Monday, 17 August 2009

Wedding Reception Food - How To Handle The Costs

By Nancy Pharm

The most difficult aspect of wedding planning is the cost, and the most expensive part of that cost, you will find, is the reception food. Without a doubt you will find, particularly if this is the first wedding you have planned, that the food portion of the budget will be the hardest portion for you to plan around, and you will likely despair of remaining under budget.

There are many options available for reception locations, but not all of them will let you choose your own caterer. Some places such as hotels or conference centers will require you to use the caterer they have on premises. Other places may only let you choose from a list of "approved" caterers that may not be to your taste or in your price range. Luckily, there are many other cost-saving options that can still result in a gorgeous and memorable event.

One way to make the most of your budget is to have a day-time reception. This allows you to serve delicious and quality food without having to provide an entire dinner. Brunch weddings are very popular as well as cocktail weddings. Both of these options allow you to serve your guests decadent and elegant fare while keeping down costs.

If you are set on having an evening wedding, shop around a little before deciding on a venue. Compare prices and be sure you get what you want. A buffet style menu is usually less costly than a formal sit-down dinner. This will also offer more options to your guests.

Private venues also give you the freedom to match the type of food and presentation to the mood of the wedding, such as having a spit for a beach wedding, or snack platters for a garden wedding. This kind of catering can also help you save money, as something like snack platters will undoubtedly be cheaper than getting a full meal.

The important part of the reception is to ensure that you have enough, but not too much food"overfeeding your guests will just encourage them to stay longer, which can be a nuisance.

Another way to do this is by setting out various appetizers and starters at each table instead of serving each person individually. This will still ensure and abundance of delicious options and no one will care whether or not they have had a three course meal.

Finally, simple choices add up to easy savings. Choose an exquisite chicken dish over lamb or veal, or choose prime rib over filet mignon. Overall, there are many options available that will both save money and provide elegant and delicious food your guests will enjoy.

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