To cut cost down for my wedding?

Question

I want to make the dinner, instead of getting it through a catering company, which could cost more. It consists of shrimp cocktail, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn, breadroll and iced tea. That is going to cost us 35.00 a plate. Dont you think I should do it myself and cut the cost down. My fiance says he doesnt want me to get my hands dirty. But if you think of it, the mashed potatoes and corn are not expensive and they are charging for labor. So our budget will be less than expected. So do you think I should listen to my fiance and spend that extra money that a plate shouldnt cost, or get my hands dirty as to wake up early and slave over a hot stove? What would you do if you were in a tight budget?

Catering companies know that you wont argue with them about cost eve though its more than what it should cost. I was going to get it for 15.00 a plate else where. But the catering that you have to get it through the hotels are charging more.

Answer 1

I think that you will be far too busy and put too much stress on yourself. You might think of asking a few friends or maybe Mothers, sisters to do it for you as the gift to you for your wedding.

Answer 2

Who is paying for your wedding? If you are...then tell Lover Boy to sleep in that morning and let you do what you have to do.
Next, do you have any family or friends who can help you prepare this food say the day before? Meatloaf can be made ahead of time and baked halfway and then froze and finished baking the morning of the wedding. Breadrolls can be made and reheated the day of the wedding. Corn is very easy to heat up. The biggie would be the shrimp cocktail, and I am not sure how you would do that. The mashed potatoes won't take all that long to make either.
But, I would definitely enlist the help of your bridesmaid or family and friends with this and use the extra money you save to have a better honeymoon or whatever.
Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

Apart from the stress angle, you also have to consider health. I took a class at the health department, and some of the stories the instructor (the head health inspector of the county) had were about weddings. She says that people would cook a pot of rice, dump it into a huge container, then cook another pot. Then at the reception, the freshest stuff comes out first because it's on the top, and by then the temperature of the stuff on the bottom has been in a hazardous range almost all day long. She says there've been reported outbreaks of diseases from weddings, that must really suck!

Now, on the other hand, if you can get friends or family members to cook things for you closer to the event time, that could be safe. I went to a wedding early this year where the aunts and other relatives brought things, and the youth group that the groom's sister belongs to served it.

Now, apart from the idea above, another way to cut costs would be to just serve less stuff. For example, plan the event so you're not having the guests there during meal time (have a morning wedding, serve them muffins, and send them home before lunch). At a funeral reception our family had, we set up a sandwich bar. Anyone who wanted to help could bring a salad, and the "meal" was loaves of bread, trays of meats and cheeses, and bowls of mayo and salad dressings. That may not be a feasable dinner idea, but it would make a good light lunch. ;)

Answer 4

If you are having your dinner at a hotel, the might not even let you bring in your own food. You should look into that first. Personally I would not want to deal with that on my wedding day. You have no idea how busy you will be! I did my own bar and everything. I did not cook my own meal, but had a cold dinner, (salads, buns, meat, cheese and pickles) I got my dad to make all the salads and my father in law to pick up and set up all the other stuff. I bought all my own alcohol and pop, and brought it into the hall. I did save a lot of money this way, but there is a reason they charge for the labour! It is worth the cost I think. Unless you can get others to do the meal for you and you just pay for the food, I would go with the caterer. You will be WAY to busy to worry about that.
Good Luck! The dinner is the most expensive thing. (people won't really care what they eat.) I didn't hear one complaint about my meal, and I got a lot of compliments on the salads. (we had 5 to choose from to make it a little nicer)

Answer 5

I did a lot for my own wedding, however, the day of, I had friends and family to help mostly. You have a great idea, but I think you should consider preparing everything ahead of time (maybe skipping the shrimp, or relying on a friend for that because it wouldnt be good ahead of time). You can make the meatloafs, mashed potatoes or whatever, then have a friend heat them all up before the ceremony. Then you can save your money and still wont overwhelm yourself. Another thing to think of, is the time of your wedding. I was still overwhelmed after everything because our ceremony was at 2pm. I would have had much more time to get eveything prepared if it were at 5 or so.

Answer 6

You are not going to be able to make the food- that's that. So you need to decided if you want to pay for it or can your family help you out? Do you know how much mash potatoes you need for 100-200 people? If you only having 20 people at your wedding... OK but other then that, it's insane.
You also need to figure in all the clean up and washing dishes.. ect.. that not only takes time, it cost money too...

I am personally going with a cater.

Answer 7

Even on a tight budget you can have it catered. Instead of looking to the major catering companies look into your grocery deli area.... they will likely cost even less than what you are planning to spend. If you want to do it yourself you will run into a few problems... transporting it, keeping it warm, serving it, making sure there is enough, and the chore of clean-up.... youre the bride, youre not supposed to spend the entire reception worrying if you prepared enough or covering "oops's".

If you truly insist on making it yourself choose to make it well ahead of time and get everything you need for freezing it. Then hire some people to re-heat, serve, clean up, etc. Make sure you make about 150% of what you think you need (better safe than sorry).

Good Luck

Answer 8

I believe there are some things that make a wedding better: Do you have your photographer?? You need pictues to remember the occasion!!! Also it's fun to do the disposable cemeras on the reception tables. It seems like 1/2 the night people are saying "Let me see??" "EEEeeeww I look fat!" BlahBlah Blah about the digitals. Take the picts and not being able to see is th efun part. U get everyone how they really are at that part of the event! Soooo funny to get together with friend one night and develop the pict.'s and lugh over drinks.:O) 2nd. get your music budget deducted f/m your balance *Music : If U hire a band they can play lots of music that you like and also they DJ so they can play the classics like the chicken dance, bunny hop etc. Great for all ages...and gets funnier as the night goes on. *Decorations: If U have not checked with florist yet U will be surprised at ho costly wedding flowers can be. Typical Bridal Bouquet ranges from $75.00 and up, MOH and Bridesmaids are usually $45.00 and up, then you have the bout's(Groom, Dad, Grandfather, men in wedding party, ring bearer around $8.50 a piece, Mothers and grandmoothers corsages $15.00 and up ea. Flower girl $25.00 and up, cake decorations $25.00 and up and table centerpieces that start at $35.00minimum and that isnt giving U much of a presentation. Sometimes the venue U are having the wedding at provides mrror and table decor included in their cost. See what the have before you visit your florist. DON'T FORGET THE FLOWERS...THEY ADD UP QUICK. I say U get your quotes for flowers and take that out of the budget next. If always makes it nice for the guest to take something home in the end. Something thta goes with the theme of your wedding perhaps. It gives people something to talk about at the least and maybe remember about your wedding making it differet. And def. but something for your girls in the wedding party. Maybe an inexpensive charm bracelet they might all like to remember the day and how close you are with them. after that what U have left should maybe be twords an hour o fopen bar?? People like to chat and get to know people at the begining of the reception. Somtimes it acts as an ice breaker. GOOD LUCK! I hope I helped a bit.

Answer 9

On the day of your wedding, the last thing your should be worrying about is making mashed potatoes. You'll have other things on your mind, trust me. I understand that you're on a tight budget, but it sounds like your fiancee thinks you have enough to have the food catered. If that's the case, then let someone else worry about making and setting up the food and then clearing it away at the end of the reception. Trust me you'll be much happier on your wedding day if you don't have to worry about the food arrangements.

Answer 10

You are suppose to enjoy your wedding, not be in the kitchen. You will have plenty of time for that after the wedding.

Recruit your family & friends. They will be the ones that will make this work. Someone has to be in charge of the reception, so make sure the person is serious & responsible. Do what you can ahead of time & freeze it. It will be stored all over town, but what the heck. Make sure those people are responsible as well. This can work but it's going to take ALOT more organizing& trust on your part.

Answer 11

Do you have any aunts or cusins that can't really afford a wedding gift? Ask them if, instead of buying a gift, if they would be willing to make the food. Tell them that you would buy the ingredients, But won't have the time to prepare the meal yourself. Also this is a great way for them to be a part of your day, and you can mention that in a speech or toast, "I would like to make a toast for all the wonderful food Aunt Mary made especially for this day." It acknowledges her effort to make it special for you and will make her feel like an important part of your day. I had a BBQ at my reception and had planned on my husband (he isn't much into crowds) man the grill. However, with so much going on, my cusin and uncle ended up volunteering to do it. Now that Uncle has passed on and it is a fond memory I have of him, and how he helped to make my day special.