"Wedding Food - Drink Tips And Ideas"

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RECEPTION FOOD IDEAS & TIPS:

Food is one of the most expensive parts of a wedding. The food you serve at your wedding will depend on your budget. Formal weddings tend to have sit down dinners and less formal weddings have buffets.

There are so many reception food ideas to choose from. To get ideas for the food you want to serve at your reception, try choosing foods that you had on your first date, family favorites or the theme of your wedding.

The amount of guest you invite will determine the overall cost of your reception. The more guest you invite the more expensive it will be. Limit your guest list to keep expences down.

If you are going to use a cater, they can help you with your menu ideas. Sample the menu and ask for referances from each caterer before you choose which one you are going to hire. Alway get everything in writing.

Ask family and friends to help you prepare food for your reception. Invite guests to bring a dish instead of giving you a gift.

For a formal sit down meal choose foods that all your guest will like. You don't want to choose foods that your guest will not eat and go home hungry. To budget a formal dinner, limit your courses you have for your meal. Instead of a five courses dinner have a three course dinner.

If your wanting to cut cost on your reception, you may want to choose other options. Plan a breakfast or brunch reception, this will be cheaper than a full course dinner.

Buffets are cheaper than a formal sit down dinner. Your guest will be able to choose what they want to eat instead of something they don't like. Buffet food stations are very popular and will allow your guests more of a variety and less lines to stand in.

If your trying to keep cost down try having a dessert reception, tea reception, or cocktail hour reception. For those on a really small budget serve cake, punch and champagne.

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BAR & BEVERAGE IDEAS:

If your going to serve drinks at your wedding, there are several options you have to choose from.

Having an open bar is the easiest choice to make, it allows your guest to have the cocktail of their choice. If you are choosing to have an open bar, opt for the house brands instead of the premium brands. Make sure you stay within your budget.

Have an open bar cocktail hour. Have the bar open only during a specific time. You may choose to serve wine during dinner and champagne for a toast or while the cake is being cut. This option will allow you to have the bar open without spending a large amount.

Serve beer and wine instead of a full cocktail bar. Having a limited bar will control the amount of money you spend. This will also allow you to have the beverages you choose to serve.

If you really want to have a bar at your wedding but it's not in your budget, you may want to have a cash bar. Make sure you inform your guest of this option so they will have money if they want to have a cocktail.

Ask your guest to bring their own drinks to the outdoor reception instead of giving you a gift.

You may want to choose to have an alcohol free reception. If your guest don't drink there is no reason to have alcohol served. Serve coffee, tea, juice, punch, and soft drinks.

Find a reception location that you can bring your own liquor to reduce beverage costs.

Freeze fruit, edible flowers , citrus wedges, mint leaves, maraschino cherries, and ginger slices inside ice cubes. Add fruit filled ice cubes to a glass of sparkling water to add an extra touch.

Add fruit slices or berries to drink glasses or punch to add a little extra color.

Fill a tub with ice and stock it with soft drinks, bottled water, beer, and wine coolers.


For a breakfast or brunch reception serve coffee, punch, Bloody Mary's, Tequila Sunrise or Wine Sprtizer.

For an afternoon or evening reception serve coffee, tea, punch, beer, champagne, cocktails, martini's. Other options are using a margarita machine, sangria bar or a wine tasting bar.

Wine serving temperature chart .

For a reception at night serve iced tea, coffee , Kalua and coffee, champagne, wine, brandy, mixed cocktails mixed cocktails or White Russians.

BEVERAGES ON A BUDGET:

* Cranberry Cooler

* Champagne Punch

* White Wine Punch

Non alcoholic:

* Pink Lemonade

* Raspberry Lemonade

* Sparkling Cider