menus containing cocktail hours built-in ?

[MiaSRN62]

Hi...not sure how to word this.

I was looking for a way to cut food cost with the cocktail hour (which will come to about $1,000 for a guest count of 50-60 for one hour). It was suggested by a couple brides-to-be and past brides on DIS to ask if we can use some of the food from the buffet to present at the cocktail hour.

However, in reviewing the menus we just received from my daughter's planner, does this mean I am limited to choose one of the menus that has a cocktail assortment built in to it ?

For example, my daughter and her fiance like the Tony's Town Square buffet for the most part (they would like to change it a bit) but it doesn't have appetizers built in per say (except for soup and salad). However, the Captain Jack Sparrow buffet does have appetizers/cocktail hour built in. Because if this is the case, it comes out the same whether I add-on a cocktail hour to Tony's menu vs paying the higher price for the Capt Jack Sparrow lunch that includes the cocktail hour ? If this makes sense ?

I suppose I am confused a bit.....thanks to anyone if they can clear this up for me ? I can't even discuss this right now with my daughter as she is driving across FL right now relocating from Tallahassee to St Augustine/Palm Coast. She just has no time this week to talk this over with me so I'm hoping someone here could help me ?

 

[lurkyloo]

Well, the whole menu thing is kind of a made-up concept; when it comes right down to it, you're paying for individual items and menus just sort of act as a starting point by assembling complementary groups of individual items.

So whether you take a menu that doesn't have anything appetizer-y on it and add appetizers for the cocktail hour or you take a menu that does have some and ask that they be served earlier, you're still paying for them.

For example, we picked an off-the-rack brunch menu for our event that included pastries and a ton of hot food, so we had them serve the pastries during the pre-reception. If we had customized our brunch menu, we probably never would have added pastries, but then maybe we would have asked for ideas of something people could eat during the prereception and Disney would have suggested pastries!

If your daughter likes the Tony's Town Square menu, just stick with that and look for less expensive options for the prereception. I think people tend to go WAY overboard on pre-reception food and then wonder why their guests pick at their dinners or don't have room for dessert. You would probably be fine with a single hot appetizer or just olives and nuts.

Alternatively, if the bride and groom can take all their portraits before the ceremony, you can skip the pre-reception altogether and save $$$ on food and drinks!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Very helpful advice as always Carrie.

And one other thing....so since each item on menu has a price, my daughter can pick and choose from various menus to make-up her lunch buffet ? I assume we don't know the "individual" cost of items until the planning session.

It really is a lot to study up on before the planning session on Sept 25. Thank you

 

[lurkyloo]

Exactly. Everything is customizable. Your planner will then have to get a quote from the food and beverage department for the items you want. Disney is now also sending out a sort of build-your-own menu that lets you pick from a bunch of choices at different price points ("Choose any 3 for $99/person—that kind of thing). You probably got this along with the other menus from your planner. It might give you a better idea of how much certain types of items may cost, but, again, you can also do a completely custom menu if you want.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Exactly. Everything is customizable. Your planner will then have to get a quote from the food and beverage department for the items you want. Disney is now also sending out a sort of build-your-own menu that lets you pick from a bunch of choices at different price points ("Choose any 3 for $99/person—that kind of thing). You probably got this along with the other menus from your planner. It might give you a better idea of how much certain types of items may cost, but, again, you can also do a completely custom menu if you want.

Yes, Carrie, we did get the pick 2, pick 3 etc.....my head is spinning at the options. I cannot wait to discuss this with Brittany. She is unfortunately stressed out to the max and relocating across FL in the midst of Tropical Storm Andrea And she starts her new job in St Augustine tomorrow.....so hopefully this weekend we can chat. In the meantime, I am taking lots of notes and appreciate all you advice