Deciding the menu is a pretty simple affair. Once you’ve chosen
your menu items, you can move on to organizing the wedding menu.
By organizing I mean planning how people will sit, what your
tables will look like, types of glasses. All the fine details.
Now don’t let this stress you out – it actually can be a lot of
fun! Here’s some tips to get you on the right track. These tips
assume you are not having your meal catered and are doing all
your own planning.
Decide what time you are going to have your meal at. This will
tie to the time of your wedding to some degree. If you are
getting married in the morning are you having lunch, brunch, or
a mid afternoon meal. Afternoon wedding, are you having a super
time meal, a later evening meal.
Are you going to rent your dishes? Borrow from family? Use
disposable plates? Same goes for glassware and flatware. If you
are having a smaller wedding you can often get good pricing on
sets at discount department stores.
If you are purchasing your dishes, what is your theme? Color?
Style?
What type of glasses are you going to use? Wine glasses for
certain, what about coffee cups, water glasses. Again either
borrow or visit a discount department store.
I recommend renting your dishes, flatware, and glasses from a
catering company. The prices is usually very nominal. Everything
matches, they deliver the clean dishes, after your meal you
simply put the dirty dishes in the containers supplied, they
pick them up and take care of cleaning them.
If you supply your own dishes, then somebody has to be prepared
to do clean up. Renting dishes is simple, affordable, and lets
your guests focus on enjoying your wedding.
You will also need to decide what the theme for your tables will
be, what type of flowers you will use and whether you will get
locally grown flowers or purchase from a florist. If you choose
flowers in season in your local area you can make beautiful
flower arrangements for a fraction of the cost.
What about your tables and chairs? Does the hall or facility
you’ve rented provide them? If yes what do the charge. If they
do not then you’ll need to contact someone who does rent these
items. If your wedding reception is small you may be able to
borrow enough chairs and tables to accommodate your guests.
Tablecloths and table coverings – you’ll need to decide color
and style. As well you’ll have to decide what type of decorating
your going to do. Your decorating and colors will have a lot to
do with your general wedding theme. Fun, romantic, tropical?
The quickest way to get organized is to grab some paper and a
pencil. Draw a rough diagram of the room layout, then begin
sketching in your tables, how you will seat people, where you
want your flowers and decorations. Once you’ve have a visual the
rest will fall into place.
As some friends to give you a hand with decorating. Most halls
will let you into the day before to complete your decorating and
set up. In fact, before you rent the hall make this a
pre-requisite.
Most important! Enjoy the planning – this is your wedding, one
of the biggest events of your life. There is no right or wrong,
there is only what makes you happy. When your happy, your guests
will relax and enjoy themselves whether they are seated at
formal dining tables or around a picnic table.
© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.