Getting the Food to the Reception

Hire someone to do this, plenty of services out there that run errands for you.

Could you offer the restaurant X amount of cash if they would deliver?

Can you ask the servers if they will pick it up if you pay them a little extra? You're going to have to ask someone to pick it up, that's for sure, because you will need to be getting ready. I would ask family members like aunts, uncles, cousins. I'm sure they would be ok helping out. Maybe someone who lives around that venue so they could time it better.

Becoming, any restaurant that doesn't offer delivery does so for a reason, they don't have the staff, tools (warming bags, etc), a car, someone insured in the company name to drive it, etc.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/just-dial-512-deliver-austin-2

@m I was a server for many years, there a definitely certain circumstances if you offer to pay that will do things like that. I was asked to do much stranger things in my many years of serving at multiple restaurants. If you want someone to just drop it off I'm sure there is 1 employee there that they could get to drop it off, it never hurts to ask.

I haven't been able to find any services that cover random deliveries in the area. The restaurant said they're not allowed to have an employee bring it because they can't be held liable for it making it there on time. I'm thinking someone will just have to pick it up ahead of time. I would hate to ask someone to miss cocktail hour just to get food.

I'd ask one or two of the servers to do it for an extra fee (or whoever is supervising them). Only ask a family member as an absolute last resort, and have a thank you card with a very generous gift for them.

Gosh, I don't know WHO could deliver it with a 30 minute drive allowing you to still have fresh, hot food. I mean, it has to be packed up, driven over, unpacked and set-up. YOu're looking at at least 45 minutes to an hour. Are you feeling confident the food will still be as tasty and hot as you would like it to be? If the restaurant doesnt deliver, I'd be worried about finding someone else that can transport that amount of food while having the ability to keep it hot. It is a long drive.

If you just ask a family member... the food will be cold and gross once it arrives after sitting in someones back seat. You need proper food service items to keep it warm.

Hire someone. Don't ask family. It's not cool to make them work at your wedding when they're supposed to be enjoying the day as a guest. You had a vision and that's great. Now just work with your budget to make it come true.

You may have been asked, but you probably shouldn't have done it! I also have 10 years in restaurant mgmt, so there's a butt load of liability issues there.

Andreaya, that link I shared with you will do it:

We deliver documents, packages, pallets skids, containers, personal or corporate errands, shopping, groceries, food delivery, office supplies, small furniture. We pickup your order from Sam's Club, Costco, Best Buy, Fry's, Office Depot. We offer court, utility office and law offices filing with your local county court house. Travis County Court House, Williamson County Court House, Secretary Of State filing and apostille, passport application. Medical and pharmacy prescription deliveries. CCU and ICU, emergency blood and tissue, samples and live organs deliveries. Most of the cities in Central Texas like Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Kyle, Leander, Liberty Hill, Lago Vista, Taylor, Hutto, Salado, Kileen, Temple, Buda, Bastrop, Elgin, New Braunfels, San Marcos and anything in between are within one hour of driving from Austin.

@BecomingaMrs I agree! We special ordered 5 vegetarian meals from a vegetarian restaurant near the wedding venue. They don't usually deliver, but they made an exception seeing as it was our wedding .THey were super awesome about it!

But transporting chicken, potatoes, and gravy for a large number of guests is a much different story than bringing 5 specialty meals up the street!

Why chicken fingers and gravy? There are company's that pick up food from restaurants and deliver it. Usually they contract with certain restaurants but they might be able to work with you. Bite squad, grub hub, there is even one here called suite and tie delivery and their delivery people dress up.

You HAVE to have chicken fingers? I've heard my cousin say the exact thing before, but he's six.

How are you going to able to serve that fresh and hot? When you make a mass of chicken fingers you do it in batches so the first batches will be cold before you even pick them up.

@chrissy lol my 7 year old said it won't be much of a party without chicken fingers when I told her the menu for our wedding. Maybe they all know something that we don't :p

Yep. I'd be worried about @jeleebeenz said if I were you.

I have no doubt you will find a way to GET the food there. But I don't think it will be very good once it finally gets served.

No caterer would make this very basic thing for you?

Hire someone. Your menu is very manageable for even the simplest caterer.

And think about maybe expanding your culinary horizons, really. There is really no such thing as a 'fresh' chicken finger....and your wedding is your wedding, not Tuesday. Other people at your wedding, unless they are all under 12, will find this weird.

@Chrissy, it's my wedding, I can have whatever I want! Maybe instead I'll have no food and a cash bar.

@m Thank you! I must have been searching for the wrong thing, but that 512 deliver sounds perfect!

Is it Raising Cane's?