Eating your money - Making the most of your event catering bill

Believe me, as an event planner I have seen that it is EASY to blow through $20,000+ by feeding (and giving alcohol to) 185+ people. For privileged couples this type of budget allowance is available. But, for those unable or unwilling to shell out that much money, may I suggest the following tips:

• Understand the correlation between the cost of catering and the number of mouths that you feed. Although the ‘quality’ of food that you serve your guests will increase or decrease the cost of catering for your event, you must first understand that the number one factor for enormous food bills is number of mouths that you are feeding.  If you are planning on inviting 100 guests to your reception then you need to plan to feed those 100 people.

If after doing the numbers with your caterer you do not have the funds to feed everyone on your invitees list, then it is time to re-evaluate your guest list. When it comes down to it, if you don’t have the money you don’t have the money. There is nothing to be ashamed about. However, you will need to modify your list to include only the most important persons.

"But we HAVE to invite everyone on our list to the reception!" Not true. Consider throwing a party where hors d’oeuvres and drinks can be served. When it comes down to it, a big reason that hurt feelings happen may be because people want to have an opportunity to share in your moment and in your joy. Creating a moment for those that you cannot afford to have at the reception is perfectly acceptable.

• Go heavy on the hors d’oeuvres . Although you may be serving a meal at the reception, consider adding a one-hour long cocktail party to allow guests to quench their post-ceremony hunger. Guests that eat before dinner will eat smaller portions and are less likely to go back for second portions. Go "fancy" and have butlered hors d’oeuvres passed to the guests, alongside "do it yourself" hors d’oeuvres stations.
• Filler, filler, Filler. Filler foods are foods that fill stomachs fast and for little money.  Have you ever eaten at a restaurant that first serves bread? Bread is an excellent filler. As for class, try using an exotic pasta, bruschetta + toppings, and other such foods that will take-up room in a guest’s stomach. Another helpful tip is to have the filler foods waiting at guest tables for the guests, so that they can get started with their eating before the food line opens or wait staff begins their service.
• Control your guests’ portions. Even (and especially) if you are offering a buffet, ask your caterer (or volunteers) to stand behind the foods to dole-out portions. Portion control is an easy way for you to save big dollars on large amounts of food that would otherwise not be consumed because most guests would not eat so much unless it were free.
• Post-dinner pickins. Especially when serving guests alcohol you may wish to consider erecting a few small hors d’oeuvres stations posted throughout the ceremony space. Guests that are dancing and drinking are likely to search the venue for a few crackers and cheeses, fruits, or sweets to munch on. As a bonus, giving guests reason to munch will allow for [slightly] less alcohol consumption. Keep in mind that for convenience sake you may not want to serve foods that require refrigeration or constant heating. (Food poisoning guests = icky.)
• Plan for the staff gratuity. In many situations the gratuity for the wait staff, bartenders, and food captains will be directly added to the food bill that you endorse from the caterer or venue. However, some companies will allow you to add-in your own gratuity based upon your experience. In either case make a decision that you are going to plan for the staff gratuity instead of being shocked or put-off by it. After all, the staff gratuity helps the people behind the wait staff uniforms to feed their own families.

Happy eating!

Best,
Alisha Forrester Scott, Owner
La Ruche. event design studio.

You can e-mail AFS at: studio@enterlaruche.com

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Summer Wedding

Hello all!  This is my first post!  I originally had my wedding planned for January 2009, but with work, and uncoperative vendors, I had to change the date to July 25, 2009.  So now I am in the midst of a dilema.  I originally wanted charcoal grey dresses for my bridesmaids, with accents of green, cream and white.  I think it will be a color scheme that I will not regret in the future!  So is charcoal grey too deep of a color for a summer wedding?  I was thinking of adding some purple accents here and there just to punch it up a bit.  Your thoughts?

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Come on baby light my … reception space!

Special lighting techniques can really add a lot to your reception (or wedding) space. They can help hide ugly walls or accentuate pretty ones. They can make a space more elegant, romantic, crazy or fun! They can truly transform an ordinary space into an extraordinary one.

So, if you’re looking into having some special lighting brighten your big day, here are a few basic lighting techniques you might like to know about!

PIN SPOT Think of this as a spot light … but a very tiny one. It shoots a beam of light at one particular object, lighting up only that object. These work perfectly for cakes and centerpieces.

This great shot is from Pacific Weddings.

LED These great little numbers are fabulous for weddings. They come in a number of colors, emit less heat and use less electricity than regular light bulbs, and can easily be used for light color changes. Sometimes, wireless LED lights can be used, meaning they can be placed almost anywhere. If you’re looking to spice up a room with some color or just accent a particular area, look into LED lights.

Below is an example of a LED color change, from blue to pink, to help give the area a different ambiance during different parts of the evening.

These images are from Our Wedding Plus.

COLOR WASH A color wash is basically a technique that fills the room with a particular color, transforming a white room, perhaps, into a green, purple, or pink room. This is perfect for a lounging area near the dance floor or another space where people aren’t really trying to see what they are eating (at least in my opinion).

GOBOS These stencils can be custom made to fit your specific needs (monogram, special designs, etc.). They can withstand extreme heat, which is fabulous considering they are placed over light that project their image onto a wall, dance floor, or some other service. Check out this video with a bunch of great examples of what gobos and do.

Here is one last picture from Bridalwave using a combination of lighting techniques - very visually stimulating! See how much it transforms the space? On its own, the space looks like an elegant area, but with the lights we get something that looks more like a club. Love it!

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Pumpkins!

I adore pumpkins - tiny and massive, whole or hallow, I love them all! And since autumn has recently begun and I’m seeing pumpkins EVERYWHERE, why not share these marvelous ideas with you!?

So where can you tie in pumpkins on your big day?! Here are just a few ideas.

Centerpieces :: There are so many things you can do with pumpkins, just on the top of your tables! Bring in large pumpkins and surround them with flowers. Carve them up a bit and fill with flowers or candles. Or, try incorporating mini pumpkins into arrangements or making arrangements completely from mini pumpkins (put them in a rustic basket and leave a few scattered around the table).

From Better Homes and Gardens’ 9 Fabulous Fall Centerpieces

Line the aisle :: Group pumpkins on the aisle-side of pews or rows of chairs. Pair with over-sized lanterns filled with candles or floral arrangements. Carve them up and let them glow to meet you as you walk down the aisle!

This pictures is from Fall Bio, a page on which you can find a lot of other fall-themed wedding ideas.

Monograms :: Carve (or have someone else do it for you) your monogram into the side of your pumpkins! Place them below and around the alter, on your reception tables, line the isle with them … put them everywhere (beware of overkill)!

Of course, these are from Martha Stewart’s Translucent Pumpkins . Oh I do love the things she and her staff come up with!

Place Card Holders :: Cut a tiny slit in the top of mini pumpkins and place them on the escort card table and/or use them as place card holders on the actual tables. Or, try sticking a wire in each one, stretched out to hold the little name cards!

These little pretties are from Ranasalame’s Flickr account. Love them!

On the Altar :: If your ceremony site allows flowers or other bits on the alter, consider placing a few pumpkins up there, along with any other memorial, decorative, or traditional floral arrangements.

The image is from Chicago Bride, though she seems to feel strongly about NOT using fall-ish items for fall weddings, but if that’s what you want - go for it. After all, the whole point of this post is “pumpkins”…and it’s kind of hard to not think of fall when I think of pumpkins. (But as a side note, we agree - just because your wedding is during the fall season does NOT mean you have to use oranges, browns, yellows and creams as your colors. There doesn’t need to be a single leaf, pumpkin, or a piece of wheat anywhere on your big day!)

If you’re looking for some more pumpkin ideas, check out these fabulous places!:

Toasts and Tables :
Favor Ideas
Living the Swell Life

Like this post (or any other posts for that matter)? Subscribe to WeddingFanatic!

Also! Don’t forget to check out this week’s GIVEAWAY from NameBirdie.com.

Lastly ~ Interested in blogging with the WeddingFanatic team? Shoot us an email to weddingfanatic{at}gmail{dot}com and we’ll send you some more info!

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Knitts

I have seen SO many cute knitted wedding tidbits out there, I just had to post about them!

Here is a delicate knitted shawl that would be perfect for a winter wedding! So much texture and so visually appealing - I love it (and want it)! By Toby Hanna.

Look at these beautiful pieces by Nanda Handcrafted: Fields of Gold Cowl, which can be worn in a number of fashionable ways as a scarf or shawl, and the Ice and Roses Neckwear piece. Fields of Gold would be marvelous for a late fall wedding and Ice and Roses would look fabulous for a winter wedding (and a lot of winter holiday events).

Here is a clutch I wanted to buy for myself when I was visiting family in St. Louis a while back. I found it at The Posh Fox, and it’s made my Suzanne Marie (please contact me if you would like to reach her)!

Want more knitted wedding stuff? Check out CastOff.info for The Knitted Wedding - a group of individuals attempting to knit an entire wedding. Can they do it? I believe so!

Here are some good ideas for DIY knit and crochet wedding projects.

Want some more knitting resources? Here are a few sites and blogs:
Chic Knits
Vintage Knitting
Knitter Natter
Good To Be Girl
CraftZine.com’s Knitting Archives

Want more ways to incorporate knitted bits into your wedding day? Try knitted:
-stuffed animals for your youngest guest
-sweet cardigan(s) for your flower girl(s)
-pillow for your ring bearer
-cuffs for your and your bridesmaids’ bouquets
-hats for some fabulous pictures for a winter wedding
-scarfs for guests, placed by the exit of your ceremony site (with a note asking them to bundle up before the leave for the reception!)

Unless you’re going all out, just use one or two knitted (or crocheted…we don’t discriminate!) elements for a warm, fuzzy feel!

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Le Viette GIAVEAWAY!

Sorry for my absence the last two days! I haven’t been feeling too swell. BUT! Today I’m back with something fabulous! Another GIVEAWAY!!! This time the little something special is from Le Viette - a new super cute “treat”. Let me share a bit more with you (and before you leave, make sure you check out the bottom of the post for the giveaway details).

Le Viette carries a line of desserts… with a twist. They are actually towels folded and molded to look like scrumptious desserts! To die for! There is a collection that resembles Swiss Rolls, check out the picture below.

But wait, there is more! How about the Mousse, “Celebrations”, “Elegance” collections, and not to mention the Desserts!!

Here is a little something more about the company:

The word “Viette” from Le Viette is derived from the French word, Serviette, meaning “towel”. Le Viette presents to you towels exquisitely designed to resemble real desserts. Each Le Viette product is made with 100% cotton towels, ensuring its highest quality and softness. Individually prepared by hand with carefully selected materials, Le Viette invites you to indulge in our dessert towels as a décor, gift, and of course, a towel.

And a few more pieces of eye “candy” for you:

GIVEAWAY details: Just leave a comment naming/listing your favorite dessert(s) (wedding or other). We’ll randomly pick a number at the end of next week (Friday). Le Veitte is providing us with a “Chocolate French Toast” to give away - delicious! Best wishes!

To see all of their products or to read their blog, just check out LeViette.com!

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Big Flowers, Big Statement

Flowers can add a lot to a wedding event, that’s for sure. But not every couple can afford to go crazy with their flower budget. That being said, if you’re trying to pinch a few pennies in the floral department, think about using some of the flowers below. You don’t need much of each to put together a fabulous arrangement.

Calla Lilies

From the Flower Arrangement Advisor

Sun Flowers

From Australia Entertains

Gladiolus

From Something To Say

Hydrangea

From Sarah Meyer Walsh

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Paper Flowers

Years ago I saw a episode of Martha Stewart where her guest was a women that made, yes made, all of her flowers…out of paper! She would make a few here and there when she had some time and saved them up. By the time the wedding day rolled around, she had completed all that she needed!

There is no reason, if you so desire, that you couldn’t do the very same thing! Or perhaps you like the idea but do not wish to deck out your entire day in paper flowers - simply apply where you feel necessary!

Bridal and Bridesmaids bouquets

Found on Oh Joy, made by Kinzie Kate

Boutonnières

Found on Caroline Armijo

Corsages

Found on Instructables

Flower Girl’s carrying item

Found on Matthew Mead Style

Centerpieces

Found on Style Fragments

Favors for your guests

Found on Martha Stewart

Looking into paper flowers? Start with the Paper Source. I simply adore the store, but in the paper flower department, they are a great resource. Check them out!

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Aisle Runners

A long, long, time ago, aisle runners had a tall order to fill. They were placed on the aisle to keep evil spirits from coming up through the ground and getting to the bride and groom. Since then, superstitions like this aren’t really believed by many soon-to-be-marrieds, but the ceremony accessory is still alive and kicking!

So, is an aisle runner right for you? They have their pros and cons:

Pros:
-They spice up the ceremony site, making it look more special than the everyday space
-They can add a little decoration to the space and incorporate your colors into the ceremony space
-They can help give your guests the message that they should “stay off” the aisle
-They can make you feel extra special - not many people have something special rolled out for them to walk on

Cons:
-They are an additional cost and perhaps unnecessary for brides trying to pinch their pennies
-Unless tacked to the ground in many places, they will shift and fold
-If a light color and you allow guests to talk on it pre-ceremony, you’ll see footprints all along your walk down the aisle

*
Still can’t decide to use a runner or not? Here are some ways of decorating your aisle with or without a runner.
*

With a runner:
-Have your monogram or names placed on the beginning of the runner
-Use a fancy or funky fabric for a unique touch
-Have it rolled out before quests get there, ust prior to the processional, or just before your walk down

Without a runner:
-Place decorations along the pews or rows of chairs to dress up the space
-Place arrangements on the floor along the sides of the aisle for a aisle-runner feel minus the actual runner
-Try focusing your decorating attention above the aisle instead of the floor - create a canopy of sorts to walk under

And for your viewing pleasure, a little number from Event Bella Designs.

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Light Pink & Apple Green

Sorry for posting so late in the day! I hope you enjoy. I LOVE this color combination and I think I always will! This color scheme also works well for bridal shower (and baby showers)!

Vida Wedding Dress by Monique Lhuillier, Frill Collar Tunic from Forever 21, Rodarte Pleat Chiffon Dress from Browns Fashion, Light Pink Ombre Beaded Dress and Light Pink Side Sash Dress from Debenhams, Ballet Pink Stretch Linen ‘Mikka’ Shift Dress from Bluefly,Sunset LA Pumps in Green from Raffaello Network, Green Patent Buckle Mary Jane Heel Pump from Ami Club Wear, Kiwi Green Satin ‘Wrap’ Ballet Flats from Bluefly, Topiary Banner from Martha Stewart, Mens’ Suits from Jaeger, Four Tiered Wedding Cake from Enchanted Wedding Cakes, Apple Green Flower Girl Dress from Pink Process, White Lilac, Green-and-White Parrot Tulip, and Ranunculus Arrangement from Better Homes and Gardens, Dandelion Dream Wedding Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas, Silver Glass Charger from Zara Home, Polished Iron Chair from Design Within Reach, Shades of Pink Rose, Lily, and Carnation Arrangement from TeleFlora, Glittra Set of Three Scented Candles from IKEA, Peonie, Fritillaria, Hyacinth, and Sweet Pea Arrangement from Belle Fleur for Vivre.

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