"Different" dinner options

moneypenny02

Hi all,

So I am really trying to find ways to bring/keep costs down and I am trying to think of some options--some of it might depend on the venue (which also isn't decided yet, so bear with me!)

So, in terms of venue options, I am looking at either Central library (which is kind of more "fancy") or various studios (which would be more laid back & would probably have direct access to some kind of private parking area).

I also really want to do dinner--and hope to have the ceremony outside @ sunset w/ reception inside--if the venue setup allows.  Probably 75-100 guests.  Generally young-ish crowd.  75-85% will be btwn 25-30 years old.

I was always planning on at least doing a buffet, but that is still really expensive, so I am trying to think of ways to do a buffet in a way that will be less expensive, or something totally different. 

One idea was the Kogi taco truck (Korean bbq tacos for the unintiated).  I would clearly have to do other things to serve with it (any ideas? hard to think of what "goes" with korean bbq tacos & kimchee!).  

I thought about, but rejected, In-n-out.  If they were mini-burgers, then maybe, but they aren't.  

A friend suggested "finger foods" but I think that is not necessarily less expensive, b/c it adds up (I would want to still have enough to get people "full"), and it would still likely have to be through a caterer, b/c I don't think anyone in my family would want to be trying to bake things and fill chafing dishes during the reception.  

Any other suggestions?  I feel like if I do the library it needs to be a bit "nicer" than if i had a studio--and the Kogi taco truck wouldn't cut it, but I don't know what other kinds of things to do.  All suggestions welcome!!

mm45737

I know this may sound cheesy, but Stonefire caters for approx $11/person and they have really good food. I've been to events that they have catered, and the staff is really nice and it's usually tri tip, chicken, garlic rolls, etc. Not sure where you are in the LA area, but I know there is a Stonefire in the San Fernando Valley and in the Santa Clarita Valley. Just a thought, sounds like a step up from In N out and the Taco truck,  

ellefirst1980

Hey, I think your wedding will be lots of fun.  I recently saw a beautiful library online, I think it was Redondo, Palos Verdes?? I can't remember, but it looked awesome.

Ok, on to food, if you look on my bio, there is a catering link (Jay's) and if you did a "business" meal as opposed to wedding it is like 1/2 the price.  So you may want to check them out and all the menus are on that website.

In-n-out sounds good, but messy.  Good Luck!

ellefirst1980

OH, I just realized my link is not working and I think my site is not updated...just google it--sorry

moneypenny02

Thanks!  Keep 'em coming if you have any more suggestions!

Also, Elle, do you have any more info on Jay's--like city or address or something-lots of stuff came up when I was trying to google it.

Thanks!

moneypenny02

One thing that I just thought of was actually PIZZA! 

Not like Dominoes, but maybe some different kinds of wood-grilled pizzas and salad & pasta salad, or flatbread pizzas or something.  Anyone have any suggestions for some jazzy pizza place that might be interesting & not super expensive?

 Would pizza & Kogi tacos go together?  I'm not really thinking that they do (lol), but as you can see I'm trying to figure out what will go with those dang tacos! ;-)

ellefirst1980

They are based in Garden Grove.

Oh, gourmet pizza might be good!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I think a taco truck would be good for late night snacks, but not a full dinner reception.

Have you considered doing brunch or a mid-afternoon snack reception or a late-night dessert reception to keep costs down?

Vans18

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_california-los-angeles_different-dinner-options?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:68Discussion:eb73422a-f251-4626-afee-0095bb1b659aPost:c641c501-1ed4-4749-a2b6-8dec6fa45ff1">Re: "Different" dinner options</a>:
[QUOTE]I think a taco truck would be good for late night snacks, but not a full dinner reception. Have you considered doing brunch or a mid-afternoon snack reception or a late-night dessert reception to keep costs down?
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

I agree, If you want to do something more casual I say go for a lunch time wedding nothing late. Stay in daylight so that whatever you choose goes with the ocassion. The earlier the wedding is the less they charge.

Vans18

Oh yeah and also try to consider a Friday or Sunday wedding.

moneypenny02

Thanks for the feedback!

I know lunch or brunch would be cheaper, but like I said in my first post I want to have the ceremony around sunset-ish time, which will mean probably 6ish in August.  I refuse to compromise the kinds of lifetime pictures/images that I want so that I can pay for a bunch of people who will immediately forget what they ate will have marginally-better food. 

If I just wanted FOOD, I am sure I could rather cheaply do a buffet/sit-down dinner that was meh-tasting.  I thought of Kogi BBQ b/c i absolutely LOVE them--it's like my favorite thing to eat when I am in LA.  So I would rather have something "kitchy" and really good than something traditional and mediocre.  Even though I love them, I probably will not go with Kogi b/c 1) It is looking like the library might be the cheapest/nicest option & that isn't amenable to the truck, and 2) Its such a SPECIFIC food, that its hard to think of what goes with it besides other korean food, and I could imagine at least some people not liking it at all. 

So, I am looking to see if I can find any cool "gourmet" pizza thing, but would love any other suggestions that are outside of the box.  If you can think of parties that you've been to that you thought were pretty cool, or different in terms of food I would love to hear about it.

Fondue at each table might be really cool, but I think that would end up being more expensive/difficult to do logistically.  Any other thoughts??

Soon2B Mrs.V

Something that you think is kitchy and cool might be dreadful to others.  If you do the tacos, make sure you have other options.  Many people are picky eaters, or aren't all that adventurous.

I think if you want sunset, you need to do a seated dinner, buffet, or a ton of appetizer stations.  I'm sorry I don't have ideas for catering as we didn't have to worry about finding that vendor with our package deal.

moneypenny02

I understand that not everyone will like everything--but to be honest I didn't enjoy the avocado mush & crab starter that came with my friend's $190pp dinner, or the chicken & undercooked veggies I had at the last one before that.  I just want food to be GOOD and i know that some if not most of the best foods I've had have been under $10 a serving.  

If there is a problem with the Kogi tacos it wouldn't be b/c it was tacos, but b/c it is Korean food & not everyone enjoys that.  This would be true if it was a sit-down dinner or out of a trunk of someone's car.  That's why I said that I didn't want to go with that unless I could find something to "go" with it that most people would like.  And also why I was trying to think of OTHER types of dinners that might appeal to more people, but still be kind of fun & not traditional, but as a result, less expensive. 

I'm looking into some kinds of gourmet-ish pizzas, but depending on the type of kitchen facilities at the venue that might not be ideal cus pizza has to be piping hot to really be GOOD.  

A friend suggested "finger foods", but I feel like I would be underwhelmed with most of the other "finger foods" that I know & doing them through a really good caterer I think would be equally if not more expensive than any other buffet.  

Any other general-crowd pleasers that may work for a party & be less expensive than buffet?

    

lala90

MoneyPenny---I totally agree that wedding food that costs a lot can still be blah at best.

Do what you want--and a sit down dinner is NOT required...if you have enough tacos or appitizers or pizza it will totally be enough for a meal. 

Do what you want.  Plus, if you can keep food cost down that means you can concentrate on getting a good photgrapher and awsome decor, flowers, music!  Food is the most expensive part of an entire wedding and usually it is not that great.

Good for you for thinking outside the box!

[Deleted User]

Looking for the "different" dinner option, I will share with you may dismay every time FI and I have gone out on a date::

With regards to food picking approaches:

FI = appetizer sort of guy(yeah it's consistent with other things if you know what I mean, not so subtley stated(

I =  dessert. I am the type of person that would sooner order dessert or even more of dessert versus than eating the rest of the meal.  The caliber of the dessert(which is after all of the entrees have been served) is clearly visable.  You can tell the quality of the caterer by how little attention they have paid to the desert.  The more tasteless a desert, the more careless they are as a caterer.  They need to keep in mind that the dessert is the final impresion they leave--if the dessert is a let down, then no matter how good the other courses were, a let down is a let down.

In hindsight, I should have let FI have his appetizer while I ordered my desert and traded.  I always conceded to appetizers because it was a food we could feed each other.

If you want to go differt go for finger foods for , plenty of champagne to go around, and plenty of dessert finger foods. 

It can be as simple as having a chocolate fountain with lots of stuff to dip.

I truly wish I had gone for that rather than what I chose, in hindsight.

moneypenny02

So I am kind of excited about a possible "pizza" option.  I found a few companies that do woodfired "gourmet" pizzas on site, and can do other things like pastas and salads.  I think that with some nice wines might be really fun!  FI is also kind of into it too (I think b/c he wants to spend as little $$ as possible & still have it be "nice"--or at least nice enough so that I am not unhappy with what we end up with).  

I will have to meet with possible caterers when I get back to LA...but if I am able to pull this off in a fun & nice looking way I will be VERY excited b/c this will be quite kind to our budget and hopefully very yummy as well!