Lets Talk Food...

We all know the best part of the wedding- the food. The food cost should be one of the biggest parts of your wedding day budget (normally it's 40-45% or more!) But if you're planning with a tight budget, there are several ways to cut the costs without cutting the cheese... or beef, or whatever you want to eat.

1. If you are having a later wedding (after 5 or 6 pm) it is socially acceptable to only serve finger foods. Be sure to put on your invitations that it is an hor dourves reception, and your guests should know to eat before the ceremony begins. If you are having an afternoon wedding and your reception starts around dinner time, your guests will be hungry, and you will spend more money on hor dourves trying to fill your guests up than you would have if you planned a dinner.

2. If you are on a tight budget, ask if you can look at the lunch menu instead of the dinner menu. Many places will alllow you to select lunches (be it plated or buffet), and lunches are sometimes almost half the price, with a lot of the same options that some of the dinners have.

3. Which brings me to my next point- buffet or served? Honestly, sometimes they are about the same price. With buffets, people tend to eat more so they have to prepare more food which can cost more. With served meals, the food cost is controlled, but it takes more staff to run a plated dinner so the service charge may be more. It's totally up to you.

Wedding meals are a good way to treat your guests to something different that they don't normally eat. Try different flavors, colors, presentations- we eat with our eyes first and our mouths second. We all want something that beautiful on a plate, and there are so many options in this day in age. A lot of couples are afraid to try something different because they are afraid their guests won't like it even if they do. DON'T be afraid- a lot of times you are creating something memorable for a guest that they might never get to experience again. Leave the chocolate covered crickets and pig spleen at home though: no one will be able to stomach that. DO arrange a menu tasting before the big day, but DON'T be afraid to go with the sea bass if you like it. Just don't go with the entire fish on the plate- it's kind of scary.