What to eat?

Re: What to eat?

• Sue-n-Kevin member

  

  February 2011 edited December 2011

  If you want fun and casual, then BBQ foods sound fine. But if you answer the following questions, I think people could help more:
  
  - Is it indoors or outdoors? A venue or a home or public park?
  - Time of day?
  - Resources available at venue: electricity? chafing dishes? refrigerator? etc
  - What else are you serving? Cake? Appetizers?
  
  To answer your question: Should we just pick a caterer and choose the meal from there or the other way around?
  
  Most caterers have set buffet menus, with prices for each (ie, 1 meat, 1 side, 1 pasta/potato, $20/per person). However, we knew what we wanted going in, and chose similar items and asked them to personalize them with our ingredients. They were more than willing to work with us, and we negotiated prices on almost everything. Depending on the caterers you have in your area, if there is not a lot of competition, they can ask what they ask and you are stuck.
  
  The best prices we got were from gourmet food stores that also do catering. Not sure if this is an option in your area, or whether you'd even want that. But because they are ordering food for their stores anyway, we were able to get better prices because they don't "just" cater.
  
  My recommendation is to view menus online from prospects, print them, and set appointments. If here are things you want to change or set your own menu from scratch, they can go over your plans and help you. I wrote on the printouts before my appointments and was prepared for our meetings.
  
  Good luck.
  

  Wedding Website and Bio

  Report0 Reply
• RoyalSpoiledOne member

  

  February 2011 edited December 2011

  I think BBQ would be fine, but if I had burgers and hot dogs at a wedding, I'd be disappointed.

  Report0 Reply
• jessicabessica member

  

  February 2011 edited December 2011

  I think a few different kinds of lasagnas (white sauce, veggies, etc.) with a nice salad and garlic bread would be kind of casual-elegant.  That's also a meal that doesn't need that much on-site prep, if your venue doesn't have a big kitchen. 

  Report0 Reply
• McKenna2012 member

  

  February 2011 edited December 2011

  Pick a caterer first, I think.

  

  Report0 Reply
• jrby member

  

  February 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_eat?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:cf821d43-3ad3-4ab2-b3e2-8ed8a6974495Post:858d1c35-bcb3-4d7c-b39f-019d099f03da">Re: What to eat?</a>:
  [QUOTE]If you want fun and casual, then BBQ foods sound fine. But if you answer the following questions, I think people could help more: - Is it indoors or outdoors? A venue or a home or public park? - Time of day? - Resources available at venue: electricity? chafing dishes? refrigerator? etc - What else are you serving? Cake? Appetizers?
  
  Thanks for the input! The reception will be indoors, it is at a community youth center that has a huge gym and a side area with more room for seating and a possible bar area. The reception will be in the evening, unsure of the exact time but it will be evening. I'm unsure of the resources available there, I know they sell pizza so they must have some form of warmers there. I am not sure if there is a refrigerator there or not, FI's parents leave a block away so if need be we could store some things there. We are serving cheesecake.

  

  Report0 Reply
• Heather8505 member

  

  February 2011 edited December 2011

  As far as which to pick first, know about what you want them find a caterer that does that sort of thing and work with them on a menu.  You obviously wouldn't book a gourmet place if you want bbq or the bbq place if you want filet.  Pick someone that cooks stuff you like them work an exact menu after you have them.

  me and my two men

  Report0 Reply