Wedding food!

xxvickixx

Just thought of another tip:

When doing sarnies in advance, make them all up but don't cut them up then put them all back into the bread bag with the original crust slices at either end so it looks like a loaf again. Tie the bag up and pop in the fridge.

As last minute as you can cut the crusts off and cut them into quarters. This way they don't dry out.

I think the Curry and F&C sounds like a great idea too.

skintchick

Some friends had fish and chips from the chippy eaten out of the paper. It went down well, and was easy to do. They also did scones, which are easy to do in advance.

Personally I'd spend the money (we had a three-course sit-down with silver service) but then I love good food and am not a fan of buffets especially. our evening buffet was all hot food and was quite expensive but very lovely. I don;t really like pasta salads and sausage rolls as I'm afraid to me they seem naff.

faithcecilia

2 of my friends got married close together a couple of years ago. One was a DIY in her parents garden - many on us guests made dishes and dropped then off just bwfore the wedding, they paid for copious amounts of booze! The wedding was an absolute hit!

Few months later anoher friend had the reception at a local venue, taking the 'value' buffet as it provided the types of food they wanted - sarnies, sausage rolls, etc. The food was not enough - we were all waiting for more to be brought out and it wasn't, that was it - and the bar had to be paid for. Having worked the bar for MANY buffets i was shocked at the lack of food (usually the staff get doggy bags all round).

So my advice would be DIY if you know your friends will do you proud, or spend a bit more so they dont go hungry.

I can't help for a sit down meal as both friends went for just evening buffets.

alenax

Wow, these have all been fantastic ideas, I've C+P'd them into a Word document to put in my Wedding folder, will definitely take them all on board! Thank you so much everyone

Mutter_2

The easiest way to chill bottles and cans is a baby bath full of ice. Can also be used for food.

Waiting staff recruited from teenage friends, just wear black and white.

I would provide a welcome drink and the equivalent of two glasses of wine per head (at most), jug of water and cordial per table. A glass of bargain Champagne for the toast. Hardly anyone knows the difference. Glasses hired free when purchasing wine.

Arrange a paying bar for any further drinking. Some of the worst does I've ever been to have had free bar all night. Even the the most sophisticated, make fools of themselves because it's free.

The bar shouldn't cost anything, staff being paid from bar profits.

I saw above that mayo salads are naff.
Decorated Whole Salmon, Ham and Beef joints with imaginative salads should be ok. Think noodles with spicey bits dressed before going out with sesame dressing. Rice with raisins and almonds in a curry dressing.
Spa goers pay a fortune for it and love it in their reviews

Build your serving table with various heights. Put different size boxes beneath a white cloth to take dishes. Peel round an orange in a circular motion, like peeling an apple, still attached to the orange, pin the orange with wooden skewers and allow the peel to tumble. Would look good if the orange were studded with cloves? Play with ideas on the main and decoration. Fresh figs split open with the cheese, scattered with walnuts, both in the shell and not. You want the WOW factor.
I cannot recall one wedding due to the food. I can remember being impressed by a sprung floor and dance band, but that doesn't happen often.

Look, it is your day. You know your budget and I don't think for one moment any of your guests would wish you to be in debt over it.

Hog Roast, Fish and Chips? All your guests want is your happiness.