Taking on too much?

swingaloo

I'm getting married in July, only close family and a few friends. At first my idea was just to go to a pub after the registry office and have a meal. I didn't want a big reception or evening do.


Then I decided that as I couldn't find a pub in the area that I thought would be ok for what I wanted I spoke to one of my sisters who has a large house and garden and now plan to back to go back to hers after the registry office.


I thought just a small buffet in her dining room and seating in the garden but as time has gone on and I've looked at loads of pics I have a plan for a 'vintage style' tea party. I've plans to buy one of those gazebos with 3 sides and an open front and decorate it and set up food tables around the inside.


I've seen so many pictures and taken many ideas from them that I've started collecting allsorts and making decorations
and planning the food etc.


I plan to take 2 days off before the wedding to get organised as I know that only so much can be done in advance. Now I'm getting worried as my partner keeps saying that he thinks I'm taking on too much and he doesn't really feel comfortable that I'm having to 'Do all the work for your own wedding'. he isn't able to help much as he is disabled and apart from the sister who's house I'm using the others live too far away to be able to help the day/night before.


So what I really need are tips to make the buffet work as minimal as I can on the day itself as I want to be able to have everything set up so that when we return from the registry office I don't have to go into the kitchen for 30 minutes to get things sorted. I'm slightly worried he's right and I have taken on too much. I want to be getting ready 2 hours before the wedding not icing cakes and cutting sandwiches!


I don't want to get caterers in as I admit to being a control freak and have this picture in my head of how I want everything to look. Its only going to be 30-35 people and I just want an informal afternoon.


I'm thinking of laying the meats etc out on trays rather than making sandwiches as that will be easier and faster.


I don't want to do a traditional sandwich/pies/sausage rolls type thing. I have plans to make fruit skewers and little individual trifles in small, stemmed glasses.
Anyone have any ideas for nice sort of finger food that looks effective but can be prepared the day before please?


I would appreciate any help and tips.
Thanks for reading.

rosie-lee

It might be worth a try on the 'old-style' board. Some of the women on there are pure genius when it comes to anything with food, and on a budget.


best wishes for a lovely day

swingaloo

Thank you very much.


Could one of the mods move this for me please to save my typing it all out again. Thank you

gettingtheresometime

It may be one thing to prepare the food the day before but have you thought about where you're going to store it?

You may be a control freak but I think you're in danger of not being able to enjoy your day if you don't relinquish some of the jobs

Just my two pence worth

daivid

Sounds like a wonderful idea! If you have as little local help as you say it could be very onerous for you.
I would consider carefully what to do myself and what to buy in, for example do you have a butcher/deli nearby that will slice and arrange the meats on platters for you? Same for bread, salads and so on, may cost more but worth every penny in the time saved. Also if food is delivered/collected on the day that solves storage problems.
Think what can be done far in advance - e.g. decorations (non-floral), sourcing drinks, even the cake if you go for a fruitcake. As for the day, I doubt you will want to be doing anything to prepare the buffet on the day, so get friends family to do a few tasks? Hopefully everyone will buy into the spirit and be happy to help and the jobs should be limited to carrying, setting out - no actual cookery involved (still provide aprons perhaps?).
Also the older (30years+) versions of the Good Housekeeping cookbook have an excellent section in the back on party catering, perhaps you could pick up a copy in a charity shop or maybe it exists as a standalone book now, IDK.
Good luck!

cashewnut

Could you order platters of sandwiches from, say, M&S? Would save you spending time constructing sandwiches yourself

themull1

cashewnut wrote: »

Could you order platters of sandwiches from, say, M&S? Would save you spending time constructing sandwiches yourself

The sarnies from M and S are lovely, so are the pre made wrap platters. Very fresh. I would get those, and some premade cakes like french fancies, anything brightly coloured, macaroons in pretty colours, do scones with little pots of jam and cream, cheese scones, chocolate dipped strawberries, cheese straws etc.

Smoked salmon rolled round cream cheese is lovely, i think meat slices will dry up on their own and be a bit dry on their own.

T£sco do lovely cupcakes very cheaply, different colours in a pack of 9 for about £4.50 i think. You can get cardboard cakestands for the tables that just need assembling.

There are cardboard birdcage cake stands you can get but i can't remember where i saw them, a bit of ivy twisted round, very effective.

swingaloo

Thank you all for the suggestions.


I like the idea of asking the deli to prepare the trays of meat. I could take the trays in the day before so will look into that.


My niece is making all the cupcakes as Im not having a wedding cake.


Luckily this morning a neighbour was disposing of a fridge so I stopped her taking it to the tip and have taken it to my sisters garage so I will have some extra fridge storage to use. I will take it to the tip later.


Just added cream cheese in smoked salmon to my menu. Just out of interest what kind of cream cheese would you recommend?


Ive already got the chocolate strawberries on my list and the macaroons.

Mrs_Huggett

Cream cheese like Philly, but get the best shops own brand, sainsbos is nice, making lots of sandwiches takes a long time, but you can do them the night before and pop over a slightly damp clean teatowel, tuck in around the edges and pop in the fridge, Mary Berry trick!! lots of little trifles will take up heaps of room, make a biggun in a big glass dish, then use the small dishes to serve in, (I have a house full of vintage china and glass as I hire it out for weddings lol)

WedMeSoon

This sounds like a lovely idea - I can picture how great it will look.
Stick to the idea of miniature individual trifles though - although one big one is easier and takes up less space, as soon as 2 people have had a portion from it, it will look unappetising!

swingaloo

WedMeSoon wrote: »

This sounds like a lovely idea - I can picture how great it will look.
Stick to the idea of miniature individual trifles though - although one big one is easier and takes up less space, as soon as 2 people have had a portion from it, it will look unappetising!

Thank you, I will stick to the small trifles although I agree a big one would be a lot easier but Ive already got all the glasses ready to use.


Ive used glasses with a stem and put a fine ribbon round them with a small flower on some and a small bow on others so they all colour co-ordinate with my theme. They look so cute I just have to use them!