I spoke to a guest at dinner tonight about a wedding she went to in New Jersey over the weekend. She said it was very nice but there was so much food at the cocktail hour she didn't realize that there was also going to be a three-course dinner and a buffet of desserts following it.
She's 16 and lives in LA so she doesn't get to attend many New York tri-state Area affairs. But it got me thinking.
Just because your caterer offers you a dozen or more stations and passed hors d'oeuvres doesn't mean you have to serve all of them. It's really a huge waste of food because your guests won't be able to eat an entire dinner after filling up at the cocktail hour.
Now you know how much I love PIBs and I'm not saying that you shouldn't serve a good variety of food but maybe you don't need a pasta, sushi and carving station AND passed items too. Maybe you just do passed items or a few passed items and one station. Or select foods that aren't heavy for the cocktail hour or for the seated meal. You don't have to serve a large steak, you can opt for lighter fare, like fish.
3 comments:
Funny to read about this Anne, since I know of specific venues in Northern New Jersey that just go "all out" when it comes to the food for cocktail hour and dinner (and dessert, too). Maybe it's specifically a "cultural" thing, since not all venues do the same. I've also seen these locations profiled on TV shows like TLC's "Four Weddings" so it's great for television and shows another side to the world of weddings (especially if you're from a different area of the country and don't experience the "East Coast" as often).
I do agree, though, that just because the caterer puts out an unbelievable amount of food (which is often impressive to the couple and guests), it doesn't mean that you have to indulge in everything! And hopefully the food doesn't get wasted but goes to a charitable organization to deliver to people who need it!
Excellent advice! Although food is amazing and wonderful, it is good to moderate how much you offer to your guests. Although options are good, having them not be full by the end of cocktail hour is even better...Great post!
Yes, great advice. I remember when I had my wedding, that I tended to want to have more appetizers and the caterer kept telling me to limit it. I followed her advice and it was just right.
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