Catering your own wedding

No ideas or tips but just wondering... are you guys in the food industry in any way?

We're doing the same!

Maple syrup chicken

Pork tenderloin with bacon sage gravy or wine reduction sauce

Creamed corn

Mashed potatoes (may do a Rosemary butter)

Green beans

Pasta with sauteed leeks and goat cheese tomato cream sauce

You'll need a ton of help and you'll want it to be stuff that you're comfortable with what you're making. Also, you'll be cooking it in the days leading up so you need storage space and cooking space

No becky we are not in the food industry just really good cooks

We were going to, but caved and got a caterer. A taco bar could be easy and fun.

One thing I'd stress... crock pots for hot food, so it stays hot. Also, either hire a person or 2 (could be any ol' trustworthy person) to refill things as they empty (with another crock pot of noms, or refill cold platters (like fruit plates) with pre-prepared bowls of extra of those items.

3 words... don't do it.

There have been brides on here in the past who have done it and it's turned into more of a headache than anything. I'd try to find another place to save and leave the food/serving to the pros.

Doing the same thing!

Our menu looks like this:

Chicken (We call it Janets chicken, its a recipie from a good friend.. honestly I couldn't pin point just done thing, but its a marinated chicken)

Pulled Pork,

ceaser salad

pasta salad

We will also have veggies, fruit and dip for guests to munch while we are off taking photos.

Sweet and simple

we have about 100-150 people coming.

Where's Celia? Celia has been in the catering business for years before she was an officiant. She said this was one thing she wished she didn't do...she had no time for anything on the actual day and there is a picture of her in her weddig dress cooking

We are doing it with the help of good friends. We are serving chicken, Boston butt, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, pasta, mac and cheese and of course party trays. We are also doing our own desert bar.

Here I am, lol....Don't do it. Seriously. Heather is spot on; I wish I'd just made someone else do it. All I did the day was food (and flowers, because I"m such a control freak...). I had staff, (my own staff, actually) but I still had to direct them and torture them and I didn't enjoy one minute. I can bet that they didn't either. (For the record? Feeding 100 people takes at least six people in the kitchen, even if everything is pre-prepped.)

Being a really good cook does not translate into being a really good caterer. You need to prepare everything in mass quantities, (which takes equipment that you probably don't have; chicken for 150 is about 400 pieces), keep it at safe temperatures, get it BACK to a safe temperature, and not kill anyone in the process. All this is going on while you're trying to be a bride.

If you're fixated on cutting costs this way, maybe make the salad, make some dips that someone else can platter with chips or crudités, (which, incidentally will not be enough to keep the guests at bay while you take photos, which always take longer than you think....)

But don't do it. Your venue may not even allow you to do it, and it won't save you a significant amount of money over buying trays of food from your local great deli or restaurant.

Did I mention don't do it?

I can not imagine the added stress of making your own food. What a nightmare.

Don't do it. Bad idea. I consider myself a better than average home cook. I've waitressed and bartended over a 100 weddings. I've prepped hors d'oeurves until I'm blue in the face. I cannot imagine doing it and getting ready for my wedding at the same time. It just won't work. You cannot be everywhere at all times, and besides, like Celia says, there are so many food/bacteria issues that you just can't attend to. Better yet, cut your guest list and hire a caterer. Ours is $24 a head for the buffet for awesome food. By the time you pay for the groceries at Costco, it will probably cost that much.

I would't say only and 120 guests in the same sentence when talking about catering. 120 guests is a good amount of people to feed, and requires equipment, space, and probably a permit depending on where you are doing your wedding. I helped set up a baby shower that had 45 guests and cooking light food for them was a nightmare, I don't even want to imagine a wedding. I'd cut costs elsewhere, but if you do it good luck! Try to get as much help as you possibly can so you can still enjoy your day.

Honestly.....i had 85 guests and it took my ENTIRE reception just to go around talking to all of them. Just to have a few minute conversation with everyone took FOREVER. I cant imagine using all my time for that and to feed everyone.

We are going to do a pasta bar. Have a few types of noodles, sauces, toppings, etc. Not sure what else we want to have there, though.

I get a headache cooking for our family reunions and birthday parties and I love to cook! I can't imagine doing it for my wedding.

I've seen catering starting at $10 in my area. You can probably find a good caterer for a decent price in your area. Keep the menu simple. 2 meat choices, 2 starches, 2 vegetables, rolls and fruit trays.

Do you have a venue? You'll want to clear this plan with the venue.

Depending on the venue and the area you live in, you may not be able to do your own catering. All of the venues we worked with required that all food come from an officially licensed/certified source (caterer, restaurant). This included the cake AND any edible favors. Turns out, it was due to state law as well as local ordinances.

That said I'll echo the advice of others and say: Don't do it.

The day before the wedding and the day of the wedding were crazy-busy. I cannot even IMAGINE also being responsible for the dinner.

My venue does allow us to bring our own food also supply a full kitchen to keep food warm. i have a large family waiting to help so no i wont be in my dress servicing. plus i have 3 servers included with my venue and 2 bartenders. im also have a day of coordinator to help with telling the servers how and when i want the food served

Maybe get family's help to cook so that you and FH dont have to--- i agree with everyone else- sounds like a nightmare--even for a laid back more casual type of wedding.

If you have all that, you might as well just pay for catering! Lol

But if you're dead set on doing it yourself, make sure you have enough food for everyone. Cooking for a crowd is not easy. One tray of something isn't going to cut it.