How do I cater my wedding? please help?

We dont have much money we are really young but have been together for 7 years. We want to cater our own wedding with friends help. My mom thinks I am nuts, but I want to save money. We are having it at the elks and can only have their caterer or do it ourselves. Is pasta , plastic plates, cash bar really ok to have at a wedding? Table cloths are so much money but wont buy paper or plastic. Has anyone catered their wedding and how cheap can it really be for 100 or so people? Also when you add the plates, tablecloths, pans to make food in, ingrediance, does it almost come to the same as a cheap cater? Also what time should my friend start heating food before guests arrive? Any EASY menu ideas? , appitizers? If i have soda and water how can i keep them cold out on the buffet table? do I really need to buy pretty plates to serve food in or can I just use he pans I cooked them in. Is fake flowers on centerpieces ok.. maybe even i bridsmaid bouquet? ps pot luck is out of the questio

How do I cater my wedding? please help?
Consider doing mass cooking: Spaghetti, roast a pig or purchase big meat trays at Costco/Sam's Club/BJ's. You can always have your bridal party do a "cake baking party" and everyone bake those 89 cent cakes and decorate them together as a party. Save money on the cake.



Try those saving places (Costco/Sam's Club/BJ's) for the plates and things, they may have really cheap items.



The pans and pots that you cook in shouldn't be a problem to serve off of. Maybe you can do a theme that would make it seem appropriate like "Welcome to our new Home" and have everything seem like a kitchen or being at momma's table!



My friend did some amazing things with Ramon noodles and some mixed veggies and made it seem like Chinese food. Maybe look for recipe's online to make cheap noodles into something other than just regular spaghetti.



To be honest, it's YOUR wedding and the people around you on that day should understand your not rich and your starting a new life which is expensive and hard. If they demand china then you need to have a long talk to them about why they are friends with you.
Reply:In addition to chafing dishes, you may also need crock pots or warming plates- depending on what you are serving. Do not forget an ample amount of condiments, toppings, and sauces. Large styrofoam containers are ideal for storing ice and items that need to be kept cool.



Be sure there are plenty of serving utensils of all kinds- including cake-cutting utensils! You'll want at least 2 utensils for every dish.



I also recommend that you rent tablecloths at the very least.



http://www.angelfire.com/bc/hobbyhorse/i... will give you excellent options for menus!!!
Reply:Okay, first of all, slow down, take a deep breath and relax.

1. Go to a grocery store that premakes finger food. Tell them how many people and ask for a menu and prices. This isn't necessarily to buy but to get an idea of what you need to get and how much. Then after you have those numbers, go price everything yourself.

2. Nothing wrong with having a friend or family member to cook a couple hams or turkeys. Have it precut before the wedding and then reception help can warm it up. Your reception help should coordinate a phone call from your wedding party as to when you are planning to be at the reception.

3. Use family and friends, platters, dishes, etc. Borrow, ask nicely.

4. Keep several coolers under the tables with iced drinks. The reception help can tell the guests what you have and then hand it to them.

5. Unless the tables look nice, use tableclothes. Again, borrow family and friends. Try to stick with one color.

6. The only way to know if buying the plates, etc., is the same or close to catering, is to price compare. You have to do this the hard way...go get the prices and then add it up.

7. Flowers are nice, but so are mirrors and candles. Confetti, crystals, shiny rocks.



Hope this is helpful. You can also email me at eb_stuff@yahoo.com and I will send you a 14 page WORD document with more ideas.



RELAX!
Reply:You don't have to do anything fancy. baked chicken
Reply:i used to help cater weddings...



Recipie- TWICE BAKED POTATOES

make a lage pan amount of instant potatoes then throw in finely shredded chedder cheese stir.

throw in bacon bits.. not the fake kind.. little pieces of real bacon. finely chop green onions and thorw those in then punt in the metal pan u will serve in and lastly sprinkle more of the cheese on top.. then bake again just so it melts over top.



they are amazingly good an all ingredients can be bought in mass at sam's club - if i were you.. i'd go to sams club and talk to their deli ppl. look around at the packaged plates of meat and look to see how much meat they package based on per person. you can make big bowls of salad that ppl can dish themselves in buffet like style. pending how cheap caterers are thru them.... you can most likely definately do it yourselves.. watch the food network and you can get good recipies and ideas for your cake.. i would you a sturdyer plate than paper.. like syrofoam.. but no .. not tacky at all... get as much throw away stuff as you can.. make clean up easy.

flower arrangements