Lemonpieevents

21/07/2026

Hot wedding trends we’re seeing for 2027 👉

❌ One day of formality is out
✔️ Multiple days of relaxed fun are in

We’re seeing a shift towards weddings that feel more like curated weekends away than single-day productions.

Food and bar choices are playing a huge role in that – in ways that feel generous, not showy.

A few trends we’re leaning into:

🥗Elevated “NZ table” dining
Think chef’s table buffets and shared platters built around premium local proteins, vibrant salads, and seasonal sides – generous, relaxed, and still refined.

🍗Progressive dining options
Think: keeping your guests lightly fuelled with roaming canapés, light bites and a day filled with deliciousness, rather than one sit-down meal - that's often both too late and too heavy!

🧁Dessert tables and late-night bites
Couples are moving beyond a single plated dessert or cake; we’re creating dessert grazes and simple late-night food that keeps guests happy on the dance floor.

🥂Thoughtful, flexible bar experiences
From a small list of signature cocktails to beautiful non-alcoholic options, the focus is on a bar that feels curated rather than crowded.

🥰Multi-day, slow-paced celebrations
Welcome drinks, relaxed long lunches, and recovery brunches are becoming the norm for destination-style South Island weddings.

If you’re planning a 2027 wedding, winter is a great moment to explore these ideas while there’s still plenty of time and availability to shape something that feels like your version of these trends, not a copy-and-paste.

Huge thanks to all the wonderful wedding photographers who have shared these photos with us!

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

20/07/2026

Relaxed, beautifully run, AND actually enjoyable for you...

The couples and planners who book Lemon Pie usually want the same three things: great food, a relaxed atmosphere, and a day that actually feels enjoyable to host.

Our job is to quietly make that happen behind the scenes – from timelines and staffing to the final plate of dessert.

We’re known for:

🍋Seasonal menus that suit South Island celebrations – generous, modern, and grounded in local ingredients.

🪷A calm, experienced team who keep service running smoothly, even when the weather or schedule changes.

🥂A signature caravan bar that looks beautiful in photos and works hard in the background.

If you’re planning a wedding, long lunch, or weekend celebration in Central Otago or across the South Island, winter is the perfect time to check availability and start quietly shaping your day.

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

16/07/2026

POV: you have vegan guests, left with a side salad and potatoes that smell suspiciously like duck fat. Not with us.

Let's talk dietary requirements...

Almost every wedding we cater now includes a mix of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-specific guests.

The key is planning properly so those guests feel considered – not like an afterthought.

Our menus are built around seasonal, modern New Zealand food with easy ways to adapt for different dietary needs.

We confirm dietary requirements ahead of time, and design clearly labelled options so no one is quietly worrying about what they can eat.

If you already know you’ll have a mix of dietary needs at your wedding, let us know early and we’ll suggest menu structures that make this simple rather than stressful.

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

13/07/2026

Feed your focus. Nourish your crew. Keep the vibes high from sunrise to sunset. Let's talk retreats & multi‑day catering...

Over the past few seasons, a lot of our work has quietly shifted into retreats, strategy days and multi‑day gatherings across Central Otago and the South Island.

These can be:
- Weddings
- Yoga Retreats
- Sports Groups
- Strategy Getaways
And plenty more.

We 100% tailor the offering to your group.
- Colourful salads
- Hearty fillers after days on the slopes
- Delicious cocktails
Talk to us and we do all the hard work and planning for you.

We come in as the food and hospitality layer for a few days: breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner and snacks, designed around the pace and purpose of the group – so hosts can stay focused on the content, not the dishes.

For anyone planning a retreat or multi‑day event who wants things to feel grounded, nourishing and organised without being over‑the‑top “conference catering”, you can read more about our approach through the link in our bio.

12/07/2026

BYO, signature cocktails, or both? 🥂

Bar logistics are among the biggest stress points for couples and planners – especially at private properties.

Our mobile caravan bar is designed to make that side feel simple, stylish, and well looked after.

A few common questions we’re asked:

Can we BYO?
Yes. You’re welcome to supply your own drinks while we provide professional bar staff, glassware, and all the practical bits behind the scenes.

Do you do cocktails?
We can curate a tight cocktail list to match your menu and venue, rather than an overwhelming bar that slows everything down.

Will you coordinate with our caterer and planner?
Absolutely – if that’s us on food, even easier. If not, we’ll still work closely with your team so service is timed properly, not competing with your timeline.

The goal is always the same: a bar that feels generous and in-flow, with none of the stress landing back on you or your families.

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

08/07/2026

2027 wedding trend memo!! Let's talk multi-day catering...

Planning a weekend-long celebration? More and more of you are.

More couples are turning their wedding into a full weekend – welcome drinks, the main celebration, then a relaxed day-after gathering.

Done well, it feels like one seamless experience rather than three separate events.

This is where our team works best.

Lemon Pie regularly caters:
🍾Welcome drinks and grazing for arrivals
🥗Wedding day canapés, dinner and late-night food
🥓Recovery brunches and casual long lunches the following day.

The benefit of keeping this with one team is simple: one point of contact, one kitchen, one plan that flows from start to finish.

We can adapt menus across the weekend so it feels cohesive, not repetitive, and make sure dietary needs are looked after at every event.

If you’re dreaming about a Central Otago weekend with your people, winter is the ideal time to start sketching out what that could look like – even if the wedding itself is in 2027.

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

On our website, you can read about weddings AND our multi-day catering options that work well for retreats as well as weddings.
https://lemonpieevents.co.nz/retreat-and-multi-day-catering

05/07/2026

You don’t need every detail to start planning...

A lot of couples delay reaching out because they think they need everything locked in before they talk to a caterer.

The truth is, you only need a few basics for us to give you a helpful starting point.

When you enquire with Lemon Pie, the most useful details are:

📆 Date (or preferred month/seas
⛪Venue or short-list of venues
💃Approximate guest numbers
🍾Style of day (seated, shared, cocktail, long lunch, multi-day etc.)

From there, we can talk budgets, menu directions, and service style – without you needing a full run-sheet or a final guest list.

Winter is the perfect window to do this early thinking, so when spring and summer roll around, you’re not scrambling for availability.

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

01/07/2026

Buffet, shared, or something in between? 👀

One of the first questions couples ask us: “What catering style actually suits our wedding?”

There’s no one right answer – it depends on your venue, timeline, and how you want the day to feel.

A few ways we help couples decide:

Chef’s table buffet works beautifully for vineyards and long-table celebrations where you want guests to move, choose, and go back for their favourites.

Shared, family-style dining suits intimate, social weddings where you want the table to feel abundant and unhurried.

Canapés and flowing substantial finger food are ideal if you’d rather keep things relaxed, with more mingling and less formality – especially for outdoor and cocktail-style receptions.

Multi-day weddings often mix all of the above: welcome drinks, a more structured main day, and a relaxed recovery brunch the day after.

If you’re not sure what fits, we’ll talk through your venue, guest list, and timeframe, then recommend a structure that keeps service smooth and the food generous.

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

You can take more of a read here: https://lemonpieevents.co.nz/weddings-with-lemon-pie

29/06/2026

The first thing we encourage most brides to do is ... slow down 😉

And most appreciate it, more than you know.

Winter is for dreaming, not rushing...

While the vines are bare and the evenings are darker, this is when the best weddings start quietly taking shape behind the scenes.

Winter is the perfect time to slow down, ask questions, and map out what you actually want your day to feel like – before the inbox gets noisy and dates start disappearing.

At Lemon Pie, we spend these months helping couples and planners refine menus, lock in bar plans, and piece together multi-day celebrations – from welcome drinks to recovery brunch.

You don’t need every detail decided to start the conversation.

If you have a venue, rough guest numbers, and a season in mind, that’s enough. We’ll guide you through the rest, step by step.

P.s. we even have a few favourite venues of our own we can recommend!

Reply to this post or email Anna at [email protected] with your date and venue, and we’ll take it from there.

Take a look: https://lemonpieevents.co.nz/weddings-with-lemon-pie

23/06/2026

Food that fits your flow… Do you know we regularly help with retreats & multi‑day catering?

Over the past few seasons, a lot of our work has quietly shifted into retreats, strategy days and multi‑day gatherings across Central Otago and the South Island.

We come in as the food and hospitality layer for a few days: breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner and snacks, designed around the pace and purpose of the group – so hosts can stay focused on the content, not the dishes.

For anyone planning a retreat or multi‑day event who wants things to feel grounded, nourishing and organised without being over‑the‑top “conference catering”, you can read more about our approach here:

Stress-free retreat & multi-day catering in Otago. Tailored menus for yoga retreats, sports camps & creative workshops — fresh, flexible, and delicious.