourful selection of Italian cicchetti.
Rather than one formal starter, trays of handmade canapés encouraged guests to mingle, chat and settle into the relaxed atmosphere of the afternoon.
The selection included:
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Tuscan pork sausage meatballs in tomato sauce
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Mushroom and mozzarella arancini
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Floral goats' cheese crostini with honey and orange zest
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Tomato and basil bruschetta
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Chargrilled local beef served in chicory leaves with rocket pesto
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Crispy calamari with garlic mayonnaise
Each bite offered a little taste of Italy and set the tone for everything that followed.
Long Tables, Sharing Platters and Food Made to Bring People Together
In Italy, some of life's happiest moments happen around the dining table.
That spirit of togetherness shaped Bethany and Sam's wedding breakfast.
As guests took their seats, generous antipasti platters were already waiting on the tables. Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, chargrilled vegetables, Italian cured meats, artisan cheeses, rosemary focaccia, ciabatta, olives and extra virgin olive oil encouraged everyone to help themselves, pass dishes around and enjoy the meal at their own pace.
Instead of quietly waiting for plated courses, conversations flowed naturally as families and friends reached across the table to share another slice of focaccia or another helping of antipasti.
It was exactly the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere the couple had imagined.
A Main Course Guests Are Still Talking About
For the main course, Bethany and Sam chose two dishes that perfectly reflected Italian comfort food at its best.
Guests enjoyed slow-cooked Fiorentina beef short rib ragu served with fresh pappardelle, alongside Trofie alla Genovese with basil pesto, green beans and baby potatoes for vegetarian guests. Everything was cooked fresh and served family style, allowing everyone to enjoy as much or as little as they wished.
The beef ragu quickly became one of the talking points of the day.
Rich, slow-cooked and full of flavour, it was the dish guests continued to mention long after the wedding had finished. For Sara, there is no greater compliment than hearing that a meal has become one of the memories people take home with them.
As she often says, food should be eaten, shared and remembered.
Every Guest Looked After
One of the biggest challenges at any wedding is making sure every guest feels included, regardless of dietary requirements.
Behind the scenes, weeks of careful planning ensured that every vegetarian, vegan, coeliac and allergy requirement had been considered well before the wedding day. Individual dishes were prepared where needed, allowing everyone to enjoy the same care, flavour and experience without feeling like an afterthought.
From bespoke gluten-free dishes to carefully prepared vegan meals and even accommodating a particularly fussy eater, every guest was served with exactly the same warmth and attention to detail.
For Sara, hospitality has never been about serving the majority. It is about making every single person around the table feel welcome.
A Sweet Italian Ending
Dessert continued the couple's theme of personalisation.
Guests could enjoy Sara's family recipe tiramisu alongside handmade gelato in carefully chosen flavours, including pistachio and stracciatella. The combination provided a relaxed and joyful finish to the wedding breakfast before the evening celebrations began.
Later in the evening, freshly made pizzas were served by the slice, giving guests another opportunity to gather together as the celebrations continued into the night.
What Bethany & Sam Said
"We are so glad we chose Squisito for our wedding. Sara made the whole experience incredibly easy, from the initial planning right through to the big day. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and her attention to detail was exceptional.
A huge factor in choosing Squisito was the tasting, it gave us the opportunity to experience the food beforehand and we were blown away. Sara also helped create a menu that felt completely personal to us, including our favourite gelato flavour and bespoke artwork that added a really special touch.
The food on the day was outstanding. Our guests couldn't stop talking about it, with the beef ragu receiving particular praise from almost everyone. Sara and her team were also fantastic at accommodating dietary requirements and even the fussiest eaters, ensuring every guest was looked after.
The combination of amazing food, personalisation, flexibility and flawless organisation made Squisito a standout part of our wedding. We couldn't recommend Sara and her team more highly."
A Wedding That Felt Like One Big Family Celebration
Bethany and Sam's wedding at Dodmoor House was everything an Italian celebration should be.
Relaxed.
Joyful.
Generous.
Full of conversation, laughter and incredible food shared between family and friends.
Every menu Sara creates begins with listening to a couple's story, and no two weddings are ever the same. Whether it's recreating a favourite holiday dish, choosing a much-loved gelato flavour or designing a menu around your own family traditions, every detail is shaped around the people sitting at the table.
Because the best wedding food isn't simply served.
It's shared.
Planning Your Wedding at Dodmoor House or Elsewhere in Northamptonshire?
If you're planning a wedding at Dodmoor House, elsewhere in Northamptonshire, or anywhere across the Midlands, we'd love to hear about your plans.
Book your free personalised wedding consultation with Sara and begin creating a bespoke Italian menu that reflects your story, your guests and your perfect day.