Weddings! 3 Great Tips to Stay Within Budget and Still “Wow” Your Guests
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012We’ve catered an awful lot of weddings over the years; everything from a ranch wedding in a barn filled with horses, to 250 person Art Gallery spectacles, to a plated intimate dinner in a botanical garden. At this point, nothing surprises me anymore. That said, there is always a common theme for any couple planning a wedding, regardless of the style – trying to stay on budget! And any couple will tell you this is MUCH easier said than done, but luckily, we’ve got some great suggestions for dealing with what is, more often than not, the biggest expense at any wedding – the food.
Having a memorable, fun and unique food service will no doubt be the main talking point for many of your guests, but can you still wow them and stay on budget? Sure you can. Here are some great tips to consider when working with any caterer planning your big day:
1. Avoid over-the-top dessert displays
I know, cake and weddings are synonymous, and no one’s saying axe it altogether! Over the weddings we’ve catered, I’ve done and seen sundae bars, cheesecake stations, ice cream machines, s’more stations, chocolate mousse displays, chocolate fountains, you name it. And these are in addition to the couple’s traditional wedding cake or cupcakes.
The truth is, the vast majority of your guests simply aren’t going to eat 3 desserts at your wedding. Think of it this way, after a meal, every one will of course try some of the wedding cake or cupcakes as a tradition, how many do you really think are going to go grab a huge piece of cheesecake after that? Dessert items can be quite pricy, and the amount that are usually eaten at such parties almost never justifies the cost. If you’re set on having more food, a more cost effective and popular option is a lighter savoury late night snack option.
2. Avoid Adding Extra Items for All Guests Just to Satisfy a Handful of Dietary Restrictions
Dealing with vegetarian guests or dietary restrictions is a part of planning. Of course, these guests need to be taken care of as well, so many couples will believe they need to add in extra vegetarian buffet items as a result of this. Since you can’t just put out a few servings of these on the main buffet, you need to have enough of this ordered to be sufficient for everyone. Adding on two separate items for a group of say, 100 people is very pricy just to accomodate a few.
While having some vegetarian items is always a good idea, a better and more cost effective option is to simply have your caterer prepare and plate special meals for the guests separately. Any caterer you work with should be willing to do this for you. Doing it this way accomplishes two things:
1. You only are charged for the exact amount of special meals that need to be prepared.
2. These guests are served individually by the staff, which makes them feel as though they are being well taken care of by both the couple and the caterer. It shows their dietary concerns are being taken seriously and handled professionally. Of course they are still able to help themselves to any additional buffet items they are able to eat as well.
3. Spread out your Food Service, Rather than Having One Huge Meal
This will go a long way towards providing a memorable food service experience for your guests. Have your guests greeted at the door with light passed canapes while they mingle and grab a drink, rather than just drink and wait for a huge buffet. Consider doing food stations (composed small plates of hot and cold food) to provide a unique and more social experience for your guests than a traditional buffet. And finally, consider having some great late night snack options available for your guests as the inevitable dance party begins later in the evening. You will pay a bit more for service staffing, but spreading the food service out with multiple, lighter meals will help create an experience your guests won’t forget, and your caterer will be able to help you to stay on budget with your menu selections. Imagine having a poutine bar set up for your guests for 10pm? Need I say more?










































































