Here at
Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers we’re all about DIY and saving money.
However, sometimes it’s best to hire experts. Such is the case with wedding
receptions. Today we welcome back guest blogger Zain with tips to help avoid
wedding reception disasters. Zain writes for Feast Your Eyes! Inc. They provide
services such as catering weddings in Toronto as
well as event design.
Catering Secrets: Avoiding A Wedding Reception Disaster
Weddings can be wonderful yet expensive occasions. They are
most wonderful if planned and done effectively, including the reception and
catering. Couples often easily use a good quarter of their wedding budget on
food and alcohol for the reception. Since the average wedding budget is around
$20,000, that amounts to at least $5,000. If you want to have a successful
catered event for your wedding, making all the time and money put into it
worthwhile, there are some common mistakes and mishaps you want to AVOID making
that can cause a wedding reception disaster.
Mistake one, the DIY disaster. Unless you're a professional in such services and just have to be hands-on, it's best you avoid taking the catering into your own hands. There are many levels in the planning and execution of a wedding reception and its catering. Beyond the food itself, you have the decorations, storage, the serving, and the actual timing of it all, including the food preparation. So it's best to leave it to professionals and not let your inexperience lead to a major headache.
Another no-no for wedding catering is the overly elaborate menu. Some actually believe that having a big menu will make the event grander, but having an extensive menu can lead to a waste of food. So it's best to keep it simple. A little variety is good but not too much.
Nothing can leave a bad taste in the mouths of guests like less than tasty food. Be sure to have a taste testing and know what's in store from your caterer. The last thing you need is food that is way too dull in taste or way too salty. Guests may not remember the color of the decorations and clothing from the ceremony, but food is likely to stick with them, being either really good or bad. Also, be sure to give clear instructions to the caterers and lay down the terms of the service so all parties have a sure knowledge of what to expect. This can spare you from poor service and disputes.
Another possible disaster that can be catastrophic in terms of implications (including crowd control) is not having enough food. This is why careful planning is critical and you must work with experienced chefs that can calculate and accommodate needs based on the number of guests. You may want to have a backup plan just in case expected numbers happen to be exceeded.
For a successfully catered event, make sure you do your homework. Look closely at catering companies and cross examine them, knowing what to expect and knowing what you want. Keep communications clear and remember to have a taste test if possible, not doing so could be a disastrous mistake. Your wedding is probably one of, if not the biggest, day of your life, and it's something you may have dreamed of for years. If you want it to go smoothly and happily, be sure to avoid the mistakes we went over and do all necessary research.
Mistake one, the DIY disaster. Unless you're a professional in such services and just have to be hands-on, it's best you avoid taking the catering into your own hands. There are many levels in the planning and execution of a wedding reception and its catering. Beyond the food itself, you have the decorations, storage, the serving, and the actual timing of it all, including the food preparation. So it's best to leave it to professionals and not let your inexperience lead to a major headache.
Another no-no for wedding catering is the overly elaborate menu. Some actually believe that having a big menu will make the event grander, but having an extensive menu can lead to a waste of food. So it's best to keep it simple. A little variety is good but not too much.
Nothing can leave a bad taste in the mouths of guests like less than tasty food. Be sure to have a taste testing and know what's in store from your caterer. The last thing you need is food that is way too dull in taste or way too salty. Guests may not remember the color of the decorations and clothing from the ceremony, but food is likely to stick with them, being either really good or bad. Also, be sure to give clear instructions to the caterers and lay down the terms of the service so all parties have a sure knowledge of what to expect. This can spare you from poor service and disputes.
Another possible disaster that can be catastrophic in terms of implications (including crowd control) is not having enough food. This is why careful planning is critical and you must work with experienced chefs that can calculate and accommodate needs based on the number of guests. You may want to have a backup plan just in case expected numbers happen to be exceeded.
For a successfully catered event, make sure you do your homework. Look closely at catering companies and cross examine them, knowing what to expect and knowing what you want. Keep communications clear and remember to have a taste test if possible, not doing so could be a disastrous mistake. Your wedding is probably one of, if not the biggest, day of your life, and it's something you may have dreamed of for years. If you want it to go smoothly and happily, be sure to avoid the mistakes we went over and do all necessary research.
