8 Tips For Doing Your Own Wedding Catering

DIY wedding catering is a great way to feed a lot of hungry people. Although it isn't easy, it can be done if you plan carefully and look at all your options. Before you begin planning, though, look at the following ideas to create the perfect catered wedding reception.

1. Make it simple As you decide what to serve at your reception, take into account your talents and the time that will be available to you, and make the menu as simple as you can. Find items for your menu that you can make ahead of time and store until the day of your wedding, and don't use complex, difficult recipes that will only stress you out.

2. Ask for help You probably have friends and relatives who love to cook, so ask around to see if people can help with side dishes, salads, and even breads. Those who help might even take care of the cost of the dish they make too, helping you save a little more.

3. Think about health regulations It's essential when preparing your own food to follow health regulations just like a professional caterer would. Wash your hands often, and keep your work spaces clean. Avoid cross-contamination, especially when working with meats, and be sure that items are both cooked and stored correctly. If you're having a summer wedding, be sure you have plenty of fridge space to keep all the food cold. You should have more than enough space, even if you have to beg fridges from relatives or rent them from specialty stores.

4. Remember the utensils Don't forget to count how you will eat the foot and what utensils will be needed. Plates, bowls, spoons, knives, and forks will all probably be necessary, and you'll also need napkins and tablecloths to complete the ensemble. You can probably rent these items from a specialty shop, and the shop may even clean them up afterwards for a little extra money, which will be well worth it.

5. Find Free Service Help Even if you cook the whole meal, you obviously won't be the one serving the food and drinks, so get people to volunteer for these jobs, or hire a few local teenagers for a small fee. Before they serve, though, you or someone you put in charge needs to be sure they know what they're doing.

6. Think About Little Things Professional caterers have been doing this for years, but you might easily forget about salt and pepper, sugar, butter, storage containers, bottle openers, ice buckets, ash trays, and such. Make a complete list of everything you need, and double check it a few days before the wedding.

7. Find Good Deals You can look for deals on storable essentials like flour, sugar, and even butter in the months leading up to your wedding. Having these things on hand will be helpful later on, and you'll save lots of money if you shop around for them. 8. Shop Locally Local shops will have the best quality meats and produce, and they'll probably even deliver the food to your door for free, which makes for one less pre-wedding errand to run! Hopefully these tips will help you understand what goes into catering your own wedding, but you'll still need to think carefully about what to serve and how. Good luck!

*Nicola Ray

How to Choose Great Wedding Invitations

Before you know it the wedding season will be upon us and with the joy of getting married comes all of the preparations we must deal with. Deciding on your invitation and getting the save the date card is something you can not leave to the last minute. Once you have mailed the save the date card, your friends and family know there will be a wedding and now plus plan to set the date aside. It is official you are getting married.

First you must shop around and decide what type of invitation you want, formal or casual. Whether you will have them professionally printed or you will do it at home on your personal PC. There are many options to the bride today. Set a budget and try to stay within the budget. When figuring the cost, don't forget the postage. If you are sending out a large number of invitations it can quickly add up.

Next, you must choose the save a date card that usually has a similar look to your invitation. These can be sent out as early as one year in advance, but 6 months is usually the norm. It is important to send these so your guests can start making plans. Such as plane and hotel reservations. Usually the earlier they plan the better rate they will receive.

Continuing with your choices, it is time to select the actual invitation. Keep in mind invitations can be very expensive or quite reasonable depending on what you select. The type of paper, the type of print, how many sheets of paper are included in the invitation. How the paper is folded and if there is a RSVP card enclosed with an envelope all adds to the price of the invitation. By the time you order your invitations the two of you should have decided with your parents what type of invitation you want to send out. Today with the aid of the internet you can get a vast amount of information without too much foot work.

Lastly, keep in mind the theme of your invitation reflects the theme of the wedding. The colors of your invitation could very well be the colors of your whole wedding theme. The bridesmaid dresses, flowers, tablecloths, and all wedding decorations. So when choosing your invitation put a lot of thought in your invitation as this will set the tone for all things to come. This will be the first of many decisions.

*by: Bryan Burbank

Wedding Planning Services

Wedding planning services - can you find a company or an individual proprietor that would help you plan your wedding? In fact, there are numerous companies and individuals offering their wedding planning services. The question is - how to find a good one?

First, when you are looking for a service that would help you plan your wedding; you should try to find out as much as you can about their background. It's not only important to compare the prices and services of various planners, but it's also vital to find real feedback from the users. Some of the companies have forums and chat rooms where their users can share their thoughts and ask questions. Other companies will provide you with real references of the couples which they have serviced in the past, allowing you to read the feedback from real people or even contact them if you have any questions.

Furthermore, think about if you would prefer a local wedding planner, whom you could visit when you have questions. Local planners are the preferred option of many couples, since the close proximity of the planner allows you to promptly receive assistance.

Next are the costs. It's obvious that if you turn to a large established company, you will most likely have to pay for. The costs rise due to the larger number of staff, renting more expensive offices, and so on. If you turn to a smaller company or someone new to wedding planning, you may get much better prices simply because of the need of these proprietors to establish a larger clientele and collect new references. The pitfall of newer planners is that they are not as skilled as the ones that have been in business for years. Thus, you will have to make your own choice - a reputable and more expensive company or a newly established and cheaper one.

In the end, it's all about the feedback, and the real issue here is the credibility of the feedback, because there is almost no way to tell if the company is providing you with an assortment of feedbacks or only with the ones from their most satisfied customers. What could be a way around this issue? The best way to check the validity of feedback is through online forums and chats. Simply search for the feedback on the planner of your interest in the wedding forums and chats, and you will get the real information. Additionally, here you will be able to find other wedding planners that people recommend to use or not to use.

Wedding planning services will help you organize a wedding with ease. However, try to do thorough research in order to obtain the optimal result.

-Adam Gaines

How to Decorate a Church For a Wedding

Decorating a church for a wedding may not seem like such a difficult feat. However, there is some work involved. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you use up all of the decorations you have to only find that you need more. That can result in a disaster, especially if you can't find anything that is the same color or the same thing that you're out of.

You need to make sure that you can go to the church and assess the sanctuary before you even order your decorations. You need to know how many pews there are, how many windows, the width of the windows, details about the altar area, and so much more.

So when you are decorating a church for a wedding, ask yourself these three questions:

- What decorations can I use? This is an important question because some churches will not allow certain decorations. They have a rather traditional view of decorations. So make sure you consult with the church first. Tell them what you want to do and make sure that it is allowed. You don't want to buy decorations and then find out that you can't use what you have bought.

- Are the decorations necessary? Many churches are already very ornate, which means they may not need much in the way of decorations. So you have to evaluate how much you actually need based on the natural décor of the sanctuary. This can save you a lot of money on the decorations.

- What decorations are suitable? Again, you have to evaluate the sanctuary so that you know what decorations are suitable. If you don't want to have an extremely formal event, some flowers here and there are great. You don't have to overdo it. Although many flowers are nice, church sanctuaries have a natural beauty to them. And the bride is the focus of the wedding anyway. People pay closer attention to her dress.

Some tips

There are simple tips that you can use to make the ceremony look great. You may even be able to borrow some decorations from the church, especially if past wedding parties have left some of their things behind. Sometimes churches will store those things that have been left behind in case they can be used again.

Churches may also have candelabras that you can use. Most churches already have them and they will not have a problem letting you borrow them. In the meantime, you can use flowers in the windows, on the altar, and use flowers at the end of the pews so that the aisle is lined with flowers. Sometimes the simplest of decorations can be the most beautiful. Also, having flowers at the ends of the pews go great with the petals that are sprinkled along the aisle by the flower girl.

And when it comes to your flower arrangements, it is better to opt for larger arrangements than a series of smaller arrangements.

Research

So make sure you do the proper research. If you don't, then you may find that you have too many decorations or not enough. Consult with anyone in the church who can help you with this so that you know what is appropriate and what isn't appropriate. You might be amazed at how much time, effort, and money you save by doing the proper assessment before the wedding. In the end, you'll be able to have a beautiful wedding that is charming and a lot of fun for everyone. It is the most important day of your life, so it is important that it is perfect.

Decorate a Church for a Wedding is now considered a necessity for a wedding requirement, along side all the other wedding requirements, things like wedding invitations, a wedding cake, wedding flowers arrangements, Wedding limos, a wedding photographer and wedding videographer to name a few.

**Amy Nutt

Think Outside the Invitation With Pocket Wedding Invitations

Are you ready to give your wedding invitation a little
something extra? Set your invite apart from the pack with the absolutely
fabulous and incredibly functional pocket wedding invitations. These unique
pieces of stationery are designed to carry all the information your guests will
need for your special day in one fashionable piece. Available in a range of
colors and designs and offered at a price point that won't ruin your budget,
these invitations truly set the mood for the happiest day of your
life.

Pocket wedding invitations are designed to include the invitation, the
RSVP card, directions to the ceremony and reception, and also reception
preferences in one piece of stationery. To make these invitations, a stiff piece
of high grade paper is used as a matte foundation on which the traditional
wedding invitation is fixed. On the back of this piece of stiff paper is a small
envelope pocket that is secure enough to hold the three additional parts of the
wedding invitation. The additional elements are arranged in an aesthetically
pleasing order from smallest to largest from the front of the envelope pocket,
with the RSVP card at the front, followed by the reception preferences card,
followed by the largest piece of paper with the directions to the ceremony
tucked into the back. The effect of this multifaceted and functional piece of
stationery is truly striking.

The best part about pocket wedding invitations
is the fact that they are customizable down to a T. You can select not only what
color and font scheme you would like to use, but you can also choose the type
and grade of paper for all four elements. And of course the wording of all four
pieces is entirely in your control. Each of the four elements can be customized
in whatever unique way that you'd like. For example, the RSVP card can be made
into a postcard or come with its own small pre-stamped envelope. The ways in
which you can make these unique invitations personal to you are almost
endless.

Not only are these invitations incredibly chic and functional, but
they are also affordable for brides regardless of the size of their wedding.
Like all items bought in bulk, the more you buy the cheaper the individual unit
is. These fun, fresh, and feminine pieces of stationery won't make you choose
between having a super cute invitation and inviting those cousins that you
really don't know to your wedding.

The truth is, while some people may notice
the flowers or the way that the flower girl's dress matches the special hue used
strategically in your bouquet, there are few other details of your wedding that
will make an impact on your guests more than your invitations. The invitation is
an announcement of a celebration. It is the first moment when you will be
letting most of the world know that you have found your life partner and you are
over the moon with happiness. Your invitation needs to convey your joy, your
excitement, and also your expressed hope that each guest you invite will be able
to share this moment with you. Through their beautiful designs, pocket wedding
invitations share the depth of your emotion with your guests. However, it is the
thoughtful functionality, keeping everything the guests need in one place, which
shows how much their attendance will mean to you. So start your wedding off the
right way with these absolute gems, and get ready for a truly magical
wedding!

by Andy West

Free Wedding Planning

Free wedding planning will help you save a sufficient amount of money on planning a wedding. Even though numerous companies and private people currently offer their wedding planning services, these services tend to be rather expensive. Furthermore, even if you find an affordable planner, it might make you feel left out or even out of control, if another person manages the planning of your wedding.

How can you plan your wedding on your own? There are two main approaches: free online or downloadable wedding planning software, or a regular spreadsheet application.

1. Free Wedding Planning with the Use of a Spreadsheet

If you have a good command of any spreadsheet application, you can simply turn it into an excellent wedding planner. Spreadsheet application would help you easily calculate the costs, manage the budget, and manage all other aspects of planning a wedding.

Advantages of this method are as follows: no need to research for free wedding planning software, and no need to install that software on your computer in case it's downloadable software. Furthermore, this method eliminates any headache that may arise from incompatibility of some applications with some computers (e.g., Mac) or a certain operating system. Furthermore, some tools have a "not very user-friendly" interface, and using a spreadsheet would eliminate the need of learning how to use this new program.

The drawbacks are as follows: since you would not be using a specialized tool, you would need to do all the required research on your own, searching for the wedding etiquette information, guides about wedding ceremonies, the order of events, and hundreds of things- to-do needed for a wedding.

2. Free Wedding Planning with the Use of a Wedding Planning Software

Free wedding software is another easy way to plan a wedding on your own and free of charge. There are many online tools that do not even require installation, allowing for their easy use in any browser.

The benefits of using such a tool are that this is a specialized application, which generally comprises all of the aspects of planning a wedding. In fact, this might be beneficial and negative at the same time, since such a tool may provide you with too many features and possibilities, "making your eyes cross". However, more is better than less, and you can rest assure that you will find any possible detail of things needed to be done.

The bottom line: you can easily plan your wedding on your own and at no cost, if you simply choose to use a regular spreadsheet application or free online or downloadable wedding planning software.
~Adam Gaines

Wedding Planners Event Coordinator

Any event, wedding inclusive can be a day one would like to remember, but this can only be if it has been well planned and coordinated. Those who have wedded have said that their wedding day is the greatest day of their lives. Despite this, some of the minor things that may have been ignored can cause much havoc and dissatisfaction, some of which can be long-lived. One may not want to imagine what would happen if during the d-day, the photographer or the driver does not turn up. Another tragedy can be if another group had already booked the venue that had been planned for.

An event coordinator does the work of organizing and coordinating public or private events, appearances and events. This entails organizing participants, securing appropriate venues, notifying those who may attend and organizing them, acquiring the relevant tools, equipment and materials and finally to organize and delegate duties to those assisting him or her during the day of the event. On the other hand, the wedding planner also referred to as the wedding consultant is the mediator, the money manager and the facilitator.

There are several character traits that a planner should posses. Obviously, he or she should be patient and calm even when things seem to be going asunder. He also very importantly should be a good negotiator as he would be the one who does all the orders and the purchasing on behalf of the bride and the bridegroom such as buying the gown and the other attire, get the catering team, hire the venue, musicians, public address system, photographers and so on. This is because only the best is required but at the cheapest rate. He must also be somebody who can network meaning that he or she handles differently people and issues at the same time. A good wedding planner should also be one who has a sense for proper fashion, which includes the color, the flowers, the music and the clothing. It would be so embarrassing if there were no color coordination in the clothing or the flowers and the decorations. This means that they must take their time in studying on the topic from the magazines or the internet.

The event planners must be prepared to work for long hours especially just before and during the event which may include much traveling and moving up and down to make sure that the purpose of the meeting is achieved. Therefore, the first thing that the planners need to know is the nature and the purpose of the meeting. That would then motivate delegates or the audience. All the work ranging from bookings, reception, stationery issuing, vehicle parking, accommodation, decorations among others should be done focusing on that aim.

One of the companies that specialize on the Sasha Souza of the United States that offers services such as, destination weddings and the green They have a large team that can handle different events at the same time.

~Rafi Michael