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First steps
Organizing your Guest List and wedding budget is
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fairly straightforward if you follow these simple steps...
1 Budget for Food 3
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Sweet Endings
Knowing your food budget in advance There are more options for dessert now
of talking with potential caterers will than there have ever been before.
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Q&A
save you and them a lot of time. It’s • Cake - consider offering different flavors
fairly simple to determine this number. for each layer of your cake.
First take the number of guests that you • Dessert Buffets have become more
are planning for and divide that by the popular lately. These can be a great way
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amount of dollars you’ve assigned to to include some treasured family recipes
food. Remember that this number needs into your wedding day. Consider having
We’re having a buffet. Do I have to
to cover all costs related to the food a theme to yours - offer varieties of fruit
assign seats to our guests?
including drinks, bartenders, chef & desserts or many varieties of cookies for
Well, no, you don’t have to assign
wait staff, kitchen rentals, perhaps even example.
guests to a seat but I do encourage you
china if you haven’t accounted for that • Candy Buffets - This relative newcomer to assign them to a table. There are few
elsewhere in your budget. For example, if into the world of weddings has quickly situations more awkward than trying
you have $14,000 for all of your food and been elevated to the level of wedding
to find a seat at a big party - it reminds
you are expecting 150 guests you have art! Check out sites like www.AmyAtlas.
me of high school all over again! “Is
an allowance of $80 per person. Does com to be truly inspired!
anyone sitting here?” I encourage my
this include your cake as well? Be sure to • Ice Cream Sundae bars are another
deduct accordingly so you aren’t caught “cool” idea to have at your summer
clients to take the time to assign guests
without funds for that most important wedding! Consider serving the ice cream
to tables to allow guests to truly relax
centerpiece. Knowing both your overall out of hollowed out ice sculptures for a
and enjoy the day!
dollar amount coupled with your per sleek and sophisticated take.
person allowance will help your caterer • Donut carts are popping up in more Is a cash bar considered bad etiquette?
provide you with a more accurate quote and more communities - these midnight Yes, it is. You’ve invited your guests
for your wedding. treats will thrill your guests!
to celebrate with you and as a good
hostess it is not appropriate for you
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to expect them to pay for any part of
Buffet vs. Plated?
their meal. That does not mean that
you have to go into debt to have your
party though - just slightly modify
If you are planning to serve a full meal
your plans. If a “dry” wedding (where
at your wedding, you are likely trying to
no alcohol is served) is not your idea
decide between a buffet or a plated
meal. Here are a couple of thoughts to
of a celebration, consider having only
take into consideration:
beer & wine and perhaps one signature
• Where would the buffet be placed?
cocktail served only during the cocktail
If the only space for it in your reception
hour. This will maintain your festive
room is on the dance floor, this may atmosphere but not break the bank!
interfere with your first dance if you plan
to have that before dinner. Also, your
catering staff will have to break down
the buffet before dancing could begin
- are you comfortable with that bit of
commotion?
• Sometimes a plated dinner can cost less
per person. Ask your caterer to give you a
price for each option.
• If you are having a buffet or food
stations, consider having one live action
station at your buffet - having a chef
preparing a special dish for guests can
add a fun element to your dinner.
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