20 Raw Bars Perfect for Your Summer Wedding

It's typical to offer a fish main course option during a traditional wedding dinner—but if you are a real seafood lover, we suggest prefacing the meal with a raw bar at your event. A station of fresh oysters, shrimp, crab, and lobster can elevate your celebration in many ways. Plus, this fine-dining spread can speak to your favorite food while lending decadence to your big day.

Naturally, raw bars have a beachy look, so if you are getting married on the water, this spread can serve as big-day décor, too. Upgrade your thematic setup in a way that pays homage to your oceanside locale with a model rowboat, like this one by The Chef's Table and Dear Rose Studio. You can even add oars to enhance the station's realistic look. If you want a subtler display that still alludes to your nautical fête, try serving seafood in smaller shell-shaped bowls. Of course, you don't need to get married in the sand to offer a raw bar on your own big day—they're a guaranteed culinary crowd-pleaser for any event, whatever the location.

Besides fish, crab, and shellfish, all you need to finish off your raw bar is ice. After all, it's crucial that your selection stays cold all night long. For a unique twist on a seafood setup, an ice sculpture that holds your spread should keep things cool while making for a stunning design element. Looking for more raw bar examples to inspire your own? The ahead images prove that an interactive seafood station can be just as striking as it is tasty.