Determining The Type of Menu For Your Reception
The time of day will help determine what you serve: for a morning wedding, you may want to serve a brunch menu; horsd’oeuvres are perfect for afternoon receptions; and a sit-down dinner or buffet is appropriate for evenings.
Menu Selection and the Weather
Be certain that your menu selections will withstand your special day’s anticipated weather. Avoid hot or heavy meals on muggy and humid days. High humidity may also wilt potato chips, cut cheeses and similar foods. On hot days extra care should be taken to protect easily spoiled foods. Be especially careful with mayonnaise-based items, raw shellfish and the like.
Catering Guidelines
To avoid running out of food at your reception, it is important to plan your menu carefully. Your caterer will be able to help you determine the best style of menu, with the correct amount of food based on your budget. Be sure to ask your caterer if they prepare any extra food for unexpected guests, and if there is an additional cost for this service. Always get a written estimate for the menu you have selected from the caterers you are considering. This estimate should include all food costs, rentals, labor, gratuities and taxes.
Estimating How Many People
Determine your guest count as soon as possible, as all price quotes will be based on this number. Begin by requesting prospective guest lists from both your and the groom’s parents. Then put together your own list. Once all the guest lists are combined, you can use the “rule-of-thumb” that 70–75% will attend to establish final guest count.
What the Caterer Supplies
When it comes to supplying china, flatware, glasses, cups, saucers and table linens, every catering company is different. Some will include the cost in their catering prices, while others will not. Ask each caterer you are considering how they handle this matter and make sure you fully understand all fees before signing a contract.
Serving the Food
After you have expressed your expectations for your reception, and have determined the flow of your party and time lines for the reception, your caterer will be able to suggest buffet table layouts and food start times. They may recommend that waiters serve hors d’oeuvres so that your guests can mingle, or offer you ideas about food stations which will create a more interactive reception for your guests.
The time of day will help determine what you serve: for a morning wedding, you may want to serve a brunch menu; horsd’oeuvres are perfect for afternoon receptions; and a sit-down dinner or buffet is appropriate for evenings.
Menu Selection and the Weather
Be certain that your menu selections will withstand your special day’s anticipated weather. Avoid hot or heavy meals on muggy and humid days. High humidity may also wilt potato chips, cut cheeses and similar foods. On hot days extra care should be taken to protect easily spoiled foods. Be especially careful with mayonnaise-based items, raw shellfish and the like.
Catering Guidelines
To avoid running out of food at your reception, it is important to plan your menu carefully. Your caterer will be able to help you determine the best style of menu, with the correct amount of food based on your budget. Be sure to ask your caterer if they prepare any extra food for unexpected guests, and if there is an additional cost for this service. Always get a written estimate for the menu you have selected from the caterers you are considering. This estimate should include all food costs, rentals, labor, gratuities and taxes.
Estimating How Many People
Determine your guest count as soon as possible, as all price quotes will be based on this number. Begin by requesting prospective guest lists from both your and the groom’s parents. Then put together your own list. Once all the guest lists are combined, you can use the “rule-of-thumb” that 70–75% will attend to establish final guest count.
What the Caterer Supplies
When it comes to supplying china, flatware, glasses, cups, saucers and table linens, every catering company is different. Some will include the cost in their catering prices, while others will not. Ask each caterer you are considering how they handle this matter and make sure you fully understand all fees before signing a contract.
Serving the Food
After you have expressed your expectations for your reception, and have determined the flow of your party and time lines for the reception, your caterer will be able to suggest buffet table layouts and food start times. They may recommend that waiters serve hors d’oeuvres so that your guests can mingle, or offer you ideas about food stations which will create a more interactive reception for your guests.
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