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Wedding Reception Food & Beverages (continued)
1. Food costs can be kept under control in several ways. Consider the following:
a. If you are using a caterer, be up front with your caterer about your need to keep costs as low as possible. Be sure the caterer supplies what you need (plates, glassware, tablecloths, etc.). Be sure the caterer is not charging you for items and services that may not be required (such as decorations, etc.). Read your contract carefully and see if the gratuity is included.
b. Consider a buffet rather than a seated dinner. This will not only save money, but may also leave less room for any possible disappointments that could occur with poor table service.
c. Choose less expensive entrees like chicken and pasta instead of seafood or beef. Nice meals do not need to be overly expensive. Limit entree choices for guests.
d. If you must offer more exotic/expensive foods (such as lobster) consider including them as appetizers rather than for the main course to reduce costs.
e. Consider serving only heavy appetizers, a sandwich-
f. See if the caterer offers child meals or teen meals (same meal as adults but no liquor included in cost).
g. Dispense with a separate dessert course and just present the wedding cake as dessert.
h. Consider local culinary or cooking schools who may agree to cater the reception for little more than the cost of the food, with a small markup.
i. Consider whether drop-
j. See if the local grocer or family friend would be available to cater the reception. Or ask friends or family to prepare the food. A potluck dinner at the reception could be a lot of fun.
k. Instead of renting place settings and linens for the reception, you might actually be able to buy them for less than the cost of renting. Look around and see if this is possible. In addition to possibly saving some money, you will also have some dishes, glasses and linens to share with friends and family. Or perhaps your can borrow from friends. But remember, clean up will be your responsibility.
2. Beverages, when alcohol is included, are particularly expensive. You can have a great reception while keeping these costs under control.
a. Consider an alcohol-
b. Although not for everyone, a cash bar is always an alternative.
c. Consider having the bar open only during cocktail hour and then serving a relatively inexpensive wine with dinner. Or only offer wine and beer at the reception.
d. Serve a signature drink, such as an alcoholic punch or favorite cocktail instead of providing an open bar.
e. If you do have an open bar, do not offer top shelf liquor. No one is going to know the difference or care.
f. Don’t include after dinner liquors such as Grand Mariner, etc. These can really get expensive, especially when the party really gets going.
g. If you have booked a venue that allows you to supply your own liquor, consider doing just that. The savings can be significant and sometimes you can return unopened cases. Wine can often be bought at wholesale prices.
Depending on your tastes, and the location of your wedding and reception, flowers
and decorations may be either a moderate expense or a major expense. Some locations
are so beautiful that only a few flowers and decorations are needed. Try keeping
your flower arrangements and decor simple. When deciding on flowers, keep in mind
they are a one-
1. Wedding and reception flowers.
a. Limit the number of people in the wedding party that have flowers. If you only have flowers for the bride, the groom and a few other key people in the wedding party, such as the maid/matron of honor and best man, the cost of wedding flowers will be minimized.
b. Don’t purchase a duplicate bouquet for the bride to toss, if you are not planning on preserving your bouquet for display at home. Toss the original. Or consider picking just one flower from your bouquet to toss.
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WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS -
