Wedding Cakes & Food Forum — The Knot Community

Cake Flavors

Allycat11 — Fri, 27 May 2011 01:14:28 +0000

FI and I met with a couple bakeries today and we are kind of torn on what kinds of cake to offer.
I had originally planned on 3-4 flavors that are all very different to appeal to a variety of taste buds. After talking to the bakers and mentioning that it will be served from waiters carrying trays (guests can still choose) they brought up how it overcomplicates things (only can carry 2-3 of each flavor on a tray, takes longer for people to decide, etc...)

So, now we are looking at only having 2 flavors. 1 flavor is my favorite which is chocolate cake with layers of chocolate mousse and fresh strawberries. We want the other option to be a crowd pleaser and have no idea what would be the most well liked so I am looking for advice.

Clicky Poll- Brunch Reception Entrees

KaraJ26 — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:21:21 +0000

I am going to do a brunch reception. It includes all the basic brunch stuff (fruit, pastries, potatoes, bacon, sausage, juices, etc.) but I can also select a few main entrees. I know what I would personally prefer... but I would love to get a consensus on what other people would prefer at a brunch! Thanks for voting!

Gourmet BBQ

tesskerr — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:05:25 +0000

If you went to an event with a gourmet BBQ, and there were caterer made cocktail food, cheese and crackers etc at the start, then 5 choices of "meat" (lamb, chicken, a seafood choice, as well as 2 vegetarian choices, something like mushrooms and holoumi cheese) and 4 substantial salad choices, and extras (bread rolls, condiments) would you expect there to be enough so you could try each of the "meat" choices?

I am considering an at home wedding, to bring the date of the wedding forward, and trying to work out costings. I know most people would only try one or 2 meat options, so I guess more of the most popular, but I don't even know what would be most popular?

Is an afternoon tea okay for a reception?

Murfle11 — Sun, 15 May 2011 17:59:10 +0000

Personally, I never liked wedding food. Every wedding I've ever been to, the food has been kinda effing nasty. I don't want to pay a caterer $15 per person for disgusting food that makes the WP and guests feel bloated and like it's time for a nap.

That being said, is having a "tea time" reception okay? I would have some heavier things for the people that need protein and are just hungry (because seriously, I know people have come from far and wide to watch you say your vows and break a plate, so I don't want them going to Taco Bell afterwards!!). Anywho... I know that most people expect more of a meal, but on top of it being expensive, it's gross. My grandmother (English background) has some very tasty recipes and her friends have offered to help with the preparations, but I don't want friends to have to be cooking instead of enjoying the wedding. So now we've come full circle. Help?

Non Typical Menus

[Deleted User] — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:52:27 +0000

Is anyone doing a menu that is not the typical reception hall wedding food? If so, what?

making my own grooms cake...any tips?

secretbride1988 — Tue, 31 May 2011 00:29:26 +0000

due to our wedding cake costing 900 dollars (is that normal? just wondering we shopped around...) I've decided to make my own grooms cake. I also feelt that this will be something special from me to him...homemade and unique to his personality.

I've never made a cake that would be considered art...I need tips!

I'm making it to look like a boat because he is a bass fisherman...

Bombay Silver Leaf Cake serving set

shelladawson — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:12:36 +0000

I know many people have been looking for this set for their Fall wedding. There is currently one on ebay for bidding

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bombay-Company-Silver-Leaf-Cake-Serving-Set-/300561731753?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D339200044102637309#ht_500wt_1156

Cost of cake?

mob2689 — Wed, 11 May 2011 23:46:17 +0000

So I just mailed out a little under half of the cost of my daughters wedding cake today. To me it is a bit pricey, but I have no clue what they cost "now a days" It's a 4 tiered cake and very elaborate( that is where the priceiness comes in I think), and will feed up to 200. Out of couriosity, and I know location makes the prices varry, what is the going rate per slice now?

TYIA

2 questions...

LRaider — Mon, 30 May 2011 23:54:56 +0000

1. Appetizers: Do you prefer buffet style or passed butler style? Why?

2. We are having beer, wine and pop; is punch necessary?

Thanks girls :)

Salad as main course??

ashleygwoods — Tue, 24 May 2011 22:09:55 +0000

I am wondering what people would think if we did an "over the top" salad bar as our main course. I am thinking of having options like spinach, ice burg and romain lettuce, with toppings like chicken, shrimp, beef, ham, turkey, cheeses, cukes, tomatos, carrots, bacon bits, crutons, sunflower seeds, etc. And of course a variety of dressings and rolls. I am getting married in August so it will be summer, and most likely hot weather. Is this an appropriate main course? I am trying to be a little bit different than the chicken, or beef route...

Catering my own reception! Help!

inkfingers — Sun, 29 May 2011 07:57:23 +0000

I need ideas! I am having a very traditional LDS reception several hours after the temple wedding ceremony (no drinking, no paid caterer, lots and lots of people coming and going all night). We expect a minimum of 300 guests.

My relatives and I will prepare the food a few days before so we need to come up with a menu that can be frozen or refridgerated nicely. The food will be presented very nicely in a buffet-line style. We've thought of bread bowls with soup and possibly pasta, but if anyone has a better idea please let me know! Thanks!!!

Menu...on the website?

there83 — Sun, 29 May 2011 08:07:59 +0000

Hi,

I am wondering whether you put menu on your wedding website?
I will be having hor d'ourves buffet with lunch boxes (where my guests have to pick what they want in their box)
Should I specify what will be offered in my wedding website?
To make it clear for people so that they just not assuming there will just be "cheap" lunch boxes?

Thank you for your advice.

cupcakes for guests...

misskarii — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:38:49 +0000

we're wanting to do cupcakes for our guests, and then we're going to have a tiny wedding cake made for us. just a small 2 tier cake. we're doing chocolate and orange creamsicle cupcakes and orange creamsicle cake for us. just wanted to know if this was a good idea? FI is in bootcamp right now, so everything is on me to plan our wedding! I just hope that the cupcakes are a hit!

penn state cake toppers

dshehy — Sat, 28 May 2011 14:27:34 +0000

Does anyone know how to get a nitttany lion themed wedding cake topper?

My FSMIL thinks she has a disease...

jerseydevil — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:52:21 +0000

but she has not been diagnosed with it officially. If she had the disease, she would need to stay away from gluten products, but she won't know for sure if she has it for like 3 months. As a result, she is making everyone crazy with her newfound gluten-free diet. Just needed to vent a little.

Of course, I'll be as accomodating as the venue can be to make sure she is fed appropriately on the wedding day, however she was already high maintenence and this is just one more thing I have to deal with concerning her.

How many of you are also having to accomodate dietary restrictions like this? And how far are you going to make sure that everyone has the options they need?

Pot-luck wedding?

Shadows1909 — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:12:31 +0000

Hi!

We're getting married next august, and were wondering whether we could skip the whole catered meal ordeal (we both aren't fans of big meals, nor fancy ones). We have a total guest list of about 30 people, and although not sure of where we are going to get married yet, we are thinking of a small inn, that offers a big enough space for 30 people.

My question is : Dyou think a pot-luck reception dinner (buffet style) is a doable idea? The guest's present to us would basically be their presence and one platter of food for 29 people. Anything to consider with this style of reception food? We will probably be ordering the cake separatly in case though.

Thanks for advice!

What are the Gluten-Free girls doing for the cake?

crystal8503 — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:30:06 +0000

I'm gluten-free and my FI is amazing and also eats 95% GF. I don't think it would be economical to purchase a GF cake for all of my guests to eat because GF flour is so expensive. I was thinking about having one cake made that is not GF with either the top level of the cake being GF or having a smaller cake similar to the real cake made GF. I'm just not sure what I should do and am having a hard time picking out cake designs. It's probably silly but it's important to me I get to have a bit of the same cake as my FI when we do the cake cutting. I don't even care what the regular cake is, he can pick all of that out and I'll pick the design but I'm just at a total loss for what would be easiest.

Any suggestions?

Wedding Buffet

schermcn — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:22:59 +0000

These are my choices for my wedding buffet:

-Salad, with two dressing choices

-Rolls

-Salmon with a sauce

-Herb encrusted chicken

-Whipped sweet potatoes

-Green beans

They may take as much as they want, they can have both entrees and both sides, etc. Are these enough choices? I am being told that we need to have more side options. What do you guys think? TIA

AW: Adorable, party of two!

matuofm — Sun, 22 May 2011 20:58:35 +0000

I'm just so delighted with how these soft pretzels turned out, I had to post a pic. :)

BBQ ideas

kaper — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:44:55 +0000

We are planning a pretty casual wedding. It is going to be at a yacht club (not a really fancy place, but a nice setting, with a nice green lawn on the water and a reception hall inside). We are going to set up a tent for the ceremony and also BBQ outside after. We have someone who will do all the cooking, he is a trained chef but isn't a professional caterer or anything. I haven't sat down with him yet to plan, I am still thinking of ideas.
Right now I am wondering about meats to serve. We were thinking maybe something like chicken skewers, like soulvaki, steaks, etc. Any other ideas of type of meat that may be good.
I am also thinking of different sauces, like maybe a few signature BBQ sauces or something.
I love making things from scratch and thought it would be fun to make up some sauces. I have a lot of time to test out recipes. I am just looking for ideas to cover bases, like a spicy sauce, a smokey type sauce. Maybe a sauce for the chicken.
Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.
To emphasize, this is in the very start of planning, just kind of looking for ideas here.

How much is TOO much for this cake?

MacFreitas7 — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:06:05 +0000

Seriously- if you were a die hard Red Sox fan how much would you pay to have this as a GC? is it worth it??
(surprise Groom's Cake)

Ok well I'm lost...help?

nefariousmoon — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:16:46 +0000

Hey everyone! Ok, this is about the wedding cake. I have been looking around trying to get ideas, and failing. I have no clue what I want the cake to look like beyond this:
1. Small two tier cake.
2. This cake topper (It's 6 1/2' tall):

Beyond this, I'm compleatly lost. I know I want the cake to go with the topper not clash.
Anyone have any ideas on what I could do for the actual design of the cake?

Signature Liquor Drink

kkosempa — Sun, 22 May 2011 03:39:17 +0000

We are getting married in November and are going to have one signature liquor drink (along with beer and wine). I was wondering what some good ideas for a drink would be for a fall wedding?

Is it rude to offer one meal option only?

caseyhaynes429 — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:11:27 +0000

It would be a chicken or fish entree. We're trying to save money and not have to pay the split meal option fee.

Does wine have to be chilled?

Miss GS — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:50:05 +0000

Hello all, I wanted to know if wine should always be chilled? The reason Im asking is because I am having nice wine labels made for my wine bottles and wanted to place about 3 bottles of wine per table for people to drink. However, if I do this, the wine will not be chilled, would this be ok?

Food Timing

jennkell — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:05:30 +0000

We're deciding on times to put on the invitations for my wedding and I had a question.

We're having the ceremony (we think) at 5pm. It will be short, like 20 minutes. We are then going to take the rest of the pictures because my fiance and I want to have the traditional first time he sees me that day will be when I walk down the isle.

I've heard several people say that they hate waiting on the bridal party before they finally get to eat.

Should we put like "dinner will be served at ____" so that guests know they can head over to the reception site but dinner will not be served until a little bit later?

We have discussed little appetizers with the caterer, but I don't know if that will be in the budget when it's all said and done.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

Should I Order Extra Food?

ckollstedt — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:54:24 +0000

Hello, I'm hoping you ladies can help me with a quick question.

For my wedding, we're doing a buffet dinner. We are expecting about 100 guests out of 145 invited (some haven't RSVP'd yet, but we're getting ahold of those within the next few days).

Should I order some extra food for the buffet (i.e. tell them to have food for 110 if we only have 100) in case some people bring unannounced plus-ones?

Thanks in advance!

Disagree with cake designer

shortie443 — Fri, 20 May 2011 19:40:44 +0000

Me and my fiance went the other day to order our wedding cake and we had an idea in mind. Our colors are black, white and horizon blue so we wanted a white cake with black swirl designs with our monogram in the middle with blue ribbon around the base of the three layers. The lady taking our order told us that wouldn't look good and we should just stick to the black and white and use black ribbon. What do you think would look better? I thought the bright blue would look good with the black and white.

How much cake?

christianavocal — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:19:28 +0000

I have 120 people coming to my wedding. We are having both a bride's cake and a groom's cake. Should each cake serve 120? 60? How is this typically done?

Slightly changed menu and timeline, please let me know what you think.

blush64 — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:48:25 +0000

Ok, I have changed my menu a little and I am not sure it's enough(i think so but I'm just scared of people going home hungry). My sisters think it's fine. It is almost the same amount of food but sightly less selection at the late night tables. I think it's lots but I need opinions outside of my family.

4pm Ceremony then we leave the room and go directly into the cocktail time, probably 4:40 pm or so, hors d'ouevres (5 types hot) and bar opens (stays open all night)

6pm dinner
Rolls, flatbread, focaccia laid on tables
1st Caesar Salad
2nd Pasta (Cheese/meat canneloni in rose sauce w/parmesan cheese & peppers)
3rd Veggies(peppers/mushrooms) Roast potatoes w/rosemary 8oz chicken breast stuffed with asiago cheese and spinach
4th Chocolate cake w/strawberry coulis or chocolate caramel cluster or creme brulee (still deciding)

11pm fresh fruit station, pizza station (assorted types), fresh belgian waffles (made right then) with ice cream and berry sauce or chocolate sauce, my homemade cookies and brownies and our wedding cake (which is two cakes red velvet and he hasn't picked the other one)

I scheduled no waiting in between ceremony, cocktails, and then right into dinner and dancing. I know big gaps aren't preferred but is no gap ok? Pictures are early so we'll have that done first.

Food enough? or filling enough?