Have you been wondering how you are going to invite and feed 100 guests to your wedding? If so, you should consider self-catering it. Yes, you read that right! Even the sound of it gives me chills, but there are lots of ways to do self-catering at your wedding, and just as many reasons to consider it. Some people will self-cater their whole wedding meal because of their budget. Other people might contribute one or two items, because they want to share their love of cooking with friends and family. If you’re considering self-catering your wedding, here are a few ideas to get you thinking.
If you love to bake you should consider making your own wedding cake and have a family member (or you and your groom) cut and serve the cake. If you decide to cut and serve the cake it will give you the opportunity to do a non-traditional receiving line. Another way to self-cater the desserts at your wedding is to bake a cake for every table. This way you save on the stress of making a traditional wedding cake and will save a few dollars on centerpieces by having the cake at the center of the table.
Our last idea for self-catering desserts is an all-dessert reception and having family members contribute a dessert or two, hello low key pot-luck! Not only does this make self-catering low stress, but everyone loves an excuse to eat sweets all afternoon.
If you are not a big dessert person you should consider an all appetizer reception. You will find this type of self-catering will allow you to easily prepare, transport food in advance and have a variety of snacks, while allowing for a happy mix-and-mingle vibe at you reception.
Or maybe you want to self-cater the whole thing. It is very doable you will just need to follow a few guidelines! All of these guidelines will help in every type of self-catering project.
Keep it simple. Your wedding isn’t the time to show off or make elaborate recipes. Focus on a simple menu with foods that are in season. If you are having a summer wedding think about foods that require one or two steps: chopping, grilling or thawing.
Get help. You can’t take on this project without a lot of good people at your side to help you out. Borrow platters and dishes from people you know and contact companies like, Fridgeland, who supply refrigeration and catering supplies for your reception.
Organization. Plan everything. Make spreadsheets if you need to. Delegate jobs out to family and friends. This is not the time to fly by the seat of your pants.
Make sure you enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy cooking or baking then self-catering is not for you. Enjoying this project is a must because it is a big project whether you are doing one, two things or the whole thing. This is a great way to show your guests how much you love them and appreciate them coming to your wedding.
Food Safety. Make sure you take the proper precautions because food poisoning your guests is not a memory you want them to have.
Don’t be scared to take on this project. All you need is a little organization and game plan. People have been successfully self-catering weddings since the dawn of time. You’re joining one of the great, historic wedding traditions and if you need recipe ideas you can find them right here.
Good Luck! 🙂
Photos courtesy of iloveswmag.com and christinamontemurrophotography.com.
