By Veronica from NH
Hope this helps someone. :)
By Veronica from New Hampshire
We are getting married June 22, 2013. We are trying to decide on what kind of food to have. We are pretty much open to anything, but fish. My fiance was a chef at a college and they have offered to cater for us at a reasonable price. We just have to decide what we want. Any suggestions will help. Thank you.
By Shawnda from Springfield, OH
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary on that very day. Our kids are throwing us a big party. I don't know where you are located, but we found an amazing caterer who's prices could not be beat! If you are in Florida, Let me know, I will send you his name. He is doing Ropa Vieja, Spanish Steak and Onions, BBQ Ribs, Fried Plantains, Black beans and Rice, Parsely Potatoes, green beans almandine, and dessert for $10 a head! He only charges 18% for servers (buffet style). And he comes and sets everything up and cleans up afterward. We are expecting 100 people, so we have dinner done for less than $1200 and we don't have to deal with it.
I need ideas for quick and easy reception food. Anything from finger food to elegant eats. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Saray1 from Layland, WV
So with that said you just have to do your homework. Olive Garden has their menus on their website. Use your wedding party to help with the cooking. Before we found out about Boston Market I was going to do like Bobby on "Show Down" and have the wedding party do a cook off or show down. I thought this would keep it fun since they would be cooking for a large group. I will also be making my own cake. I think it's good to start early. Ask around, because you never know who knows who. (05/29/2008)
By Tru
By Carol
By Sherry
By Busy Daughter
We just went to 2 receptions last night. One spent $1000 on food for 300 and the second spent $9000 on food for 100. And I have to say the first reception had better food hands down. The first had 3 soups: broccoli cheese, cheesy potato, and, a white bean chicken chili with all kinds of toppings. They also served 6 salads: Italian pasta, fresh spinach with feta and red onion, a fresh broccoli salad with cranberries, oriental chicken pasta, a Chinese chicken salad, like Applebees, and a chopped Cobb like blue cheese wedge with grilled chicken and egg and blue cheese. It was served with 4 types of rolls: sour dough, whole wheat, white and a rustic sweet brown, Outback-like bread, all served with butter.
They had a very delicious simple punch that was made up of 7up, sweetened lime juice, frozen raspberries and grenadine syrup. The food there was absolutely delicious and everyone seemed to enjoy it. They also had a candy bar for the children with little bags to fill up with candy in the wedding colors. Great idea!
The second was at a country club and served many types of appetizers, but very gourmet. The cheese trays were not even touched especially the big hunks of blue cheese, the seafood platters with shrimp, salmon and crab claws were nominally eaten. The stuffed mushrooms were cold and the brushetta was soggy. The cute little finger sandwiches were unrecognizable.
Guests mostly ate the fruit and veggies. We had been to this country club before for 3 other weddings and their food is good. But even with a sit down dinner, steaks and halibut are served best hot off the grill, not sitting under a warming lid for 2 hours waiting to be served. So, even when you have the same class of people, everyone likes comfort food.
We go to 2 weddings a month, and I have to say the less formal the better. We go to resorts and million dollar homes, and hands down many people commented on the first wedding's food we went to last night. It was enjoyed by all. I personally do not think that the soup idea would work in the summer months, but maybe have 2 more salads instead, like a fruit salad and maybe a Hawaiian salad topped with almonds, pulled sweet pork, mandarin oranges and cabbage and ramen. Everybody loves salad! Oh the first reception had a coffee and hot chocolate bar with all the toppings. Big hit also. (03/01/2009)
By Kjones
I need ideas for wedding reception food on a tight budget.
Lisa from Dayton, OH
I'm getting married on October 3rd at 3pm and reception to follow. I need the reception to be cheap. I want to know if it would be inappropriate to have cake, punch, coffee, and no food? Would that be a bad idea at that time of the day?
By angel eyes from Bryan, OH
I even saw one wedding on a TV show where the couple had absolutely everything donated in this way, from the dresses to the food! The donatees just had a card standing next to the items they donated and some business cards at the exit. You might be surprised at how many companies are willing to do this, I would start with smaller companies who might not be getting as much business as better known companies and could really use the advertising.
You might also consider swapping something with a personal chef. If you are good with kids maybe babysitting, dog care taking or grooming or house sitting when they want to leave town, etc. If you do something like this I would make some sort of small contract to make it legal. (09/01/2009)
By wolfbytez
Also check with store managers to give you a discount since it is a wedding. Easy to decorate for, easy for jokes, songs, and all around fun. Use your imagination! Have a great wedding! (09/03/2009)
By wildone101
People loved the late afternoon dinner, no need to have dinner a few hours later. I believe I overheard the mom of the bride say that the bill came to about $300. That was for 60 people. Salads were made 'at home' the night before, with tomatoes, grated cheese and trimmings served on platters to choose from. The guests loved it, the kids loved it, and sat still for a while eating pizza. Have a wonderful future. Start off right, and it will never end. Let the kids take home the left over pizza if there is any left. (09/03/2009)
By islandsage
As someone else said here, it's YOUR day. The people you care enough about to be with you to celebrate should be there to do just that--wish you well. Don't go into debt if you can't afford it; it's an awful financial start for a marriage. Do what your heart and your pocketbook can afford. No matter what it is, it'll be right. (09/03/2009)
By PupperMom
Congratulations and enjoy your day! (09/03/2009)
By Deeli
By tennesue
By meoowmom
A reception with cake, punch, coffee, and no food is your prerogative - but please, advise the guests in the invitation!
About 30 years ago, our kids were ring bearer and flower girl at the wedding of our neighbor (their babysitter). The day started early, with no time for more than some milk and toast for breakfast. Once we got the kids to the church, they were whisked away by the bride and bridesmaids for photos and training for their parts in the service, etc.
Unfortunately, the wedding ended up getting started a lot later than scheduled. By the time the service was over and we arrived for the reception, everyone was hungry.
At the reception there was a lot of socializing, but no food in sight, not even finger food! All of the other guests were hungry, too, and whispering amongst themselves about "When's dinner?"
Finally, after a very long wait, a table was set up with cake, punch, coffee, and that was it. The hungry crowd descended on the cake like locusts, as by now it was early evening! We gave the kids a few bites of cake and some punch because they were starting to feel queasy from hunger!
Then we approached the bride and excused ourselves "early" from the reception, much to her dismay. We left and went to the first open restaurant we found, had a decent meal, and headed home to bed.
My husband and I spent a fair amount of time later talking about the thoughtlessness of the bride in regard to her guests. No one was told this would be a cake and punch only reception, so they had been expecting some kind of dinner.
It was such poor manners not to inform the guests about the reception plans, so they could make their own plans accordingly for eating that day. Especially a 5 and 6 year old who shouldn't have been kept busy yet unfed most of the day. I'm sure the bride was excited and had no appetite, but she should never have put her guests (and flower girl and ring bearer!) in such a hungry situation!
So again, a cake and punch reception can be lovely and is perfectly acceptable, as long as your guests know ahead of time what to expect! My best to you! (09/06/2009)
By mirador
I am having a BBQ wedding and we are asking people to bring a dish. We are providing the main stuff. But all I can think of to ask people to bring are the basics like: potato salad, pasta, beans, fruit, veggies, cheese, and sausage. I feel like I am missing some things, but also I feel like I should have more options.
By Kathy from WI
By notwrong
Loretta from AL (05/12/2010)
By LJF
By thriftmeg
By skinnyjinny
Another option would be to have some guests bring cakes and place one on every table to be shared by those at that table. Again, you'd only have to get a cake topper for yourselves. At a friend's wedding, many relatives baked and brought cookies. They were placed in small boxes and everyone was given their own individual box of treats. It was much easier than having to place trays of cookies out. (05/13/2010)
By susanmajp
By Carly34
By Deeli
By catwink41
By JustPlainJo
I am getting married next June. June 11, 2011 to be exact. We were thinking of having the wedding at 11:00 A.M. to go along with the 11 theme just to be fun.
My fiance and I are planning a February wedding. I'm considering doing only my reception with only a choice of three green salads, five different hearty soups, such as beef stew, and rustic breads.