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Wedding Food, Drinks and Cake
To eat, drink and be merry! That's the real reason guests love attending wedding receptions. Because food and fun
go hand in hand, many couples plan their wedding food and wedding drinks at the same time they're planning the
reception.
And even though the majority of wedding receptions are held during the evening, this doesn't have to be the case
with yours. If you're working on a tight budget, instead of planning a nighttime sit down-style reception, consider
arranging a morning, brunch, lunch, or cocktail reception. They can be just as festive, but at a fraction of the
cost. To set the tone, select a location with a pleasant daytime view. If you prefer an evening reception, a buffet
dinner will cost less than a sit-down dinner as will a paid bar versus an open bar.
You need to plan your wedding food and drinks well ahead, at least 6 - 12 months in advance of the big day.
Oftentimes, the reception location is selected because of the fact that the wedding food and non-alcoholic drinks
are offered as part of the package price. And while these venues may not create the wedding cake, they will often
refer a wedding cake specialist. At a minimum, you'll find they offer cake cutting/serving services.
There are, however, a number of reception locations that will require the services of a caterer. If this is your
situation, it's important to check whether cooking facilities are available at the reception location. If not, the
caterer may have to rent what is needed, which will add to your costs as these fees will ultimately be passed on to
you. Most couples think only to deal with creating the menu, not the logistical end of catering including servers.
Neglecting the details can lead to problems and cost overruns down the road. A good caterer will help you through
the details, but you should know what to ask as well.
Most couples will break their wedding food budget down into a cost-per-person basis. The goal is to get as much
quality food as you can while spending the least amount possible. You have lots of food options and if you're
planning the food and the wedding/reception simultaneously, you have time options like those noted above which can
lower your wedding food costs significantly.
When it comes to wedding drinks, non-alcoholic beverages will be your least expensive option (although you still
should have champagne for a toast) and you'll find that they're often included with the price of the wedding food.
If you're going to serve alcoholic beverages, you have more decisions to make including open bar or paid, wine and
beer or full liquor service.
As for the wedding cake, again, the costs are typically determined on a per head basis. It used to be that you
ordered your multi-tier, one flavor cake with plastic statue on top from a baker but nowadays, you can actually
have your wedding cake custom-created by a cake designer! That's just one more thing to think about when planning
your wedding budget.
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