From when to serve it and which flavours to choose to finding the right setup and planning for the British weather, here are a few things we’ve learnt from years of serving ice cream at weddings.
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from years of serving ice cream at weddings, it’s that there’s no single right way to do it.
We’ve served in sunshine, under cover, in the middle of a dance floor, tucked into beautiful venue gardens and everywhere in between. Sometimes ice cream is part of the afternoon celebrations, sometimes it appears after dinner, and sometimes it’s exactly what everyone needs after a few hours on the dance floor.
So if you’re thinking about having ice cream at your wedding but aren’t quite sure how it fits into the day, here are a few things worth thinking about.
When do you want to serve it?
This is probably one of the first things to decide, and there really isn’t a wrong answer.
Ice cream can work brilliantly during the drinks reception, particularly on a warm summer’s day. It gives guests something to enjoy while you’re off having photographs and naturally creates a little gathering point.
It can also work after the wedding breakfast as an alternative or addition to a traditional dessert, or later in the evening when everyone’s back on the dance floor and ready for something sweet.
Think about the flow of your day rather than feeling like ice cream has to fit into a particular slot.
Think about where it’ll go
We’re probably biased, but we think an ice cream setup should feel like part of the celebration rather than something hidden away in a corner.
Our bikes in particular have a habit of becoming a bit of a gathering point. Guests wander over, choose their flavours, stand around chatting and then inevitably come back again later.
When you're deciding where your ice cream will be served, think about where your guests will naturally be at that point in the day.
You’ll also just need to consider a couple of practical bits, things like access, space and whether your chosen setup can actually get to where you’d like it.
It’s much better to work that out beforehand than discover a beautiful courtyard involves three steps and a very narrow doorway on the day!
Choose a setup that suits your wedding
This is where it’s worth thinking about more than just which one looks prettiest in a photograph.
A smaller wedding might suit one of our ice cream bikes perfectly, while Hetty can create a real focal point where there’s a little more space to play with.
Our Bar gives you the same relaxed, staffed experience in a different format, while the Self-Service Station works really well if you want guests to be able to grab an individual tub in their own time.
Your venue, guest numbers and how you want the ice cream to fit into the day can all help determine which setup works best.
And if you have absolutely no idea? That’s completely fine too. We can help.
Don’t overthink the flavours
Choosing your flavours should be one of the fun bits.
You’ll obviously want a selection that gives guests some choice, but you don't need to try to cater for every possible preference with dozens of flavours.
A mixture of crowd favourites and something a little different usually works really well.
You might choose flavours because they're your favourites as a couple, pick something that fits the season or simply go for the ones you know everyone will love.
And yes, there will always be someone who comes back to try a second flavour.
Probably a third too.
Tell your supplier about dietary requirements
If you know you have guests with allergies or particular dietary requirements, mention them when you're planning rather than waiting until the day.
We offer a range of flavours to suit different dietary requirements, including dairy-free and vegan options, and can talk you through the choices available.
We also provide allergen information for our flavours, so having those conversations beforehand means everyone knows what to expect.
Have a plan for the Great British weather
We'd love to tell you every summer wedding we've attended has involved blue skies and glorious sunshine.
It has not.
If your ice cream setup is going outside, just have a think about the wet-weather plan with your venue. That might mean somewhere covered or an indoor alternative, depending on the setup and access.
And weather planning isn't only about rain. On particularly hot days, we may need to think about positioning, shade and power too.
A little bit of planning beforehand means you don't need to be worrying about any of it on your wedding day.
Most importantly, make it yours
There are a lot of decisions involved in planning a wedding.
Ice cream shouldn't be one of the stressful ones.
Whether you want one of our bikes sitting amongst your guests during the afternoon, Hetty making an entrance later in the day or tubs ready for people to grab when they fancy something sweet, it should fit naturally into the wedding you're already planning.
Pick the flavours you love. Choose the setup that feels right. Decide when you think your guests will enjoy it most.
And then leave the scooping to us