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Sit Down equals Formal. Plated food is served to each guest. Table cards with meal selections and place cards are needed so that the catering staff knows what to serve to which guest.
The Pros:
- You can serve exactly what your guests want by giving them options for meals. They can get an appetizer to start, then their meal choice, then dessert.
- Food is hot right out of the kitchen.
- This is the more elegant way to present food at a wedding,
- There is portion control so your costs are and should be less than buffet.
The Cons:
- Sit-down service usually takes longer to get everyone fed.
- There is usually a 15-minute window between the first table and the last at a large wedding.
- If you are crunched for time, this might not be your best option as the focus is on the level of service and not on the speed.
Buffet equals Casual. Food is nicely displayed on a long table where guests serve themselves.
The Pros:
- In a less formal environment, this option is great for your guests to socialize and get to know one another.
- Guests can get their food at their leisure- Guests can also keep going back for more.
The Cons:
- Buffets can be hard to get around if they aren’t planned well.
- Sometimes, people and tables get in the way so you need to make sure the caterer plans a good place to set up the table.
- There are long lines for guests to wait for their food.
In the end, even though your pocketbook is important, choose your service by the look and feel you want on your wedding day.
Managing Your Guest List and What A Wedding Can Really Cost You
It would be lovely to have the availability to invite everyone you know to your wedding. From that coworker that you barely know to distantly related cousins and their plus ones. For most, there are budget restrictions, people we don’t particularly care to include, space restrictions at your venue, and other possible limitations. It isn’t fun to cut people from your dream-wedding list, but sometimes it just has to be done. Here is some advice on how to handle this situation:
When making your guest list, you should organize it into priority groups. The first priority could include your immediate family, significant others of the groomsmen and bridal party, and close friends. The second priority could be your extended family, coworkers and acquaintances, and friends and colleagues of your parents. Your different groups may look varied depending on who is most important for you to spend your special day with.
If cuts become necessary, make them group-by-group, this way you aren’t inviting some of your coworkers but not others, or some third cousins and not others. Also, always keep in mind when you are making your list that some of your guests will decline your invitation.
No matter what the number ends up being, make sure that all the guests are those who you want there, and that will help to make your wedding much more special.
Sunset Times and Lighting For Your Outdoor Wedding
Being able to exchange your outdoor vows at sunset is a very romantic idea. But how can you make sure your guests are on time and able to share in the beauty of it?
A simple solution is that your invitations should have an earlier starting time-- about half an hour before your actual ceremony beings and the sun starts to set. A lot of brides forget to check the sunset time and figure out the appropriate lighting. To make sure that you can pin-point exactly when the sun will set, you can use an online sunrise and sunset calculator which gives you an accurate time no matter the date or place.
Once you have figured out the exact timing, you can talk to your venue and your photographer to make sure that you get the most out of the beautiful backdrop.
1) Manolo Blahnik
2) Miu Miu
3) Prada
4) Jimmy Choo
5) Christian Louboutin
6) Roberto Cavalli
7) Alexander McQueen
8) Yves Saint Laurent
9) Moschino
10) Gucci
Should You Do Multiple Events For Your Wedding?
When planning your dream wedding, it is easy to get carried away with the details. But with a little creativity and some research, you are able to cut costs without sacrificing quality and flare.
Here are a few ideas that can help you save:
1. Your Wedding Date: The peak wedding season is anywhere between April and September. If you pick a date that is between November and March, more resources will be available and you will cut costs. Also, more venues will be available.
2. Creative Centerpieces: Many brides purchase centerpieces from the decorators, which can be expensive, especially if the number of guests add up. But by being a little creative, you can create your own centerpieces that cost less. You can even visit discount stores or order things in bulk. You don’t have to have extravagant flower arrangements to project elegance and flare.
3. Lighting: If you have a budget that can’t include wall to wall lighting for each event, limit the special lighting to one of the events of your wedding. Also, opt to do four lights per wall to still give it a little bit of an effect.
4. Flowers: Asking your florist/decorator to reuse flowers is a cost friendly choice. In a different setting and lighting, the flowers will look different and unique. Don’t forget that you can use the flowers to decorate the room, bathroom, or even the cake.
5. Limiting Alcohol: Alcohol can take up a big part of your budget. You can cut the cost by limiting the amount you offer to your guests. It is not required for you to provide a full bar for all of your events. For cocktail hour, you can just limit it to select wines and beers. Maybe for the night before you do specialty drinks, like an assorted moito bar, or frozen drinks.
6. The Cake: To cut down the per slice cost, ask your bakery for only one or two real tiers of cake instead of all of your tiers. Most bakeries will give you the option of installing fake tiers for a minimum per tier charge. This option can easily help you save and still give you the cake you want. Also, maybe consider ordering cake for only half of your guests if there are also other desserts being offered.
7. Linens: If a full linen ensemble is not in your budget, you can get away with doing a runner on the table, charger plates on the table, or use just chair covers and sashes. Use the table linens provided by your venue and then rent the chair covers. To finish the look, select a chair sash to match the main color of your centerpiece.