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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Two Great Sites

I have just recently come across two very, very fabulous sites.

SaveOnCrafts.com

and
BravoBride.com

I’m sure I’ll mention these in following posts, but I just had to share them with you now! Save On Crafts has SUPER great deals for all of you DIY brides (or wedding professionals) and Bravo Bride has some fab finds for wedding items that have been used and are no longer needed. Check out both before you purchase another single thing for your next event!

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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

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Blurb

I’m sure you blog-reading, tech-savvy, creative-minded individuals have already heard of this fabulous site, but I figured I’d share anyway.

Blurb

You can make your own, quality, professional-looking books, all online. Just order the size, number of pages, and cover type (soft or hard) you want, and voila! Fabulous!

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DIY Cake Topper

One of my favorite little crafty things? Mod Podge. That’s why I love these paper and Mod Podge wooden letters. And of course they can be used for something fabulous like cake toppers!

Here is a great post from Going Domestic: My Date With Decoupage (her picture is the one above).

With these little beauties and a touch of creativity, you could match your wedding style to the T. Fabulous! Check out My Date With Decoupage for great instructions!

Happy crafting ~

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Entirely Etsy

Etsy is fabulous. The site which is all about handmade items has some of the most chic wedding tidbits out there. I simply must share a few of my favorite finds.

Keyka Lou’s Bridesmaid’s Clutches

And, if you’re a crafty bride, you can purchase the pattern, receive it in a PDF format, and get to sewing! Visit the shop!

Rain’s End Bird Bride and Groom Cake Toppers

Precious, delicate and oh-so-cute, these little creations are just too sweet to pass up. Visit the shop!

Doris Tian’s Cufflinks

While the whole “will power” bit plays no significance in my admiring the links, I love them nonetheless. Visit the shop!

Dragonflies’ Cotton Candy Marble Magnets

I have always loved these things! They would make super cute shower favors or save the dates (again, for you DIY brides). Visit the shop!

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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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Fab Favor Idea

I saw this fabulous post about shower favors on Perfect Bound. I LOVE the teacup candles. There is just something so elegant about good old fashion, girlie teacups! The idea originally comes from the Martha Stewart wedding crew (I won’t lie - I love almost everything they come up with!).

For the DIY bride, this would make a perfect project for a Saturday afternoon. Start collecting tea cups and saucers from thrift stores and yard sales (NOT from Grandma’s cupboards and shelves…even though that’s where all the good ones are!). Practice making a few candles (that wax is HOT) before you produce the “real deals”.

Once the candles have been used, you can turn that tiny treasure into something else that is useful and functional. My favorite idea also comes from Martha and Emily (Eco-Chic Bride): using the cups and saucers as containers to store or display your jewelry!

Like Emily also suggests, whip out that green thumb and put a little plant in it. Or, simply use it for a small centerpiece container full of flowers and/or greenery.

And if you’re really adventurous, perhaps during a post-wedding craft session you could attempt a teacup chandelier! The image below is in fact a teacup chandelier that hangs in Petit Four Cakes in Dallas.

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Fruity

Fruit - it’s delicious and nutritious. And even better? Fruit can give you some great decorating ideas for your wedding and reception (though, I seem to find fruity ideas fit into the reception category a bit more easily). So here are some things we’ve dug up to give you some “sweet” ideas.

1. Filling tall, slender glass cylinders with whole fruits then adding water is very visually pleasing. It would work especially well for a reception during daylight hours so guests can see them clearly.

2. Same idea, but cut the fruits in half or into slices. This works best with fruit that has a colorful inside, as well as its outside (think limes, lemons, etc). If you decide to go this rout, beware of fruit juice! Once you cut the fruit and place it in the water, it make leak juice into the water, making it cloudy and not-so-fabulous looking.

3. Try working fruit into a flower arrangement. Use them like you would a flower. They can be large and take up a lot of space, possibly saving you a few bucks here and there.

4. Place an arrangement of fruit in a nice bowl, glass container, or on a pedestal. Dress them up a bit by adding a few random flowers or leaves.

5. Give your guests that “just returned from the market” feel for a summer or spring fete by placing fruit in nice, coordinating baskets. You could then give the baskets away as favors or thank-you’s for those who helped out with the wedding.

6. And you can even tie your cake into your fruit-filled reception. Take the cake below as an example for a citrus-theme reception. Real fruit would probably cost you lest, but marzipan fruit can be used instead, to give your cake a little something extra.

Here is a nice little summary of all of the above!

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Chandeliers

There is just something about chandeliers that fascinates me. Today, you can find them out there in almost any style from classic to glamorous, to shabby chic to just plain chic and modern.

So, looking for ways to incorporate chandeliers into your wedding? They don’t just need to be hung above the dance floor and tables (though we love that too)! First check out this FABULOUS event by artfool. I love the chic black and white and the event space, exposed pipes and all. The added chandeliers top everything off with a touch of modern elegance.

Or how about on your invitations? Check out this sample from Pomp & Circumstance’s Greenvites.

If you’ve already got your lighting figured out and your list of lights doesn’t include chandeliers but still want to work them into your decor, what about using this paper chandeliers as centerpieces or as other decor accents? We found this on Palindrome Press’s Esty Shop, but is sadly no longer in stock. Perhaps they would make a great DIY project; just grab some really heavy, large sheets of card stock and get creative!

And if you want to drape yourself in sparkly things just like a chandelier, you could always go the chandelier earring route. But! I think these are a bit more unique…and well, look more like they are an actual part of a chandelier. I saw this in a inspiration board from Snippit & Ink (which I posted about two posts ago!). The Neiman Marcus earrings come at a pretty high price, but they are oh so lovely! And surely you can find some other similar ones out there, with a much prettier price tag.

Who says you can’t carry the chandelier theme into your new life together?! I adore these pillow cases from modcloth.com. Fabulous! And while your there, check out the chandelier wall art. Why not?!

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