This article will help give you some ideas to still throw a great shower or reception but save you tons of money. Before jumping into some of the ideas it is important to think about the them and type of your wedding. If you are having a very traditional wedding then it is often easier to cater the event. Since it is so formal the reception should reflect this and be more of a formal dinner. In that case it is always easier to pay for someone to do the catering. However if you are having a fun family and friends wedding that is more down home and not traditional then by all means many of these ideas will help you save time and money.

Pot Luck

This one is often done at wedding where the couple simply can not afford the expense of the time involved in having the event catered. They instead forgo some of the formality for a more comfortable atmosphere filled with family, friends and good times.

One easy way to save money is to simply ask people to bring a dish with them to the wedding. This was the way it was often done in the past and still a wonderful way to save time and money yet have a very nice feel for the event.

In organizing pot luck you will want to organize what people are bringing and try to provide a balance of foods among the group. You want to avoid ten people all brining the same potato salad dish. After finding out what people are bringing or even assigning them categories of food to bring then you can try and provide some of the bigger parts and fill the gaps. For example if you were to provide the main dish and then fill in with other smaller dishes that are missing then you would have a well stocked pot luck.

BBQ

A barbeque is another fun idea for a wedding that will give it a very comfortable family style feeling to the reception or even at a wedding shower. You can choose to either run the barbecue on your own or simply hire someone to come and do that part of it for you. This will allow you to enjoy the event and sit with friends. You can often find very experienced barbeque chefs that will work for far less then a caterer will.

Catering

Another easy but possible expensive alternative.

By: Sam Smith

If you’ve ever attended a large event or a party, you’ve probably experienced a catering service and have seen just how helpful they can be with taking some of the stress off the party host. Catering seems pretty straightforward and simple: you cook some food and serve it, right? That is the basic idea, but there’s more to it. In this article, we’ll take you behind the scenes so you know what to expect the next time you hire a catering service. Your vision is paramount to any caterer. With these few simple tips you will be better prepared so the catering service can execute your plan and fulfill your every wish.

The Location

Before you begin anything else, you need to have the location, date, and time completely finalized. Depending on where you are hosting your event, a catering service may be available on site. This can be beneficial because they are familiar with the layout, coordinator, etc. If you have to bring in a caterer, make sure the catering staff is completely aware and comfortable with the location in advance.

The Budget

To decide your catering budget, ask yourself how important the roles of food and drink will play at your party. Are you having formal sit-down dinner with a four course meal or trays of appetizers that are merely there to nibble on? Do you have a theme or style at the event that will be reflected in the food? It is also important to know the following factors: the number of guests, the number of courses or food choices to offer, the cost of the food, the way the food is served (buffet style, seated service, or boxed lunches), and finally, the caterer’s level of expertise. The more flexible you are about these variables, the more wiggle room your caterer has to create the best menu for your budget.

The Catering Staff

Know beforehand whether the catering service will provide their own wait-staff and how many. A rule of thumb is one server for every 10 guests. You also want to make sure the dress code of the wait-staff is in accordance with the dress attire of the guests and the theme of the event.

The Decorations

Food is definitely the star of the party, but it’s only one part of the equation. Many catering services today provide full event planning. As catering services have moved toward the full-service, event-planning model, the focus has shifted. It’s not that food is no longer a focal point, but rather that it is part of a broader vision. Check with your caterer to see if they provide full event planning. If so, they will often supply you with a brochure that details their services.

If you are planning a themed event, this is a great service to make your event special and memorable. From candles to flower, lighting to linens, and dinnerware to music, catering services can make every detail complement the food to create a unified theme. The possibilities are endless but the decorations could be everything. You could have great tasting food, but if it is presented with flair, then it will become the greatest food your guests have ever tasted.

So whether you are planning a baby shower for 25 close friends or a corporate event for 500 guests, the goal is the same: deeply satisfying the guests. Let a catering service accomplish this grand task but leave you with the compliment of being a great host.

For some great information about catering services, please contact Seasons Catering today.

By: Amber Sell

I am amazed at how often I am asked about this topic. Most brides are lost when trying to select the perfect favor to give guests. Why? Well, I believe that it has to do with the current changes in the industry. Weddings are becoming less “stick to the formal etiquette” and more personal. Brides and Grooms are older, more established and more fiscally responsible for their own events.

Favors were originally designed to share in the joyous occasion and pass along good luck to guests. They have since evolved to thanking guests for sharing in their event and to provide a memento of the day. So, how do you choose the perfect one? Well, first of all, let’s go over the types of favors generally given to guests and the pro’s/con’s of each.

Types of Favors

Food or Beverages – everything from candy to fruit and from coffee to wine.
Pro’s – This category is filled with thousands of options to choose from. Most items can be easily personalized, through selected packaging and is fairly inexpensive. Most guests are delighted to receive an extra tasty treat to be shared on the ride home or back in their hotel room.
Con’s - Just remember that food and beverage items are perishable, so considerations of weather and storage should be accounted for. As well as, how long before the event these items should be ordered.

Gifts – you can choose to provide guest picture frames, bookmarks, glasses, candles and so much more.
Pro’s – This category is filled with so many options in a variety of styles, colors, shapes and sizes. The gift you select can easily be of a personal nature or have it easily customized to reflect you and your spouse.
Con’s – Sometimes the selection is overwhelming. Many couples want to choose gift that is sex-neutral and useful. Most of the time, gifts will be more expensive than traditional candy. So, watch your budget here!

Donations – this is a great new trend that allows the wedding couple to forgo the favor in lieu of making a donation to their favorite charity and sharing this news with their guests.
Pro’s – most guest are happy to leave the material memento to the wayside in efforts to help others in need. This also saves you time and effort in selecting, manufacturing and staging the favor.
Con’s – this favor selection has no con’s.

Well, now that you know what types of favors are available and their positive and negative attributes, let’s discuss how to present them to your guests.

Ways to Present Favors

At Each Place Setting – They may be placed directly on the plate or near the plate. By doing so, will add additional color to the place setting. This presentation also allows guests to receive your gift before the reception festivities begin and will provide an ice-breaker for conversation.

At An Exit Station – setting up a favor station to provide a small gift as your guests leave adds a little element of surprise. These stations are typically, set-up after dinner while guests are dancing. One thing to remember is to have your MCEE inform guests to take a gift, otherwise you may be left with extras.

At the Place Card Table – using a favor in conjunction with a place card is a great way to save some money, without sacrificing one or the other. The favor is arranged on the entrance table in alphabetical order (so guests can find their name and their seat). By choosing this method, give guests a sneak preview of what to expect from the reception. This method also ensures guests will pick-up their favor. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that they will remember to take it at the end of the night.

As for selecting the “right” favor, that’s up to you. You may want to consider an item that represents you and your spouse, or perhaps your budget will be a deciding factor. Just remember when you are selecting a favor to summarize the expense. The item may seem inexpensive on an individual basis, but when you multiple it by your guest list, that number may be more than you were anticipating to spend. And don’t forget, some favors require additional packaging, so those numbers count too.

Written by Kristi Richardson – www.bloomedtolast.com