8 Tips For Doing Your Own Wedding Catering by:Nicola Ray
DIY wedding catering is a great way to feed a lot of hungry people
. Although it isn't easy, it can be done if you plan carefully and look at all your options. Before you begin planning, though, look at the following ideas to create the perfect catered wedding reception.
1. Make it simple
As you decide what to serve at your reception, take into account your talents and the time that will be available to you, and make the menu as simple as you can.
Find items for your menu that you can make ahead of time and store until the day of your wedding, and don't use complex, difficult recipes that will only stress you out.
2. Ask for help
You probably have friends and relatives who love to cook, so ask around to see if people can help with side dishes, salads, and even breads. Those who help might even take care of the cost of the dish they make too, helping you save a little more.
3. Think about health regulations
It's essential when preparing your own food to follow health regulations just like a professional caterer would. Wash your hands often, and keep your work spaces clean. Avoid cross-contamination, especially when working with meats, and be sure that items are both cooked and stored correctly.
If you're having a summer wedding, be sure you have plenty of fridge space to keep all the food cold. You should have more than enough space, even if you have to beg fridges from relatives or rent them from specialty stores.
4. Remember the utensils
Don't forget to count how you will eat the foot and what utensils will be needed. Plates, bowls, spoons, knives, and forks will all probably be necessary, and you'll also need napkins and tablecloths to complete the ensemble.
You can probably rent these items from a specialty shop, and the shop may even clean them up afterwards for a little extra money, which will be well worth it.
5. Find Free Service Help
Even if you cook the whole meal, you obviously won't be the one serving the food and drinks, so get people to volunteer for these jobs, or hire a few local teenagers for a small fee. Before they serve, though, you or someone you put in charge needs to be sure they know what they're doing.
6. Think About Little Things
Professional caterers have been doing this for years, but you might easily forget about salt and pepper, sugar, butter, storage containers, bottle openers, ice buckets, ash trays, and such. Make a complete list of everything you need, and double check it a few days before the wedding.
7. Find Good Deals
You can look for deals on storable essentials like flour, sugar, and even butter in the months leading up to your wedding. Having these things on hand will be helpful later on, and you'll save lots of money if you shop around for them.
8. Shop Locally
Local shops will have the best quality meats and produce, and they'll probably even deliver the food to your door for free, which makes for one less pre-wedding errand to run!
Hopefully these tips will help you understand what goes into catering your own wedding, but you'll still need to think carefully about what to serve and how. Good luck!
About the author
Nicola Ray writes for Cheap Wedding Success, a website dedicated to planning and creating beautiful budget weddings. Youll find hundreds of ideas on cheap wedding dresses, cakes, venues, stationery and more at www.cheap-wedding-success.co.uk.
5 Tips to Save On Your Wedding Cake by:Nicola Ray Simple Steps to Create a Wedding Budget by:Nicola Ray 10 Romantic Thanksgiving Ideas For Couples by:Kathy Smith How to Deal With Breakup Depression by:Amy Wells Consulting the Experts For the Best Love Advice by:Amy Wells Advice and Tips on How to Get Your Ex Back When You Are at Fault by:Amy Wells Chemistry in Relationships - Understanding How it Changes With Time by:Amy Wells Advice on How to Repair a Broken Relationship by:Amy Wells Advice For a Broken Heart - How to Be Comfortable Around Your Ex by:Amy Wells Where to Find the Best Tips on How to Save Your Relationship by:Amy Wells What is the Best Proven Method How to Get Your Boyfriend Back? by:Amy Wells How to Determine the Best How to Get a Guy Back Ebook by:Amy Wells Healthy and Constructive Ways You Can Get an Ex Back by:Amy Wells