| One of the biggest checks that you will cut on | | | | impression of comfort and joy which most of the |
| your wedding date will be on the cost of catering. | | | | time will be hard to do. |
| Food and alcohol can really eat up your budget | | | | 3-Cocktail hour: If you are having a cocktail hour, |
| and typically accounts for roughly 40-50% of the | | | | consider having the servers hand pass the pricier |
| overall wedding budget. | | | | items such as shrimps and scallops. This will |
| That's hard to believe isn't it? | | | | typically save an average of 30% of your |
| To put it in perspective for you, think about going | | | | catering budget. |
| out for dinner, the cost of a medium size dinner | | | | 4-Not all seafood is priced equally: calamari are |
| for one at a major city such as New York is | | | | about half the price of shrimps, make your |
| about $30 per person with tax & tip not | | | | choices for cocktail hour and reception keeping |
| including much alcohol, perhaps a glass of wine. If | | | | this in mind. Ask your caterer lots of questions. |
| you take this number and multiply it by 200 | | | | 5-Know your seasonal foods: Some dinning |
| people the total is about 6,000, not that scary | | | | options are perfectly affordable during a summer |
| yet. However it will be a bit more frightening | | | | season and are expensive during the fall and vise |
| when you add more then a glass of wine (2 or | | | | versa. Scarcity of a particular food will increase |
| 3), a cocktail hour and a full Viennese table for | | | | the cost by up to 40%. |
| desert! Feel free to double this number. | | | | 6-Discount options: If you will have children at the |
| Below are the 10 ways to feed your guests | | | | reception choose the caterer that offers 1/2 price |
| without breaking your budget. With just the right | | | | for children up to the age of 16, that will save |
| mix of psychology, imagination and practicality, | | | | tons of cash especially if you have a huge family. |
| you will be able to impress your guests without | | | | 7-Mix it up: Depending on the evaluation of your |
| spending a fortune. | | | | guests, consider a tasting menu that will offer up |
| Below are the secrets of a luxury wedding dinning | | | | to 8 mini courses to be served for dinner. |
| experience without spending a fortune. | | | | 8-Mix up the alcohol brands:8 certain brands of |
| 1-Know your guests: the first step to designing a | | | | vodka for example are pricier then others, mix up |
| quality and a cost friendly budget is to know your | | | | expensive brands for guests that will inquire on |
| people! What are the priorities? Are they more of | | | | brand and have your bar tender use the less |
| drinkers or eaters or both? What is more | | | | expensive brands for guests that do not have a |
| important, a bar that will have a variety of top | | | | preference. This little trick will save you about |
| shelf alcohol or 5 entrée options during | | | | 30% of the cost of alcohol. |
| main course? Your answer to this question will | | | | 9-Close the open bar an hour earlier: Begin serving |
| drive the rest of the decisions that you will make. | | | | coffee and tea. About one hour before you party |
| 2-Make a great first impression: One of my | | | | will end. This will have tons of benefits by default. |
| mentors once told me "you have only one time | | | | First, your guests will have a chance to sober up |
| to make a first impression", with experience I also | | | | before leaving your party and second, it will save |
| realized that a first impression is really hard to | | | | you up to 35%! |
| break. A lesson in psychology for you, make a | | | | 10-Forego the full Viennese table: Go for a 5 tier |
| great first impression on your guests as soon as | | | | cake, a chocolate fondue station and bit size |
| they arrive to your wedding! Set the tone with an | | | | deserts that will be passed around. This will save |
| immaculately dressed server greeting guests as | | | | you about $15 per person and that's about |
| they arrive to your wedding serving Champagne | | | | $3,000, a nice chunk of change that you can use |
| bellinies at the door! This will set an environment | | | | towards your honeymoon or (depending on your |
| where your guests will feel welcomed and | | | | area of residence) a few months rent on your |
| comfortable at your wedding, or in other words, | | | | new apartment! |
| at this time you will need to begin breaking a first | | | | |