Ive been holding out

alyssa324

I have been trying not to talk to you all about catering because I am embarrassed. After all my vendors pooped out on me, we had to find new, cheap dependable vendors. We came up with famous daves for catering. I am not too happy about it but the price is right. $800 for full service 150 servings of grilled chicken, steak, mac n cheese and corn bread. My family, two aunts and FmIL decided to make up a few different salads to go with it all too. So from $2500 to $800 it has helped out a lot. But here is the problem: dishes. I really really want to use vintage plates. I have started to buy a some old plates all mis-matched from thrift stores. the price isnt the problem though the clean up is. Famous Daves isnt cleaning up. I will have to hire someone to put all the dishes in tubes and bring them back to my house (10 min away) and then we will have to wash them the next day (my mom will). SO do you think that is worth it and will work or should we just do plastic and paper everything??? I do not want paper plates but is a buffet. If we do do paper the silver ware and cups will also be plastic. No sense in doing nice of those if plates are paper. And it will create TONS of garbage!!! Please tell me what you think. i need honest opinions, What you would do what could go wrong with either, if paper everything looks trashy ( i feel like it does, but never been to one that is) Please help i am so overwhelmed and flustered I need knottie help Thanks soo much

mma3

I think that your catering choice sounds fine.  Is Famous Dave's a BBQ place?  I really would stay away from the paper products.  Although, you could find a plastic that would be affordable yet still looks nice. 

jennyann28

I love the idea of the vintage plates, but you're right, the clean-up would be incredible.  Like Jennlin said, there are clear plastic plates out there that don't look so bad though.

Tygirljojo

Aw, Alyssa, there's no need to feel embarrassed!  And honestly, I personally LOOOOVE Famous Dave's so if I were a guest at your wedding, I would be happy as a clam!  While the idea of vintage plates is nice, the fact that you will have 150 guests means a TON of plates and a TON of heavy tubs.  I don't like paper plates when it comes to something to eat off of, I prefer plastic because it won't get soggy and you won't end up cutting through it.  I've seen the fancy plastic plates, but I'm personally not a fan of them - I guess I figure it's plastic anyhow, why try to cover it?  That being said, since you're serving BBQ for dinner, I also don't see a need to do super fancy with it.  I would do plastic plates in your colors:

Blue
http://www.partycity.com/product/shop+by+color/big+party+packs/caribbean+10in+plastic+dinner+plates+50ct.do?sortby=ourPicks&page=2

Red
http://www.partycity.com/product/shop+by+color/big+party+packs/red+10+1-4in+plastic+dinner+plates+50ct.do?sortby=ourPicks&page=2

and black to keep it from looking TOO patriotic.
http://www.partycity.com/product/shop+by+color/big+party+packs/black+10+1-4in+plastic+dinner+plates+50ct.do?sortby=ourPicks&page=6

And just make it a fun, casual gathering.  It's usually the more laid back weddings that are more fun anyhow.

sarack

i think plastic would be less work..

kristend72

I think Famous Daves is fine!

Option #1 - Cute melamine plates - Target should be ramping up for summer with all of their cute plates. Then... maybe you could have a rinsing station and then good plastic bags and send people home with their plates as favors?

Option #2 - Compostable paper plates. I'm 99% certain that those good thick kind of cardboardy paper plates are compostable. They generally hold up to even really soggy things long enough to eat. Then you only have to wash utensils.

Option #3 - Have your vintage plates! Is your venue anywhere near a college? They often have some sort of career and employment services where you can post odd jobs just like this one.

KST_

I like kristend's option #1.

Vintage plates are going to be a lot of washing but I'm in a similar boat because my mom helped and has collected enough teacups and saucers for every guest. I'm renting the plates and silverware so won't have to deal with those, but that's a lot of teacups and saucers to cleanup afterwards. I was hoping my mom would help but apparently she's now planning on leaving same day as the wedding so there goes my help. :P  However, if you have a dishwasher, just scrape and run a bunch of loads.

kristend's option #3 is good as well.

braveangel2

I LOVE your catering choice - and I think it shows smarts money-wise. But I'm biased.

This is one of the reasons we rented the plates - it's just a mess to clean up and wash everything. The cost of it all ended up being pretty comparable I'd say.

I've done the 'drag tubs of dishes to an event' thing, and let me just say it bites. The clean up afterwards wasn't so bad, but lugging them and washing them in the dishwasher took forever.

Is this an option?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/for/1701061448.html

All the elegant options look like they cost more than renting, but I'll keep looking.

KayleeC123

Sounds like you have lots of good options! We found some cute plastic plates at the dollar tree (that were 4 for $1.00)  we didn't get them simply because we have some relatives who got married a few months ago and are giving us their left over plastic plates (the throw away kind)

Good luck in making your choice, it sounds like it will be wonderful no matter what!