catering your own event...

Just a quick question regarding this subject: What happens if the food you make spreads illness? Are you responsible? Can you get sued?

I know it's not something you want to think of or something you think would happen to you but foodbourne illness is more prevalent than you think. Especially if you have egg based salads that are not properly handled.

What's your plan regarding food poisoning?

We are also doing our own food. Our reception is in a banquet hall thta we rented. It has a huge kitchen and buffet table so it will be really easy to set everything up.

Exactly, Bella!

Lala: Your welcome for the link!

My guest list isn't huge (about 70 ppl) and both venues I am debating on both allow outside food and both have huge kitchens to prepare the food. I am lucky in finding this b/c a lot of places I've looked at don't allow it. I am also considering doing a majority of it myself and then doing part of it catered.

We are doing all the food ourselves, too, except the desserts which we will get form the amish market the day before the wedding. i think it can be stressful if you don't plan well and practice the dishes ahead of time. we're also hiring a kitchen manager for the day who will bring 2 wait-staff with her. all the food will be made ahead of time, but she will oversee the heating up and plating of everything. we're doing a family-style service for our guests which should make things a little easier so far as plating goes. if you're looking for good tips on self-catering, the blog "a practical wedding" has some really nice posts about it.

Wow my food is only $7.50 a person including linens! of course im getting a discount cuz im marrying the pastor and our church does a lot of catering with them but its only a $.50 discount. i went to a wedding and quince that the family did their own food and it worked but the moms were running around like a chicken without a head and were really tired after. when i spoke with them they said they didnt even get to enjoy the event cuz they were busy. its up to you

Thanks for the link E!! And thank you guys for allll the feedback! WHOA a lot more women here are catering/50/50 than I origonally thought! that is AWESOME!!! Im really surprised by all this feedback!! I am going to go over with Dan about what Brian said because obviously cleanliness is a huge priority-- but im glad im not alone on this one. We will probably do something like a few of you said, get a few things cooked (like the friend chicken, or whatever chicken we go with) and then make the main meal-- whatever that may be.. thanks for all the advice ladies!!!

Thanks for the link E!! And thank you guys for allll the feedback! WHOA a lot more women here are catering/50/50 than I origonally thought! that is AWESOME!!! Im really surprised by all this feedback!! I am going to go over with Dan about what Brian said because obviously cleanliness is a huge priority-- but im glad im not alone on this one. We will probably do something like a few of you said, get a few things cooked (like the friend chicken, or whatever chicken we go with) and then make the main meal-- whatever that may be.. thanks for all the advice ladies!!!

We decided to have a potluck for the reception. This helped us out in alot of ways, and since we are not registering and do not want anyone to bring gifts (we have lived together a long time and don't really need gifts ), we figured that our guests could still feel as if they are contributing by bringing something for the reception.

Our venue is ok with it as well (we are having the ceremony and reception at a state park), and this really takes alot of stress out of planning the reception. We are still providing the cake, and alcohol, but it allowed us to use our very limited budget in other places (like my dress lol).

My family is catering my wedding. Two of my first cousins are doing the cooking. One of whom has catered many wedding and the other cooked for her own wedding. So it can be done. It just takes organization and planning. Also looking to renting chafing dishes to keep the food hot. My venue has a professional kitchen and warming type oven. The food can be cooked their if we preferred. My main points of advice would be to one make a plan for transport and prepping the food. Rent chafing dishes to make the presentation look nice and keep the food warm and of course buy in bulk. Here are the links to nice plastic ware http://www.smartyhadaparty.com/Item8660-White_Plate_Set_with_Shiny_Reflective_Silver_Rim_Value_Pack.aspx

http://www.smartyhadaparty.com/Category355-Category_-_Flatware_-_Silver_Replica.aspx

Well our wedding is a weekend event, so we were going to do the welcome dinner for Friday night ourselves. Since people were going to be arrriving at different times,I was going to do things that I could prep at home, freeze and cook there. However, the idea of cooking for 60 was giving me panic attacks. Since I can't find good Italian in Vermont, other than the caterer for my wedding(and I am not paying her twice at $37 per person without rentals or booze). I am going to an Italian caterer here and buying bulk porchetta, pasta salad and tomato/mozarella salads. Transporting is not an issue.

However, I will be baking ricotta pies for dessert for the welcome dinner, but will bake those at the inn. I will also do pizelles, cannolli and cookies for the wedding, but I can bake those in advance...all but the cannolli cream which I can make while I am making the ricotta pies. It's still taking on a lot, but if I get stressed, all I have to do is hit an Italian bakery here.: )

I think it depends on what kind of wedding you want. I want a stress free atmosphere. I don't want any of my family working. Afterall, they are my guests, and I want them to enjoy themselves.

Just make sure you talk to your wedding venue about liability when self catering. You may need to purchase insurance. http://www.wedsafe.com/index.jsp

I have been to many parties that were self catered as well as weddings. Not only is it a money saver, but sometimes the food comes out that much better. It puts that personal touch and if it is something that your family makes well, why not?

I am Puerto Rican and its hard to come by many caterers who know how to make rice with gandules or a yummy plaintain salad that is excellent. If I were catering my own wedding, my grandmother would have probably been able to make some of the food we like, but we did luck out and find a hall that caters to our favorite foods.

Check out some sample menus online and see what the costs are as well. Good luck! Its nice to see you back here girl!