Wedding Cakes & Food Forum

Weekend Wedding Menu

I need to come up with a menu, and I am at a loss. I want to get the menu done as soon as possible so I can start planning out the cost for food. We are also "putting up" the bridal party at the reception venue, and I am not sure what is appropriate to do for food (for them) during "off-events" time. 

Friday night - Wedding welcome dinner - FI and I have thrown around a couple ideas (hamburger, hotdogs, lasgana). Hamburger and hotdogs got thrown out cause I think it would be too hard to serve everyone at same time? Lasagna... same. I would need like 15 trays and no idea how i would cook & keep it all hot? FI's new suggestion is pulled pork since it can be made in crockpot and kept warm easy peasy. 

Saturday morning - breakfast for bridal party - Do I just bring cereal/toast/bagels/donuts with me or should I plan a "make ahead" breakfast like breakfast casserole? There are 9 people in our bridal party (incl me & FI) or should I just tell everyone to go out Fri morning when they come into town to get breakfast foods?? 

Cocktail hour - some appetizers .....that's about all i got so far. Maybe veggies and dips. Crackers, apple butter, cheese, dip. 

Reception (lunch buffet) - same issue as Friday night. What do I cook that I can make ahead and heat up and keep warm? I'd really like to take advantage of seasonal dishes. I wanted to serve salad, but what is the best way to serve a salad to a crowd buffet-style? FI's idea was do a "make your own deli sandwhich" buffet and I told him he was crazy. 

Desserts - white/chocolate wedding cake, FI and I chose 6 desserts we love so we are going to serve 2 of them at Welcome Dinner, and 2 of them with wedding cake... so we are good on dessert. 

Reception will end around dinner time. Bridal party will still be with us Sat. night (at receptin venue) so I figure we will go out late Sat. night for dinner or eat leftovers? 

Sunday 

I was thinking maybe a family brunch - but again - I don't really know if I want to cook for that many people. At the very least, I have to feed the bridal party or do I leave them on their own again? 

Sunday afternoon my kids are getting baptized, and so afterwards we are doing "light" reception - I am just doing cake and punch. Maybe some veggies and dip or finger sandwiches. At this time I will be so sick of cooking. 

Beverages - Non-alcoholic. We'll be doing tea and coffee, water, lemonade, iced tea, and a couple fun seasonal drinks. Alcohol will be included based on final cost. 

Could I tell my bridal party they have to make ME breakfast? Seriously we are saving them like $200-$300 by using a venue that provides accomodations for them and their significant other. Or make them buy alcohol? Seriously what is the best way to do this? They are all adults. 


Wedding Countdown Ticker

74 Invited image
44 image are ready to party!
31 image declines
0 imagecan't find the bleeping mailbox
RSVP Date: Sept 24

Re: Weekend Wedding Menu

  • Holy molly this sounds extremely complicated.  Is there any particular reason why you are hosting so many meals???  Typically the bride and groom only host the reception meal, which is much less complicated.

    May 2013 February Siggy: Invitations

    image

    Wedding Countdown Ticker

  • I would suggest posting to your local board to get suggestions for reasonably priced caterers. You're much braver than I would be...being the bride, socializing with all of your guests, serving AND cooking all the food/maintaining food safety.

    I would be a nervous wreck.
  • At my daughter's wedding the Groom's family hosted the rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant the night before the wedding.  The bridal party were staying in cabins at the reception venue so I provided cereal, bagels, juice, milk, coffee, etc for breakfast and had snack stuff in the cabins for them.  The wedding was in the afternoon, so I had meats and cheeses for sandwiches available at the church ahead of time, then the reception that evening.  We actually had a family Christmas brunch the next day at my house.  I had made breakfast casseroles ahead of time that I just popped in the oven.  There were other leftovers from the weekend and my sister-in-laws brought coffee cakes, etc. There was LOTS of left over wedding cake and cookies from the night before.   We also had mimosas to help use up the left over bubbly.  
  • OP - I think you are going to be one very very exhausted bride by the time everything is over.  It sounds like you plan to cook all of this yourself.  At my wedding 16 yrs ago (I'm a remarried MOB), I did the food myself and have regretted it ever since.  There is just too much to do and to say I was exhausted by the end of it all is an understatement.

    I really encourage you to consider hiring some caterers, and to possibly change the welcome dinner requiring 15 trays of lasagna to a traditional rehearsal dinner for the wedding party and immediate family.
  • If the idea of serving burgers or lasagna to a crowd is daunting to you, I don't think you should be doing this yourself.  It will be way too stressful and the potential for things to go wrong (no food, food not kept at proper temperatures, etc.) could be high.  I would look into local caterers, or even see if a restaurant can provide trays of food.  

    I would keep the house stocked with basic items--coffee, bagels, juice, and some sandwich materials (you could get all this stuff from Costco or Sam's).  If someone wants something else, they can go get it, but I personally would have some communal food around.  Don't "make" your bridal party cook for you or buy you food.  If you can't be gracious about having them stay at the venue, you shouldn't have picked the venue.  They are doing something for you by being in the wedding party.
  • The budget doesn't allow for catering- I can supplement the food with store bought items too, but I need to figure out my cost before I can add in the extras. FI's family can't help out in any way financially. My family is no help either. They had offered to help pay for the wedding initially, but dropped out, so FI won't accept any help from them. 

    The reason I say hamburgers is daunting because it's not like I can cook up 50 burgers on a grill at the same time- say I could only do 20. People would have to wait for their food after the first 20 burgers and I would think it would be rude to not serve ALL the food at the same time. 

    Of course, maybe people won't care and it would work out fine. I liked the idea of lasanagas, but I ran into same issue - how do I cook/heat up so many different pans of lasanga at the same time? 

    The caretaker provides some communal food, but we will probably provide some. I am just worried that this is going to eat through my budget and I will be out of money by the wedding. 

    That being said, I expect that about at least half of my guest list won't be able to come. Most of them live very far away (nearest guests live 3-3.5 hrs away). But since I need to plan for full attendance, I am having a lot of doubts. 

    I decided to host a meal for everyone on Friday because everyone is coming from out of town, and most of them I haven't seen for several years. Ditto the same on Sunday for getting my kids baptized - convienient to do it while family is in town. 

    Wedding Countdown Ticker

    74 Invited image
    44 image are ready to party!
    31 image declines
    0 imagecan't find the bleeping mailbox
    RSVP Date: Sept 24
  • What kind of kitchen facilities are in the house?  What kind of oven?  What kind of cold storage?  Is your FI going to help with all this cooking?  

    Can you just get some pizzas for Friday night?  You can get trays of pasta from Pizza Hut (or some place like that).  "Casual fast food" places in my area also do catering portions of food.  It's really nice wanting to have everyone over to visit, but you don't need to do homemade food so many times and I think it will be really stressful.  

    Also, sorry if I missed this in a prior post, but how many people are we talking about?
  • I totally can sympathize with budgetary issues, but I doubt guests would be happy with DIY food cheaply made.
    Honestly, catering CAN be cheaper in the grand scheme of things and your guests would get a more complete meal. You can honestly find caterers for $10-$15 per guest. Plus, the caterer would have all of the proper food service techniques for keeping everything at a safe temperature.

    Having had food poisoning, please consider that food safety is nothing to mess with. Sealed
  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    edited August 2012
    Um, are you going to be able to enjoy your wedding at all?

    I think you need to tone back big time. 

    Why not, instead of a welcome dinner on Friday, maybe just do a welcome cocktail party around 3-5pm?  This way you won't have to worry about a ton of food, just little finger foods to give each person a little something (like wings, veggie tray, cheese and crackers, some sort of dip, etc which could all be purchased at a groccery store already put together ).

    Saturday morning breakfast?  Completely not necessary.  Just go to a bagle place and pick up a dozen or so bagels and cream cheese.  Done.  Or even better, don't host anything.  Unless you specifically tell them that you will have something to eat, adults will know to eat something prior to coming to your house to get ready.

    Finally nix the brunch and just worry about the light refreshments after your childs baptism.

    Oh and you cannot ask your bridal party to feed you.  Or buy alcohol or buy food.  Just because you were lucky in using a venue that would provide them free accomodations does not mean that they owe you anything.

    ETA:  And by cutting back or nixing some of the things that you have planned you may just save yourself enough money to higher a caterer or restaurant to provide the food for your wedding reception.

    Seriously though, you are in way over your head with all of this.

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:e44036b1-2b5e-4531-9333-67b637b0305a">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]Um, are you going to be able to enjoy your wedding at all? I think you need to tone back big time.  Why not, instead of a welcome dinner on Friday, maybe just do a welcome cocktail party around 3-5pm?  This way you won't have to worry about a ton of food, just little finger foods to give each person a little something (like wings, veggie tray, cheese and crackers, some sort of dip, etc which could all be purchased at a groccery store already put together ). Saturday morning breakfast?  Completely not necessary.  Just go to a bagle place and pick up a dozen or so bagels and cream cheese.  Done.  Or even better, don't host anything.  Unless you specifically tell them that you will have something to eat, adults will know to eat something prior to coming to your house to get ready. Finally nix the brunch and just worry about the light refreshments after your childs baptism. Oh and you cannot ask your bridal party to feed you.  Or buy alcohol or buy food.  Just because you were lucky in using a venue that would provide them free accomodations does not mean that they owe you anything. ETA:  <strong>And by cutting back or nixing some of the things that you have planned you may just save yourself enough money to higher a caterer or restaurant to provide the food for your wedding reception. Seriously though, you are in way over your head with all of this.</strong>
    Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

    <div>I agree with most of this, particularly the bolded part.  In fact, I would cut the entire "welcome" thing- it's not necessary, particularly if you can't afford to host it properly.  
    <div>
    </div></div>

    May 2013 February Siggy: Invitations

    image

    Wedding Countdown Ticker

  •  Agree that you are taking on way too much here.  If you can't hire a caterer for the wedding, don't try to plan on feeding these people all these meals!

    Do your reheasal, just bridal prty members +dates, immediate family, and anyone involved in the wedding.  Skip the welcome dinner.  Pasta, salad, breadsticks, and cake/pie for dessert is cheap and easy.

    Can you change the time of the wedding so you don't have to serve a meal?  Can you do a 2 pm or 8pm wedding?

    I know you have the best of intentions here, but your original post is the recipe for a train wreck.
  • edited August 2012
    I was looking for menu suggestions when I started this thread. 

    I cannot afford to pay $10-$15 per person for one meal. Really. Using a caterer is not an option. It doesn't matter how much money I save. I checked BBQ places nearby and they want $11/pp. The cheapest option I found was $6/pp hot dogs & smores. 

    Nixing the welcome dinner is not an option. I can't change the time of the dinner, either, as I have already scheduled the wedding rehearsal with my priest and the invitations already went out.

    And no, I don't expect to enjoy the weekend at all. Hence the comment about asking if the bridal party can buy me booze cause I will be a wreck. We're moving in five days, and my classes just started this week. I need to get this menu figured out so I can start shopping sales to save even more money. 

    Guest list is about 60 people. 

    ETA: The kitchen has three refridgerators, one freezer, a commercial dishwasher and stove/oven with plenty of food prep area. The lady who owns the place also provides a large coffee urn, punch bowl, and lots of baking dishes/serving ware and other useful things. 
    Wedding Countdown Ticker

    74 Invited image
    44 image are ready to party!
    31 image declines
    0 imagecan't find the bleeping mailbox
    RSVP Date: Sept 24
  • itzMSitzMS member
    First Answer First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment
    edited August 2012

    This is honest feedback. If you can't afford to host your guests, you need to cut the guest list. I can guarantee you will not be able to host a full meal (meat, vegetable, starch, condiments, beverages) buying food from your grocery store for less than $10/pp. Unless, of course, you plan on serving generic brand box mac & cheese and ramen noodles.

    I'm really sorry you won't be able to enjoy your wedding day. My menu suggestion is elopement.

  • SachaBeeSachaBee member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment Name Dropper
    edited August 2012
    I am not the best at seasonal recipes so I honestly can't help with that. I think you should definitely go with pasta or lasagna, that is probably the cheapest and easiest thing to do. I am not sure what exactly you COULD do with the space for that many people unless you just had cold dishes.

    For the salad--just set up big bowls with tossed ingredients and tongs. Have one or a couple dressings in small bowls to the side so they can decide which dressing they want or at least how much. Or you could have a big main bowl of lettuce and smaller bowls of 'toppings' like tomatoes, onions, cheese, bacon bits, etc, but that would take longer ultimately. I get why you don't like your fiance's idea about the cold cut sandwiches, but maybe you could make a bunch of big sub sandwiches and keep them in the refrigerator? It wouldn't be DIY for the guests but (almost) just as easy.

    I'm not sure why you need to have 'cocktail hour' if you are not having alcohol. I would also let your bridal party and whatnot figure out other meals on their own--like you said, they are adults, and if I were your guest I certainly wouldn't expect the bride to bring me bagels the morning of her own wedding. If you feel so inclined, make sure there is communal food and snacks, but don't stress about it.

    It's just really sad to see a bride say she doesn't plan on enjoying her wedding weekend at all. It just feels wrong. I see, however, that it might just be too late to figure something else out.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:09c8f9ad-7899-4c8e-96fa-992f5154d37d">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]This is honest feedback. If you can't afford to host your guests, you need to cut the guest list. I can guarantee you will not be able to host a full meal (meat, vegetable, starch, condiments, beverages) buying food from your grocery store for less than $10/pp. Unless, of course, you plan on serving generic brand box mac & cheese and ramen noodles. <strong>I'm really sorry you won't be able to enjoy your wedding day. My menu suggestion is elopement.</strong>
    Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

    <div>Yes</div>

    May 2013 February Siggy: Invitations

    image

    Wedding Countdown Ticker

  • So, FI and I talked about the menu a bit today, but the detailed talk is going to have to wait until after the move. 

    At least I am honest. I will have a blast with my bridal party during the off-events - we have all sorts of fun planned out. 

    Here are some ideas.... if I go back to lasagna. 

    Welcome Dinner
    • Salad - Spinach Apple Salad w/ homemade apple cider vinagrette. 
    • Entree - Stoffers Meat Lasagna, Homemade Butternut Squash Lasagna, and Baked Mac'N'Cheese.
    • Sides - Roasted Fall Vegetables, Garlic Bread. 
    • Beverages - Apple Cider, Water, Lemonade, Iced-Tea, probably Coffee/Tea as well. 
    • Dessert - Pumpkin Cheesecake (maybe a second option cause for those guests like me who hate cheese cake... LOL) 
    Saturday/Sunday breakfasts "Make Your Own" (for Bridal Party) 
    • Set out bagels, bread, eggs (lol, in refridgerator), variety of cereals, orange juice, milk, maybe make some knock-off "McMuffins" (FI loves these) and they are easy to freeze and reheat. 
    • Coffee, Tea. Milk.Orange juice. 
    Reception 
    • Appetizers - Sliced cheese/crackers and dip (incl. apple butter), vegetables and dip, Deviled eggs (Fi's favorite), spiced nuts and pumpkin seeds
    • Salad - Fall Harvest Salad 
    • Soup - Bean soup
    • Entree - Butternut squash ravoli, some variation of pork lion, maybe a fish option? still need some decisions here.
    • Sides - Local fresh bread, Cider-glazed carrots, Green beans & pears. 
    • Beverages -  Water, Lemonade, Iced-Tea, probably Coffee/Tea as well. Champange (for toast), Caramel Apple Spice Cider, and a Starbucks knock-off Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate (haha probably after guests leave...) 
    • Desserts - wedding cake, brownie sandwhich cookies w/ salted caramel filling and a caramel apple layer cake. 
    Baptism reception
    • Dessert - Cake (and whatevers left over from day before) 
    • Beverages - Apple Cider punch, Coffee/Tea, Lemonade/Ice-Tea
    FI and I talked about hiring a "friend" (who is a licensed caterer) for the weekend to keep things going in the kitchen. But that's too much back story for a menu post. :P 

    How does that sound? 
    Wedding Countdown Ticker

    74 Invited image
    44 image are ready to party!
    31 image declines
    0 imagecan't find the bleeping mailbox
    RSVP Date: Sept 24
  • Wow, that's going to be a wild weekend, but I hope you really have an enjoyable time with your family and friends!  A few suggestions:

    Welcome dinner:  Save the pulled pork idea, but keep the Crock Pot concept.  I'm not sure if the full 60 will be there, but consider chili and cornbread (maybe a standard red chili, a "white" chicken and white bean one and a vegetarian option, if needed).  Or plan 2-3 kinds of soup (again, kept hot and served from Crock Pots), preferably something you can make ahead and freeze and then pop in the CP that morning (ditto for the chili).  Judging from your ticker, you should be in prime soup/chili weather by wedding time.

    Another thought would be a baked potato bar:  provide baked potatoes (should fit in the oven better than 15 trays of lasagna, and they can be kept warm in a slow cooker) and a variety of toppings like cheese sauce, chili, bacon bits, chives, steamed broccoli, sour cream, etc.  Guests build their own. 

    Can you do a bonfire or two at the venue?  If so, you could do a hot dog roast (DIY-ing the hot dogs and s'mores idea) -- you provide hot dogs (and buns/toppings), long skewers, some simple sides (chips, salad) and s'mores fixings and have guests roast their dogs and marshmallows around the fire(s).  Alternately, you could grill the dogs (since more of them will fit on the grill at one time than burgers, and you can keep them warm in a Crock Pot).  If needed, you could have chicken/turkey/veggie dogs to accomodate food needs/preferences.

    Breakfast both days:  I agree with PP -- provide the basics you listed and people can make their own breakfast.  Often people get up at different times anyway.  IF you wanted you could have eggs and instant oatmeal/grits on hand so that someone could make themselves a hot breakfast if they really want it.

    Cocktail hour:  do you need one before lunch?  I'm sorry if I missed the answer above.  If you do, maybe keep it to simple, cold things like the veggies/dip, cheese/crackers you mentioned.

    Reception:  This is where I'd suggest you use the pulled-pork-in-the-Crock-Pot idea.  If you can/want, you could also offer pulled/chopped chicken (I think both are available frozen at Sam's Club).  For sides:  chips, purchased coleslaw and potato salad, maybe baked beans (Crock Pot again) and maybe fruit or a gelatin salad with fruit.

    Alternately, I like the suggestion of big sub sandwiches in several flavors, cut into seghments and served with green salad (see PP's suggestion for serving) and chips/munchies and maybe fruit.  I did attend one wedding where they had deli trays and rolls for build-your-own sandwiches; the lines moved rather slowly, though.  Maybe your budget would allow for buying the subs or some trays of premade sandwiches from a local place? 

    Sunday afternoon:  I think you can certainly keep this really, really simple with cake and punch/coffee.  If you want to have a savory thing, consider mixed nuts and/or the "pub mix" style of munchy mix (pretzels, cheese-y things) that you can buy in large in quantity at Walmart/Sam's.

    Beverages:  you've probably already thought of this, but I love hot spiced cider in the fall.  Once again, you can make it/serve it from a slow cooker (yes, I love my Crock Pot, but they sure do come in handy!  I cooked for an outing in college where we served Crock-baked pasta ... we had at least 8 slow cookers plugged into outlets all over the pavilion at a state park!)

  • So you are willing to sacrifice enjoying your wedding day just to feed 60 people 3-4 different meals?

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:b1913ff5-95ee-4561-97b9-86977c1c29a0">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]So you are willing to sacrifice enjoying your wedding day just to feed 60 people 3-4 different meals?
    Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

    <div>Yes. </div>
    Wedding Countdown Ticker

    74 Invited image
    44 image are ready to party!
    31 image declines
    0 imagecan't find the bleeping mailbox
    RSVP Date: Sept 24
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:290c56fd-1520-4a55-bf36-1601d556f8ba">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Weekend Wedding Menu : Yes. 
    Posted by insanityofamom[/QUOTE]

    That is sad and completely ridiculous.

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:7da61a2a-154f-44b8-8c3e-1f90439913c7">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Weekend Wedding Menu : That is sad and completely ridiculous.
    Posted by Maggie0829[/QUOTE]

    ^^Truly.
    I feel bad for you, OP, if this story is real.

    Also, how you are able to buy and make all this food for less than $10/pp is truly unreal. Which leads me to believe this is nothing but an attention-seeking post. Thanks for the entertainment, though. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-undecided.gif" border="0" alt="Undecided" title="Undecided" />
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:ef93b766-d713-45a6-aa88-eca7a3618a4a">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Weekend Wedding Menu : ^^Truly. I feel bad for you, OP, if this story is real. Also, <strong>how you are able to buy and make all this food for less than $10/pp is truly unreal.</strong> Which leads me to believe this is nothing but an attention-seeking post. Thanks for the entertainment, though.
    Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

    This.  If you have some tricks please share them.

  • reppunzelreppunzel member
    First Comment
    edited August 2012
    I didn't see your post before I  typed out my reply.  Your menu sounds ambitious, but quite delicious.  I think hiring the caterer friend to help in the kitchen will be money very, very well spent.

    I do not think it is ridiculous that you are willing to give of yourself to your friends and family over your wedding weekend, including having the baptisms the day after for the sake of OOT family can attend (remembering your posts from another board).  Weddings are supposed to be about love and family, not just a "day."  I hope you thoroughly enjoy your time with your loved ones, even if it's while you are serving rather than being served.
  • burgers and dogs is very easy.  you can put the dogs in a slow cooker.  You can cook the burgers and put them in a slow cooker to stay warm.   50 people would only require 2 pans of lasagna.  I cook lasagna for 50 often and there is plenty and left overs. You could do subs? cut them up and put them on trays.  a salad, beans and chips. 
    Breakfast the day of the wedding,  it would be get your own.  Have cereal, eggs, bagels on hand. there are some egg and sausage biscuts frozen that you microwave.  Juice, coffee and milk is plenty.   Any lunches can be taken care of with a meat cheese tray or some deli slices for sandwiches. 
    The day after depending on how many people.  you could do omlet in a bag.  you have precooked meats. or ham,  and a ziplock bag.  put one egg, some cheese and sausage.  put in a boiling pot of water for 13 min,  open bag and the omlet slides out.  You can fit about 10 in a pot.  I have 4 pots of boiling water and put the persons name on the bag with a perm marker. We do this often for large groups.  Cheap and easy and the clean up is nothing. Juice, toast, coffee, milk and maybe some fruit?  
  • I think you should have figured out your budget for feeding people BEFORE you planned parties and sent invitations to them.  Then you'd have known ahead of time that you've planned an event that you can't afford, and you could cut the guest list or downsized the events to make up for the budget shortfall.  You did things backwards, and now you're scrambling to figure out how to properly host all these people at all these events.  You've created a really, really big problem for yourself.

    You can't afford this wedding.  Period.

    You can either take out a loan or credit card (which we never recommend but you're in an emergency here) and pay for a caterer that way, or cancel everything and elope.  THOSE are my menu suggestions. 
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:35483fe6-8115-4c3e-86be-e6d07db4c3a7">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]I think you should have figured out your budget for feeding people BEFORE you planned parties and sent invitations to them.  Then you'd have known ahead of time that you've planned an event that you can't afford, and you could cut the guest list or downsized the events to make up for the budget shortfall.  You did things backwards, and now you're scrambling to figure out how to properly host all these people at all these events.  You've created a really, really big problem for yourself. You can't afford this wedding.  Period. You can either take out a loan or credit card (which we never recommend but you're in an emergency here) and pay for a caterer that way, or cancel everything and elope.  THOSE are my menu suggestions. 
    Posted by RebeccaB88[/QUOTE]

    <div>Get off your high horse, and STFU! </div><div>
    </div><div>As far as my BUDGET, I think it's really rude to insist that I just drop the wedding and elope. You know, this forum freaking assumes everyone has a picture-perfect life and gets the guy and the wedding. It's really annoying and I'm sick of it! I just asked for MENU suggestions. </div><div>
    </div><div>I have a friend who is a licensed caterer and he is helping me with the cost. HE HAS SAID THAT I CAN AFFORD THIS EASILY. So before you start trying to throw out the entire event maybe you should take a step back and realize YOU DONT KNOW THE ENTIRE SITUATION. </div><div>
    </div><div><strong>ELOPEMENT is NOT AN OPTION. It wasn't an option a year ago when our wedding fell through, and its NOT AN OPTION this time. I DONT THINK ANYONE ON THIS BOARD HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT KIND OF MARRIAGE IS BEST FOR ME! </strong></div><div><strong>
    </strong></div><div>Seriously? I am surprised with that comment you are even planning a wedding! I was sure you were an old spinster hag! </div>
    Wedding Countdown Ticker

    74 Invited image
    44 image are ready to party!
    31 image declines
    0 imagecan't find the bleeping mailbox
    RSVP Date: Sept 24
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_weekend-wedding-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:18288bf7-df5c-472d-b4c2-36847c87a22ePost:bb135a55-ec23-4a0d-81dd-3c42aac49ae5">Re: Weekend Wedding Menu</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Weekend Wedding Menu : Get off your high horse, and STFU!  As far as my BUDGET, I think it's really rude to insist that I just drop the wedding and elope. You know, this forum freaking assumes everyone has a picture-perfect life and gets the guy and the wedding. It's really annoying and I'm sick of it! I just asked for MENU suggestions.  I have a friend who is a licensed caterer and he is helping me with the cost. HE HAS SAID THAT I CAN AFFORD THIS EASILY. So before you start trying to throw out the entire event maybe you should take a step back and realize YOU DONT KNOW THE ENTIRE SITUATION.  ELOPEMENT is NOT AN OPTION. It wasn't an option a year ago when our wedding fell through, and its NOT AN OPTION this time. I DONT THINK ANYONE ON THIS BOARD HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT KIND OF MARRIAGE IS BEST FOR ME!  <strong>Seriously? I am surprised with that comment you are even planning a wedding! I was sure you were an old spinster hag! </strong>
    Posted by insanityofamom[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>There it is. </div><div>
    </div><div>OP, I think you're completely living in LaLa Land if you think that the weekend you have planned out will be more affordable than doing what <em>normal</em> people do: have a simple rehearsal dinner for only your very closest family and WP and then hire a caterer to create a tasty, simple reception meal. </div><div>
    </div><div>And, NO, you can't ask your WP to buy you booze or breakfast without being a complete Bridezilla. 

    </div>
  • I'm not sure if any of you realize, but if a caterer can do it for $10 a person, it can easily be done for cheaper. Otherwise, they would up the price because they wouldn't be making money. Seemed pretty obvious to me. 

    I really appreciate that you are willing to sacrifice of your time to be a servant to your family and friends. I think they will appreciate being served in such a way on a day that's suppose to be 'your' day in a lot of people's minds. That really shows strong character. And I'm sure the ones that make it will like that they weren't kicked off your invite list because you couldn't afford a caterer. I know if I came to a friends wedding and she was hosting me in such a way I would be honored. 

    As for menu suggestions it sounds like you have a lot of good ideas. I can't remember what all you have so I'm just going to throw stuff out that I know of as cheap. 

    One is pasta and sauce which can both be bought in bulk. And if you buy the sauce premade it's still cheap (at least for spaghetti sauce not sure about others), but not nearly as much work. It really only needs heated up, but you could easily add seasonings and such if you wanted. 

    Another would be rice and maybe beans or if you prefer a meat. Rice is really cheap, does take longer to cook though and beans if bought dry which is cheaper will need to be soaked overnight. Im a vegetarian so I tend to eat beans a lot with different things, and I like them, but if you don't know how to cook them and add flavor, they wouldn't be the best option because plain beans and rice would probably be pretty bland. 

    And that's about all I'm thinking of off the top of my end. I thought the breakfast idea you have would be great. I'd love a bagel and cream cheese right now. 

    Good luck with putting all this together, and I hope you get to enjoy the time with family and friends. And at the end of the day, your married. And that's what's it's about. Not to meniton, your getting to be married in front of friends and family which is awesome. 
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards