Wedding Buffet or Ten Course Meal?

The part of the wedding that takes the most preparation is usually the reception. Where do we hold it? What shall the decor be like? What can I fit into my budget? Do we need the doves? What do we eat?

If you have a wedding theme, that may help determine the food at your party. For example, if you go for a chinese ceremony, you may also wish to have chinese at your reception. This means your food is served in courses (not the kind that comes in little boxes). You might have as many as ten courses if you follow strict chinese tradition, including suckling pig and sharks fin. This may not be as expensive as you think as some weddings such as those of the chinese limit the reception to the immediate family.

On the other hand, you might have chosen a destination wedding in Hawaii. Then a luau or a buffet may be more your type. This can be wonderful since the atmosphere is more relaxed and people can choose which of the offerings they want to eat most of. Your guests would also feel more free to mingle at this kind of party than a more formal affair.

Of course, there’s also the western style. Instead of having someone cook up fancy dishes, why not ask your family and friends to participate in the ultimate american pot-luck? Then have some dancing and get everyone swinging and celebrating.

The important things is for you to have fun as you start your married life together. Let your wedding planner help you get all the stuff you want to eat into the reception without going over budget.

Wedding Cake, Anyone?

There are various traditions and beliefs involving the wedding cake. It isn’t just a piece of dessert, it is actually a focal point of the event. Basic things to keep in mind about the wedding cake is that it must be of a flavor that you, the bride and groom love. Remember this is your day! It should look the way you want and taste the way you want.

Over the years, heaven knows why, the wedding cake doesn’t always get eaten. In some countries, after the couple have their slice, the cake sits untouched except to let the single women pull fortune slips (sort of like fortune cookies) out from under the cake layers tagged with ribbons. This is really sad! Think of the delicious uneaten cake and the kids looking longingly at the beautiful sweet treat within reach but can’t be touched.

One reason this may have come about is the belief that the cake (at least the top of it) should be preserved to celebrate the christening of their first child. Still, food is meant to be eaten. Enter the fake layers!

At a friends wedding, only the portion to be sliced by the bride and groom was real. The rest of the cake was already sliced and individually packed. These they gave away as their souvenirs. What a delicious and practical gift.

One superstitious reason you may want to give out the cake, sharing the cake is said to be sharing the blessing and happiness and it comes back tenfold. Another reason is that singles who put a piece of the wedding cake under their pillow will dream of the person they will marry. Help your friends find their match, share the pastry.

Icing anyone? Choosing The Right Wedding Cake

The wedding cake is one of the most beautiful accessories at a wedding. It is an elegant representation of wedded bliss in an edible form. It is a work of art that is enjoyed by the bride and groom together.

It can get a bit overwhelming to choose a cake nowadays, which is why wedding planners suggest getting this item settled at least four months before. If you go with tradition, you get a wedding cake that is white, layered and has a “bride and groom” figurine on top. It is always nice to have options though. Nowadays, cakes may now come in any number of colors, usually matching the theme of the wedding.
Instead of the figurines, a bouquet of flowers may be used to top and decorate the cake. While fresh flowers are pretty, candy flowers are a more common sight on the cake. A really talented cake designer can even create some that match the flowers that the bride is carrying.

Not only can it now match the theme, it no longer needs to be in layers. Are you worried that the flower girl and ring bearer will be using their fingers on the cake? Then make the icing a fondant. It coats the cake like cloth and can’t be swept off by a kid with a sweet tooth.

In quite a number of weddings, the cake isn’t served to the guests. Knowing this, you might want to be practical and opt for an ornamental cake. This is a cake with fake layers except for the bottom one. The newly weds still get their beautiful looking centerpiece at less cost.

Of course, no matter what style you choose for the look of the cake, the most important thing to remember about it is the taste. Remember that you and the groom will be having a slice, so it’s best to have a flavor that you both love.

Questions to Ask Your Caterer

The reception is easily one of the biggest costs of the wedding, so it’s very important that you have a clear, and well documented contract with your banquet sales representative and/or your caterer. Here are some things you need to iron out before signing the check:

Does your caterer have a license? Has it met local health department standards? Does it have liability insurance?

Does the fee include just the food or additional services like tables, chairs, silverware? Do you need to pay extra for seat covers, place settings, equipment?

Will the caterer provide waiters? How many people will each waiter serve? How many people will assist at the buffet table?

Does the package include place cards, centerpieces, guest book?

What is the caterer’s experience in food styling? (Ask to see photos of prior settings.)

What drinks are included? Will you need to pay corkage fees if you bring in your own sodas or liquor? (Compare the costs of an open bar, corkage fees, or set drinks.)

What are the special fees not included in the cost of menu? This includes sales taxes, service fees, bar fees, security deposits, corkage, etc. Always ask for the total package cost and check against your wedding budget.

When is the downpayment and final balance due? What is the cancellation and refund policy?

What date will the caterer need a final headcount?

Who will oversee the event on the actual wedding day?

Can you have a special menu for kids or friends with dietary considerations (i.e., kosher, vegetarian, etc.)

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