Chickendoodle Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 We are in the early stages of planning a wedding for my YD. They want something fairly simple - it is going to be a Church wedding followed by a reception/party in the evening. The reception will be a buffet as they are not keen on a formal sit down dinner and I have already come up with the brilliant (I think) idea of getting a local fish and chip shop to supply a supper during the evening party. We live on the coast so no shortage of choice of fish and chip shops! I love cooking and I know that I would be perfectly capable of putting together a decent buffet so I am not after receipes here but it is the logistics that bother me. Has anyone done this? I am paranoid about giving the guests food poisoning so I would have to hire extra fridges etc. to store the food in once prepared. Also the food couldn't be laid out before the wedding itself as if it was a hot day it would go off/get covered in flies etc etc. I don't want to be rushing around either with a pinny over my posh wedding outfit, in my high heels serving food. (I realise as I am writing this that I am talking myself out of it). I suppose I could hire some waiters? Thing is, I object to paying £20-£25 a head for a buffet when I could do it myself much cheaper and equally as good if not better. I would also really enjoy doing the food and it would not stress me at all. However, once I have paid for the ingredients, fridge and crockery hire, waiting staff, bought begged or borrowed serving plates and bowls would I be best just to swallow my pride ande let a caterer do it all? If anyone has experience of self catering a wedding or anything similar I would love to hear how it went - good or bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 I've been to an event (not a wedding) where we had a Fish and Chip supper, and it was great. It was different, it was easy, the vast majority like it and even fish eating veggies are catered for. I would say you have already talked yourself out of doing it yourself. You will be up to your eyes in all sorts of ways in the run up to your daughters wedding - and you'll be adding a whole load of stress before the wedding day, and even more on the day itself if yuo try and do the catering yourself. You want to be able to enjoy this wonderful day, without worrying about the food! You will want to see the guests, meet friends, catch up with any relatives coming you haven't seen for a while, be posing for pictures and generally showing off your wedding hat - not hiding in a kitchen trying to make strange ovens etc work, and ruining your no doubt wonderful outfit!! If you really want to do something, how about as a compromise, go for the F&C supper (or equivalent of) but then maybe you could either do the Wedding Cake (if you don't feel up to the icing, you could make the cake and give to someone else to ice) or maybe do a selection of deserts/snacks for later in the evening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 You can get mobile fish and chip vans. It would be to get one of those turn up, followed by an ice cream van Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Not being very helpful, mine was self-catered - but then my Dad and his mates were all chefs! They brewed up the wine and beer too, it was wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Remeber it is about you getting married surrounded by the people that you care about that is the important thing You could cater yourself and I am sure that you could borrow fridge space from neighbours and relatives and get some teenagers to wait tables. I went to a wedding recently where everyone bought food, it was fantastic. One minute there was nothing and the next there was delicious food everywhere. Some make quiche, others salads or puds. It was really lovely and everyone enjoyed making as well as eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Aout 18 mths ago my sister and I part-catered a cousins wedding and I really enjoyed it. As a family we'd catered my wedding 20+ years ago, my sisters 25 years ago and my brothers about 14 years ago but we hadn't done any weddings since. Mine was a bit of a rush and I do remember having to get a 17yr old (male) cousin to press my wedding dress whilst I did my make-up. My cousins father is a muslim and my aunt had been worried about caterers not being careful enough with ingredients and/or her husbands family not trusting that they had been careful enough so my sister offered for us to cater as we would be careful to follow the rules (which are actually not that much of a restriction) ! It was decided that we'd do a buffet and they'd order in curries from one of the local Indian restaurants. We had no pork anywhere so no sausage rolls, ham etc but did have cooked sliced turkey and beef. Both could be easily cooked and even sliced the day before just keep covered and cold and obviously agood ham would make cold meats even easier. We did coleslaw and lots of other salads of different kinds, selection of bread and I did a large bowl of hardboiled quails eggs as the quail were laying very well. We prepared most food he day before. What we did go to town on was desserts and have a table loaded with a wide variety including heart shaped chocolate fudge cake, trifle (without sherry), carrot cake, eton mess, some were slightly difficult as we couldn't use gelatine but even with that restriction there was lots we could do. An amazing array of desserts was a great idea as that was what people remembered the most and they were seriously impressed (I felt a bit of a fraud actually as it wasn't that difficult). We worked hard putting food out and clearing up but were still able to enjoy the day. A couple of friends of my nephews were hired to serve drinks at the bar but we had no waiting staff. My cousin sorted the table settings & decoration so we didn't need to think about that aspect. It would have been harder if we'd been the brides immediate family though as we didn't need to meet and greet anyone. It was very satisying to do the buffet and I enjoyed the wedding more for being so involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted June 18, 2010 Author Share Posted June 18, 2010 Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Still undecided, apart from the fish and chip supper which is a definite (like the idea of the ice cream van as well!) I also had a thought of doing an afternoon tea instead of a full on buffet - cakes are a bit of a speciality of mine and lots could be made in advance - all of the assorted family members could do a few trays of sandwiches, I could make loads of mini quiches in advance and freeze them and I am sure a local baker could supply fresh scones on the day so that we could have a cream teal as well (don't fancy getting up on my daughter's wedding day and baking 200 scones and they have to be freshly made I think) If you really want to do something, how about as a compromise, go for the F&C supper (or equivalent of) but then maybe you could either do the Wedding Cake (if you don't feel up to the icing, you could make the cake and give to someone else to ice) or maybe do a selection of deserts/snacks for later in the evening? Like the idea too of doing desserts in the evening - my DD and her BF are very fond indeed of my white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake! I think the thing is that paying for wedding food from a caterer is so expensive and usually disappointing. There will definitely be no sit down meal as I haven't been to a wedding yet where the hot meal is anything other than just about OK. Trying to get the atmosphere of the day as being not very formal, very family orientated and fun, apart from the service itself, which will be completely traditional. My DD has already flummoxed me by choosing a completely beautiful, traditional dress (this from a very casual jean wearer) I went with her to the dress shop and I just couldn't get out of my head that she was in her Gran's dressing up box each time she came out of the changing room in yet another amazing creation. The dress takes 5 months to make so it is ordered to save any last minute panics. Only me and her are going to know anything about the dress which is lovely. She is very lucky in being a size 8 so everything she tried on looked stunning. Her Dad left when she was a baby and I re-married when she was 2 so she is going to walk up the aisle with both Dads which I think is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshinesupernova Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 sounds like it will probably be the best wedding any guest could enjoy. I think the idea of her going down the isle with both dads is awesome. I'm glad for her sake that it can be so amicable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 Random, off the wall thought coming up - do they have their own home with a decent fridge? Would buying an American fridge for the day and then giving it to them for their wedding pressie be extravagant??? I'd have been delighted (I got a pressure washer but I think of my mum every time we clean the decking ). PS we (bride & groom) did a BBQ in our back garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 You can get mobile fish and chip vans. It would be to get one of those turn up, followed by an ice cream van A friend of mine did just that for her wedding reception and when the ice cream van came they served everyone at their reception Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 Random, off the wall thought coming up - do they have their own home with a decent fridge? Would buying an American fridge for the day and then giving it to them for their wedding pressie be extravagant??? I'd have been delighted (I got a pressure washer but I think of my mum every time we clean the decking ). PS we (bride & groom) did a BBQ in our back garden Lovely idea but they rent and an american fridge would be bigger than their kitchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
