During a Scandinavian summer, the sun’s brilliance never dulls—it may be one of the only places where wearing your sunglasses at night doesn’t make you look like a pretentious so-and-so, at least before midnight. The food, the landscape, the people and the ultra-European state of mind make Sweden in particular one of my favorite countries to visit during the summertime, especially during the Midsummer Celebration. Occurring on the longest day of the year, people get together in the morning to collect wildflowers, make wreaths and decorate a maypole. Completing the décor is followed by a feast, music, and dancing into the night—hmmm, sounds a bit like a wedding, no?

I began to envision a Scandinavian Midsummer One World Wedding, an appropriate celebration for those with a Scandinavian heritage or simply a love for the summertime. Traditional foods served include the ubiquitous herring and potatoes, and to jazz it up a little, the addition of small plates adds a glamorous edge to the already colorful cuisine.

For a seated dinner or small plate stations, offerings include cured Gravlax, Crayfish, Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberry Jam, Skewered Baby New Potatoes with Lemon-Dill Beurre Blanc, Grilled Herring and for dessert Wild Strawberry Tarts with Chantilly Cream. The meal is washed down with ice-cold Scandinavian beer and Swedish Schnapps flavored with different herbs.

Colors that compliment this theme are bright blues, golden yellows and crisp whites. The flowers can include traditional daisies and blue cornflowers. A good starting place is visiting the food marketplace at your local IKEA, which carries many traditional, Scandinavian imports. Skoal!

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