How to Plan Wedding Catering
A bridal couple planning to have a small, home-style wedding may choose to have a close friend or family member cater the event to cut down on costs. Because all the food preparation and serving may be done by just one or two people, it is best to plan as many details as possible before the big day. When catering a wedding, you will want to carefully plan which foods to include on the menu and how it will be stored prior to the wedding. You may also want to have an assistant help you with setting up tables and serving the food.
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Things You'll Need
- Menu
- Dinnerware
- Stemware
- Napkins
- Toothpicks
- Food
- Wine
- Garnishes
- Flowers
- Place cards
- Table settings
- Table cloths
- Tables
Instructions
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1
Make an inventory list. Contact the wedding planner or the parents of the bride to obtain an up-to-date guest list. Based on the confirmed number of guests who have RSVP'd, decide how many glasses, wine goblets, cutlery and dinnerware you'll need for the event. For a more casual wedding, opt for plastic utensils. For a more elegant wedding, use silverware instead. Purchase or rent enough cutlery and dinnerware to supply each guest with at least two sets.
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2
Plan a small menu. Finger foods such as cold meats and cold pasta bowls require little prep time, can be made the night before and do not require heating. Create a grocery list containing all the foods, condiments, garnish and oils that you'll need to create the food on the menu. Purchase all items two days before the wedding day to ensure freshness.
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3
Chill foods and beverages in a refrigerator at your home. Write a sign informing other house members, if applicable, that all of the food, wine and condiments you've purchased are for the wedding and should not be opened.
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Prepare all the food the night before. Lay meats and cheeses and other appetizers on food platters and serve pastas in large dishes. Cover dishes with aluminum foil and plastic wrap or store in plastic bags and place them back inside the refrigerator.
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5
Arrive several hours before the wedding to set up the tables. Use place cards to mark each place setting. Decorate individual tables with table cloths, flowers and other embellishments. Arrange a serving table or buffet table if you've arranged for guests to bring additional foods. It is best to fix the serving table at the back of the venue; a table for the bridal party should be set up at the front or center of the space.
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Organize a wine table. Make several selections so guests can choose from a few varietals. Store the wine in iced wine coolers at the center of the table---which can serve as a center piece. Uncork a bottle of each kind of wine and set glasses along the table for guests to serve themselves.
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Set out the platters of food on a serving table just before guests arrive. Add last minute garnishes to large platters if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Use burners if you need to heat foods.
Have a team in place to remove empty platters and dishes and replace them with new ones. If food will not be replenished, have a team to reset the buffet table as more and more dishes are taken away.
Consider dietary restrictions. For example, add vegetarian and/or kosher dishes.
Don't forget ice, napkins or toothpicks.
Don't be late. Always confirm that your team has reliable transportation and can arrive at the venue on time.
References
- Photo Credit wedding cake image by cherie from Fotolia.com
