Wedding Reception Food - doing it ourselves! Eek!!!

[Talking Hands]

don't forget the sugar substitutes for those who can't use sugar. Pink, Blue and Yellow

 

[MAKmom]

I like the new menu as well. A small cheese platter with or without cheese would be nice for those with diabetes and cheese is often a dessert item in other countries.

 

[Keli]

I love the idea of a coffee bar with all these dessert items. You might want to consider adding the flavored creamers also. I love to add those to my coffee when I'm indulging and not worrying about calories, lol.

 

[jonestavern]

And I would definitely include a cheese platter as part of the desserts, and maybe a coffee bar.

Perhaps a few small bowls of candied & spiced nuts to go w/cheeses
what time of the day will the dessert reception be? will you lay out everything buffet style? that can be set up so beautifully & you won't have to worry about serving folks
do the coffee/tea/waters/lemonade beverage buffet
remember, half the deal is presentation.
I used to cater & I can't tell you how true that is. Plan out your items & know just what platter,cake plate/stand & serving tool will be used. Write it all out with your kitchen duties. I used to write everything out: shopping trips, baking days, prep etc by week/day & then for the last 3 days before service, by the hour.
the dessert reception sounds lovely & is very practical. Take a deep breath
do your minute planning, stick to mostly those items which can be done ahead, utilize local bakeries when you need to, & plan a lovely presentation. You are on the right track, the reception is going to be just lovely

Jean

 

[Antonia]

We are renting an impressive silver punch fountain and then there is the chocolate fountain that I think makes an attractive presentation. I bought that. I could probably rent to beautiful coffee servers as well.
I feel better about all this after running it by all you Disers! Thanks!

 

[MAKmom]

Talking about persentation, having things different hights looks great. YOu can do this of cource with cake platters but you can make your own with just bowls turned upside down & your try on top. The Barefoot Contesea was doing a buffett for an Art gallery opening & sharing some secrets.

 

[jonestavern]

Talking about persentation, having things different hights looks great. YOu can do this of cource with cake platters but you can make your own with just bowls turned upside down & your try on top. The Barefoot Contesea was doing a buffett for an Art gallery opening & sharing some secrets.

Also, you can cut out plywood (usually 1/2") & cover with some lovely wrap or embossed foil. Cover it completely, taping to the underside. You can trom off with a coordinated fabric ribbon.
this is what we do when cake decorating. The paper need not be greaseproof if it is serving a cake or something, like say, a less moist cookie. there are grease proof papers available & of course the foil, offered in many colors, presents no problem~
any of your platters, plates, bowls can be raised (staged) on bricks, wood blocks, other dishes--just cover with lengths of coordinating material. You make want to use museum mount or Quake Wax to secure platters to platters, but go with a good sturdy base & those won't be necessary

some folks choose to hire florists to decorate their tables or cakes with fresh or silk flowers. If you, or a friend, have an artsy eye, there's no need. If going with fresh flowers, you need to tell the florist they're for use on food--the flowers should be edible & not sprayed--

Send us pics of the wonderful event!

Jean

 

[LoraJ]

What time is the wedding going to be and what time is the reception?

If it is an evening wedding, your guests may be expecting non-dessert food and unless you let them all know, may come unprepared to eat just dessert food. Some may have to even leave the party for a while to go get something to eat.

ETA: Never mind, I see you said it is dessert on the invitation.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm not sure what your wedding budget is, but could you hire a "bartender" for the coffe bar??? You know, like the baristas at Starbucks??? That might be fun...maybe if you have a local Starbucks, you could talk to one of the employees about it?

I'd also agree with adding a fruit and cheese tray to the dessert bar.

I also love the idea of the different levels to the buffet table. That looks so beautiful!!!!! Also try and keep your serving pieces coordinated. If I recall, you're going with a "pool" and silver color scheme, so I'd try to keep my serving dishes clear, silver or white. We went to a beautiful autumn wedding a few years back where they had a buffet and the buffet table was done with different heights and all the food was served on copper serving pieces...it was so beautifully done!!!!!!

This is SO much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Antonia]

Actually, our little town just got a Star Bucks the first of March. I'd love to somehow include some Star Bucks stuff in my coffee bar. I think it would be fun to have a coffee bar"tender". LOL

 

[Southern4sure]

My sis had a chocolate fountain at her reception. For the children we used pretzel rods and large marshmellows in addition to the fruit and cookies. The kids loved the chocolate fountain but made a huge mess. Some people used cups to collect chocolate and had a plate of the fruit and such to dip at their seat. It was a huge hit.

Starbucks will let you buy "stuff" from them. You might want to go in and ask if anyone would like to be your "coffee bar tender". You would have to pay them of course. College students might take you up on the offer for a chance to make a few extra dollars.

 

[glass-slipper]

I like the cheese and fruit tray idea also You might want to add biscottis to the coffee bar.

 

[Zoiebear]

I was watching this show, with Chef Michael, and she said with a cheese plate
this would be a great compliment
cheeses
crackers
fruit ( grapes and strawberries) and in addition was dried fruit.... apricots, cranberries, rasberries
She said the dried fruits enhance the platters ( which you could put on a glass display mirror that adds to the presentation)

I tried it for a dinner party and got rave reviews
Stacie

 

[Zoiebear]

Also can go on the "cheese platter" are nuts, flavored or even you can roast pine nuts, or look around at the local stores
Stacie