Congratulations, you’re engaged! The wedding planning process is a tedious yet exciting time. While it may seem easy to get flustered, rest assured knowing we’re here to help you create the fairytale wedding reception you’ve dreamed of.
Parents, I know how you’re feeling right now. As a father of three girls, I’ve had a fair number of rides on this emotional rollercoaster; while I’m excited for this new journey about to unfold for them, they’re still my baby and it’s hard to let go. It’s beautiful and bittersweet.
Let’s Get Right In To It
Now let’s wipe those tears and get back to business. Whether you’re planning your own wedding or your child’s, managing the big day’s potential stressors is the key to a beautiful day they’ll cherish and share for years to come. First order of business is understanding and allocating a budget. If you’re budget is $25,000 and your venue alone costs $20,000, it’s safe to say the quality of your catering, photography, music, etc., will suffer greatly.
Location, Location, Location
Once a budget is defined, it’s time to look at locations! Dream of a fairytale wedding at a beautiful, old-work mansion? Look no further than the Merion Tribute House—which, by the way, has an amazing slate patio for cocktail hour! Planning a low-key rustic barn wedding? Check out The Barn at Bournelyf for a cozy reception under 140 guests. Still not sure? Don’t worry—we’ve got an entire page of venues Tasty Table partners with.
Making a Masterpiece Menu
On to my personal favorite—menu planning. I know what you’re thinking and yes—there is a way to save money on your wedding catering without sacrificing flavor. After my 20+ years of experience, here is what I’ve gathered. First, if you’re having heavy appetizers passed at cocktail hour, it’s best to skip table grazing foods. Passed foods are served at the perfect temperature and brought right to you—why inconvenience yourself to walk to a grazing table? However, if you do opt for both passed appetizers and a grazing table, be sure to portion entrees accordingly. Take protein portions for example; after offering an abundant amount of appetizers, opting for a 6oz portion in lieu of an 8 or 10oz portion will cut on food waste and also save who’s footing the bill.
Having a backyard wedding? Afternoon weddings can be beautiful but avoid setting your mealtime between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Truth be told, most people are just not hungry during this time frame and setting a meal during such frame can lead to food and money wasted. If you’re set on having an earlier event, consider a brunch reception. Get some mimosas and bloodies pouring and still be in bed by 9:00 PM! Considering a non-traditional reception? Tasty Table Wedding Catering creates the majority of our reception menus custom and to get ideas flowing we begin with our social menu offerings.
Bring On The Bubbly!
Speaking of mimosas and bloodies, let’s not forget the libations! If you’re a savvy spender, it may be in your best interest to supply your own alcohol for your venue or caterer to serve at your cocktail hour and reception. By stocking your bar, not only do you control what kinds of alcoholic beverages are served, but you also get to keep all leftover liquor instead of your venue or caterer keeping what remains without any reimbursement based on consumption. Not sure on how much and of what to buy? I swear by this handy drink calculator! When purchasing liquor for your wedding, be sure to keep the receipt! In the state of Pennsylvania, any unopened liquor bottles can be refunded within 30 days of purchase with a valid receipt.
Don’t forget non-alcoholic beverages! Creating a mocktail menu is a great option for underage and sober guests to enjoy a refreshing beverage without the booze. Incorporating non-alcoholic beers such as Heineken 0.0 and Guinness 0 will also cater to those sober and those wishing to pace themselves but hate water. Also, don’t waste your money on O’Doul’s. I’ll just leave it at that.
We’re Here To Help
Tasty Table knows how detrimental bad catering can be in remembering your wedding day and are determined to provide only the best catering for your wedding day. From galas to cocktail and holiday parties, we’ve seamlessly delivered executed tens of thousands of meals to thousands of events with guests ranging from 10 to over 400.
Give us a call at Tasty Table Catering 610-251-0265 or email us with your wedding date, guest count, location, and any ideas when it comes to creating the menu you’d like to serve. We will happily get back to you within 24 hours or the next business day.
