It’s summer wedding season. Therefore, ice cream.
The solution may sound out of the ordinary among talk of traditional wedding cake, but there’s nothing better than something super cold on a hot summer day. We’ve rounded up a few local vendors who offer a variety of cold dessert options from snowballs to ice cream sandwiches.
The Truck
There’s a special, summer-time joy that’s associated with hearing the amplified music of an ice cream truck. But now instead of hoping the truck rolls down your street, you can guarantee it shows up at your wedding. The IC Dream truck offers classic ice cream, shaved ice, and a combo of the two. Meanwhile Scoops2U has ice cream, a handful of sorbets, toppings, and can acquire novelty treat bars that really scream childhood summer-nostalgia.
If you’re a soft serve fiend, then the Miss Twist truck is a great option. Along with classic vanilla, chocolate, twist, and creamsicle flavors they can also make specialty milkshakes like butterscotch and chocolate cherry. Meanwhile The Cow’s truck offers frozen custard and Italian ice. Non-dairy and sugar-free options are available on request.
But if you’re craving something even creamier—try ice cream’s Italian cousin, gelato. This artisan-Italian treat from Mike’s Gelato can be simple, with classic flavors like chocolate and mint chip, or fancy ones like Irish whiskey, white chocolate strawberry, and Stracciatella (a rich-man’s chocolate chip). Or, if post-dinner desserts are already covered, a pre-ceremony gelato and toppings bar are also available. (Especially if you’re expecting your guests to bake in the sun during your ceremony.)
For a lactose-free option, Quinn’s Ice serves a wide array of soft serve, milkshakes, and sundaes that are all customizable with syrups and toppings. Their signature milkshakes include caramel coffee, strawberry shortcake and Reese’s Pieces while they have sundaes like Belgian waffle and pina colada.
Ice Cream Stations
An ice cream serving station is a good choice for a pre-ceremony treat in the sun, a little pick-me-up during cocktail hour (especially if you have a lot of little ones invited), and as an addition to cake or a dessert bar. Places like the Prigel Family Farm offer packages with the supplies necessary to let your guests self-serve and can set up a soda float bar too. Meanwhile Taharka Bros will send someone to run one or two stations depending on your guest count with a sundae bar option add on.
But gelato fanatics don’t have to miss out on a more catered experience either. Pitango Gelato has catering carts that can be set up inside a formal ballroom or any outdoor venue, with either four or six flavors.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ice cream sandwiches or “sammies” can be an easy grab-and-go-option so guests can eat with one hand and never stop dancing. The Charmery offers individually wrapped sammies in vanilla, strawberry, Maryland Mud, Mint Mountain, and vegan toasted coconut. Meanwhile the Cream Cruiser ice cream cart offers a perfect photo-op for the couple while holding all the sammies and sorbet push-pops the party needs. Either let guests help themselves or book the full-service option for someone to hand out the treats.
Snowballs
The Baltimore classic can make an appearance at your wedding thanks to plenty of shaved ice locations like Icy Delights which offers an unlimited 6oz snowball package where you just pay for the time. For a little extra get their premium toppings like fudge and marshmallow.
Kona Ice also rents out their tropical shaved ice truck throughout Baltimore and the surrounding area with catering packages that change depending on the location. Snoasis is another snowball shop that’ll bring the party to you, send them the details of your event and they’ll create a recommended party menu for your guests and budget.
Frozen Drinks
There’s nothing like a frozen cocktail on a hot day to keep the party moving, and the Margarita Man of Maryland knows it. They rent their machines and flavors to customers so there’s no need for noisy blenders. Among the traditional lime margaritas and sangria there’s rum runner, creamsicle, and peach bellini just to name a few. Kid friendly/alcohol free options are available too.
Meanwhile Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck can give guests a pick-me-up before or during the reception. Try a frozen frappe or frozen hot chocolate and then chase it down with a frozen mango or strawberry refresher.
Ice Pops
Often an icy fruit combo, the scene around ice pops and the Mexican paleta has steadily grown in Baltimore with vendors popping up (ha ha) at farmers markets and ball parks. CM.Pops is one of them. It’s cycled through a wide variety of ice pop flavors in its time at the 32nd Street Farmers Market. Some include cherry peach limeade, cucumber pineapple, gingerbread, blueberry cheesecake, and watermelon matcha. They’ve added jalapeno and other peppers to their creations so if you’re the person who likes spicy cold desserts, they’re the ice-pop cart for you.
Another option is Maracas Ice Pops. The majority of their handcrafted ice pops flavors like hibiscus, coconut, kiwi, pineapple—and a spicy version—are all vegan.
Tasty Toucan already has 20 naturally flavored popsicle paleta at its disposal, from classic mango and watermelon to berry colada or blueberry lemonade. Every flavor is vegan, dairy, gluten and nut free and can be served out of their retro cooler or beach bike. To jazz the popsicles up, make a “poptail” out of any flavor of popsicle and your favorite cocktail or mocktail.