| Catering your own wedding isn't an easy task. It | | | | some space issues. Because we don't want you |
| takes a lot of time and preparation, and when | | | | working on your wedding day, most of the meal |
| you only have one day to get it right, stress can | | | | will be made ahead of time, which means lots of |
| be high. But we can't have that on your big day! | | | | refrigeration and some freezing. Ask friends and |
| So, we've pulled together the top 5 things that | | | | neighbors to help you with the load, be sure to |
| you need to know before you decide to cater | | | | label everything clearly and keep a list of whose |
| your own wedding. | | | | fridge is housing what. This will keep you from |
| | | | going crazy looking for the chocolate dipped |
| 1. TIME - Do not underestimate the amount of | | | | strawberries! Also, using the proper storage for |
| time it will take you to prepare your dishes! | | | | each item will help keep things organized and |
| Getting a head start on your prep work (chopping | | | | maximize your fridge space. |
| onions, mixing dry ingredients) and other non-time | | | | 4. SERVING - Unless you plan on hiring servers |
| sensitive tasks can really save you during the final | | | | for the event, buffet is really the only way to |
| weeks before your wedding. Believe me, you | | | | successfully pull of catering your own wedding. |
| don't want to be cooking pasta sauce in your | | | | But, don't forget you will need people to replenish |
| white dress! | | | | the buffet and clear trash and used dishes. There |
| 2. PLANNING - Play Santa Clause when catering | | | | are plenty of event staff services that can |
| your own wedding; make a list and check it twice! | | | | provide you with 1 or 2 qualified helpers and |
| Understanding the timing and flow of meal | | | | shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred |
| preparation and service will keep you from | | | | dollars for the day. |
| making typical at-home-catering mistakes like not | | | | 5. CLEANING - This is especially important if the |
| having everything done at the same time. Search | | | | majority of preparation and cooking is done at |
| for diy catering menus that lay out when and | | | | the same site as the wedding. Make sure that |
| how each item should be prepared and served to | | | | you clean as you go, or designate someone to be |
| save you the hassle of trying to figure it out on | | | | the cleaner. It may also be helpful to place a |
| your own. | | | | privacy panel in front of any doorways leading |
| 3. SPACE - Unless you're fortunate enough to | | | | into the kitchen. People tend to drift towards the |
| have a commercial kitchen and walk-in fridge at | | | | kitchen and this will keep them from being too |
| your house, chances are you're going to run into | | | | nosey! |