So you’re working through your long to-do
list for planning your wedding and wondering…what comes next? Catering because the food will set the tone
of your event. It is also one of the BIGGEST COST of a wedding so be prepared! Do your research for your area. What are average costs per person? What do Catering Companies offer? Some will offer linens and centerpieces others will only drop off your food without any staff (meaning someone has to clean everything up). Who will provide the dishes, place settings, glasses, etc.? Will the stations or buffet be decorated? Will the catering team need a prep area? Who will provide ice, bar needs, coolers, etc.? There are a million questions we ask catering, bar, and bakeries when it comes to your special day. These are only a few we've touched on. Make sure anyone handling your food and beverage that day is a professional (licensed, insured, certified, inspected for health and safety reason). Also ask your venue if they allow outside catering or if they have preferred vendors. Most venues do not allow self catering for safety reasons.
Depending on the time
your ceremony starts will decide what kind of food you will serve. If you are getting married at 11, guests will
expect lunch and if you are planning for a wedding between 4pm-7pm, guests will
be looking for dinner. Here are some
other great ideas when it comes to food and beverage at you event:
o Do
you want to greet your guests with a snack or glass of champagne as they enter
the ceremony area (if not at a church)?
o Are
you getting married outside? Consider
greeting your guests with water or punch on warm sunny days and hot chocolate
or cider on cooler days.
o We
can’t tell you enough…HAVE APPETIZERS during cocktail hour. If you are taking photos between ceremony and
reception give your guests something!
Those photos usually take up to an hour so remember your guests back at
the reception hall waiting for your arrival.
o Signature
drinks are a great way to cut down on the bar tab. While we
highly recommend offering some form
of alcohol at your reception, it’s not for everyone so maybe offer fun “mocktails”
instead. (We only see 25% of our couples
offering liquor at their receptions.
Most are
have no alcohol at all). However,
if you are offering alcohol make
sure to offer non-alcohol beverages before, during and at least 30 minutes
after serving.
o Offer
multiple drink stations (coffee, hot chocolate, smoothie, Ice Tea, Punch,
and/or water stations).
o Want
to save money? Think about hosting a “Brunch”
wedding instead of a full dinner reception.
Breakfast is a more budget friendly meal option and the bar can be
limited to mimosas and bloody maries.
o When
it comes to dinner think about your favorites!
Offer a salad while guests wait to eat, have rolls and butter on guests
table (to save room on dinner plates), Are you planning on a buffet, food
stations, plated meal or family style dinner?
o What
about late night snacks? You could
always offer desserts and/or fruit and cheese with the cake cutting.
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