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Beginner May 2017

Self catering reception - success stories?

mrsjohnson, on May 16, 2016 at 8:04 AM Posted in Do It Yourself 0 133

I realize that most here advise against self-catering your own reception but I would love to hear from people that did self-cater with much success and would actually choose to do it all over again.

My husband (yes we're already married, we're having a marriage celebration and reception), wants to self-cater buffet style a spiral ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, salad and deviled eggs. His sister will make the eggs and we will make the rest the day of. Our guest list is a total of 74 people right now including 9 kids so we plan to provide enough food for 80. Our plan is to have a ceremony at 6pm where we read our own vows and as soon as we're done, we will announce "let's eat!" All this is going to take place in our backyard and will be very casual and informal.

We're thinking of hiring a person or two to help set up, watch over the food and help with cleanup. Looking forward to hearing about the success stories and getting advice from the experienced!

133 Comments

Latest activity by Bazza, on November 25, 2018 at 5:32 AM
  • Private User
    VIP August 2014
    Private User ·
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    I'm guessing you'll get few success stories, from self catering, and get more telling you not to even try it.

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  • MrsKristenS
    Master August 2016
    MrsKristenS ·
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    This will end badly.

    WHEN WILL PEOPLE STOP SELF CATERING?!

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  • KellyIngyBaker
    Expert May 2016
    KellyIngyBaker ·
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    Is 5/6/17 your projected date for this? If so, you have a year to save some money. If you pay to have someone cater it (your local grocery store would be fairly inexpensive), you would save yourself a lot of time and stress.

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  • Nonna T
    Master April 2014
    Nonna T ·
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    The only one I know of is E-Tex.

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  • FUTURE.MRS.SMITH
    Devoted July 2016
    FUTURE.MRS.SMITH ·
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    I am not self catering, but my sister sorta did for her wedding. It was for like 40ish people and they ordered the meats and my Dad, myself, and sister made the sides. we basically just made potatoes, veggies rolls ect. It was one of the most stressful exhausting situations to worry about and try to get through on that day, then the stove in the venue had issue and we ended up with later dinner than planned because it took that much longer to get everything and some of it started getting cold before we could serve it. It really made it super clear to me that I was not going to ask one person to lift one finger on my wedding day.

    That being said though, my dad was recently had a very small informal wedding and they had some deli trays, sandwiches and finger foods from out local grocer that had premade everything and they just had it picked up and layed out when it was time to eat. Which is a pretty budget conscious way to go and not have the stress. IMO

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  • JoRocka
    Master September 2016
    JoRocka ·
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    I'm so in for this.

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  • OG Sarah
    Master September 2017
    OG Sarah ·
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    "I realize that most here advise against self-catering your own reception"

    Soooo you know this is a hot topic here, yet you still posted this thread saying you are planning on self-catering? Idk whether you are really ballsy or just don't have a clue.

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  • Becoming a Mrs
    Master July 2016
    Becoming a Mrs ·
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    I'm guessing since you are asking for success stories you do not have experience in catering a large number of people and food safety protocols. Which means - no you should not do this. Save up some money and hire a caterer. No one likes food poising as their thank you gift.

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  • Beutivant
    Master May 2016
    Beutivant ·
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    Yeah, I am like Sarah. So you plan on self catering no matter what and only want advice from people if they did it too and have good success stories? You don't want to hear from anyone who did it and regretted it? Or from people (like FUTURE.MRS.SMITH) who didn't cater their own wedding but have horror stories about others who did? What about people who got sick from a self catered wedding? Would you like to hear their opinions? Because if someone was to get sick at your self-catered wedding, the chances are you wouldn't know about it, but that doesn't make it ok.

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  • K
    Super August 2016
    Kobieta ·
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    No.

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  • Lauren B.
    Master October 2015
    Lauren B. ·
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    Ask the girl 2 weeks ago who posted about her self catered wedding-

    her and her husband got food poisoning and missed a day of their honeymoon because of it

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  • Mrs. Mac
    Master July 2016
    Mrs. Mac ·
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    FFS.

    Self-catering for a backyard party for 10-15 people is one thing, but 75? This is a mass ER visit just waiting to happen. Have fun with that.

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  • Jessica
    VIP August 2016
    Jessica ·
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    Even if you find success stories I think you will also find those people saying it isn't worth the stress and the risk.

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  • BvilleBride
    VIP September 2016
    BvilleBride ·
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    It's advice. Not advise.

    I don't advise that this is the best option since you're looking for advice.

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  • liondell
    Beginner June 2016
    liondell ·
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    I wouldn't recommend self catering due to food safety and the enormous amount of stress it would cause.

    If you decide to do it, definitely nix the deviled eggs. I would not be eating anything with mayo in it.

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  • Kristy
    Master November 2015
    Kristy ·
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    Well since his sister is making the eggs...... The rest should be manageable..

    ??!!!

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  • Staci
    Master September 2014
    Staci ·
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    Self-catering can work...for maybe 20 guests max. If you hear any success stories it will be weddings of that size.

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  • Nancy Taussig
    Nancy Taussig ·
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    Fixing Thanksgiving dinner for 14 people stresses out both of us.

    Officiant Celia used to be a professional caterer and catered her own wedding with her staff and she does NOT recommend it.

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  • Punkin Beer
    Master October 2017
    Punkin Beer ·
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    I use to cook Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter for 15 to 20. I can't imagine doing it for 70+.

    Plus, add your wedding to the mix? And family who should be enjoying the day getting caught up in food related matters? To say nothing about the safety aspects? No thanks!!!

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  • Patrick Lopez
    Patrick Lopez ·
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    There's really not success to be had in a situation like this. At best, there might be some stories about bullets that were dodged. Some things you need to realize:

    1 - There is a difference between cooking a big family meal and catering an event.

    2 - It will definitely take more than one person to serve, replenish, bus, and breakdown.

    3 - Spending your wedding/reception day working will not be enjoyable. You'll spend the whole time making sure everyone else has a good time, instead of enjoying your day.

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