My Wedding Ideas - Cheap Wedding Ideas & Creative Wedding Tips » caterer

How to Save Money on Your Wedding (Without Looking Like You Did)

Michelle — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:31:54 +0000

Your wedding is a one in a lifetime event. It is a celebration of your commitment and an expression of who you are as a couple. And if you are like many brides, you’ve dreamed of this day for a long time and know exactly what you’d like.

But in this economy, every bride is looking for ways to trim her wedding budget. And to help, I’ve created a list some of my favorite ways to cut your wedding costs – without your guests being the wiser.

Save Money On Your Wedding

Save on the Wedding Ceremony

• Use flowers in key areas only (like the altar or place where you will say your vows). This is where all of your guests eyes will be, and where the majority of your photographs will be taken.

• Have your florist create hand-tied bouquets for you and your bridesmaids. They are less expensive than wired ones and every bit as pretty.

• Use your wedding party flowers again at your reception. Bouquets can make amazing centerpieces at your head table. And they look gorgeous surrounding your cake.

Food and Beverage Costs

• Have your wedding at an “off-peak” time (Thursdays, Fridays or Sundays, and in January – May). Because these times are less popular, the caterer’s cost per person and the required guest count will be lower.
• Butler passed hor d’oeuvres can actually be less expensive than buffet style (because guests tend to eat less of them). Ask your caterer about your options.
• Create a signature drink (made with non-premium alcohol) to save on bar costs. Give the drink a personalized name to make it unique.
• Reduce your cocktail hour by 15-20 minutes. None of your guests will notice. And your bar bill will be less.
• Skip the champagne toasts – few guests really drink it. Or if you want to include it, try Prosecco, a sparkling Italian wine that tastes like champagne – but is much less expensive.

Save Money on Wedding Flowers/ Centerpieces

• Use fewer, larger tables to reduce the number of centerpieces and linen rentals required. Create tables of 10 instead of 8. (Use larger tables that guests aren’t crowded).
• Consider less expensive flowers like carnations, baby’s breath or gladiolas. These blooms tend to be 1/3 the cost of roses and look very dramatic and impactful when used in large monochromatic arrangements.
• Give your florist a long list of flowers you love and those you don’t. Then give him/her flexibility to use the most cost effective/ seasonal flowers from your list. Flexibility equal savings.
• Buy your own vases from places like Pier1 or Ikea. They can be less expensive than what your florist carries. (And you’ll be able to give the centerpieces away at the end of evening if you’d like).
• Ask your florist for ideas about including non-floral items that add impact while lowering cost. A vase filled with lemons or limes can be quite striking.

Save Costs on the Wedding Cake

• Save by using a faux cake. They are absolutely beautiful and your guests won’t notice the difference (you can still cut it).
• Or order only enough cake for 75% of your guests (more guests than you think actually don’t eat the cake).
• Another option is to have a smaller cake (tall but smaller cakes have great impact) and then a second “kitchen cake” which is cut and served to your guests (who will never notice).

Saving on the Wedding Attire

• Of course, I have to mention the savings associated with a preowned wedding dress! Whether you buy a preowned dress or sell your new gown after your wedding, you can expect to save up to 50% of the retail price. That is hundreds or potentially even thousands of dollars that can be used on other wedding costs (or towards upgrading your honeymoon).
• Rent your jewelry. You can actually rent beautiful necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more for you and your wedding party – all for a very reasonable rental fee.

This is a guest blog post by Josie Daga, founder of PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, a website she created to help brides buy and sell designer wedding dresses. You can also find her on her own blog, Facebook and Twitter.

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Choosing a Wedding Caterer Checklist

Michelle — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:11:16 +0000

For any couple planning a wedding, a long list of factors comes into play from invitations, music, and even alcohol consumption at the reception. Of course, while the wedding should be a time of vibrancy and life, it is also a time of responsibility, especially when alcohol will be served. The key is providing the right amount of alcohol so guests can enjoy a drink or two but without going so far that drinking becomes a potential problem. One of the best ways to ensure your reception is perfect would be working with a reputable caterer.

Whether you are planning a fancy sit-down dinner or just appetizers, finding the right caterer is essential to a wonderful reception. But where do you find one if you have never thrown a catered party before? There are several places you can look to find caterers in your area.

The Phone Book

You can find the names of caterer’s in your area here. Many have web sites where you can find services and sometimes estimates. But only use this as a starting point. Never hire a caterer without first checking them out.

Friends and Family

Know someone who has hosted a catered event? Ask them who they used, if they liked the caterer, and how much they were charged per person. A satisfied customer is the best referral.

At Work

When your company hosts a catered event, who do they use? If you’ve been to one of their parties you already know if the food is good. Ask the event coordinator for the caterer’s contact information, and what they charge. It’s always possible you can get a discount because you work for the company.

Now that you have a list of possible caterers, it is time to get some quotes. Always get a written quote that spells out each item you want and the estimated cost. You should know by now what kind of reception you want, but it doesn’t hurt to ask about other kinds as well. You may find it more cost effective to have a different type of reception.

Don’t forget to ask questions while getting those quotes. Here are some questions you should ask during the quote meeting.

License and Liability

1. What is your license number?

2. Do you have liability coverage, as well as liquor liability coverage?

All of these protect you from liability should something go wrong during the reception. Hiring an unlicensed caterer is a disaster waiting to happen.

Costs

1. What is the estimated cost per person for my ideal reception?

2. How about my second and third choice?

3. What are some of the additional costs we might incur during the planning stages?

4. Is there a ceiling on anticipated food price increases?

While these costs are all going to be estimated, a good caterer should be able to give you an idea of the final costs.

Staff

1. What is the standard attire for their wait staff?

2. What is the staff-to-guest ratio?

3. If the reception runs late do to unforeseen circumstances, what are the overtime costs?

4. Is extra time even possible, or will there be a job booked after ours?

You don’t want to have your reception manned by an unprofessional wait staff. On the same note, you don’t want to have too few staff taking care of your guests. If there are problems that cause your party to run late, you want to be sure to have the caterer and their staff sticks around for the end.

Food and drink concerns

1. Is there a set menu, or can we pick from different food items?

2. Can your kitchen staff handle special dietary restrictions – allergies, diabetic or kosher menu requirements?

3. How much food will we need for our number of guests?

4. How many bottles of wine and/or champagne will we need for our number of guests?

5. What about non-alcoholic drinks, are those included with the cost of the meal or as a separate item?

6. Do you have refrigeration if the reception is held out doors?

These are basic food and drink questions; no doubt you will have many more event specific questions. Knowing how much food and drink will be needed is the sign of a good caterer. There isn’t a lot of guess work here; experience should dictate the amounts needed.

References

1. Do you have a list of past clients?

2. Is it possible to view the catering of another reception to check food display, wait staff, and service?

3. Can you sample the food on the menu suggested by the caterer?

Some caterers are more than willing to let you see a set up, and watch their staff in action, but it is really up to the customer if that is possible. Do not take it as a sign that they are trying to hide something from you. Some customers aren’t willing to let strangers into their events.

Policy questions

1. Have you worked at my reception site before?

2. Do you set the tables and provide linens? Is there an additional cost for that service?

3. Do you clean up the food and drink, and remove the trash?

4. Will I receive a confirmation letter with the details of my party spelled out?

5. What is the payment policy? Can I pay by check, credit card, or is cash the only option?

6. What is the tipping policy for the wait staff and set up people?

7. What is the minimum number of guests needed? And when do I have to provide the final guest count?

It’s nice to have a confirmation letter, with all the details in it, so you know for sure that everything you discussed with the caterer has been understood. Also having a set date to provide the final count is crucial for both you and your caterer.

A final note. Always check out a caterer with the Better Business Bureau in your area. Most BBB’s are online and checking for problems is quite easy.

Finding the right caterer will make your reception run smoother and make your special day even more special.

Dawn Arkin is a writer who loves to plan and attend weddings. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

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