The Wedding Check List You can’t be Without

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Having a wedding check list by your side is more than just about staying organized. It’s about saving money, saving time, and most importantly, protecting your sanity. To plan this event without a wedding check list is like trying to construct a space station without blueprints or even a plan to get into space — it’s sheer lunacy!

If you have yet to get ahold of a wedding check list, do yourself a favor and use the one below. It could very well save you from countless hours of headaches and hassles.

6 Months Before the Wedding…

- Talk with your partner about a realistic budget and discuss who’s family is paying for what.
- Decide on a date, a time, and a place for the ceremony as well as for the reception.
- Book locations for the wedding. like a wedding on a  private villa as an example.
- Discuss ceremony with the wedding “officiator”.
- Come up with a rough draft of the guest list.
- Iron out the rough draft and come up with a semi-finalized guest list.
- Gift Registration.
- Discuss catering and food options for the wedding reception. If decided on, book a caterer.
- Begin selecting wedding attendants. Extend invitations to chosen attendants.
- Strike up a contract with the wedding photography service as well as for the entertainment.
- Order the invitations.
- Pick out wedding rings.
- Choose wedding dress, bridal dresses, as well as bridal accessories.
- Give yourself a round of applause, as you’ve just completed the “6 months before” wedding check list!

3 Months Before The Big Day…

- Talk with your partner about the flowers for the wedding. If in agreement, order the flowers.
- Pick a honeymoon location. Book said location as well as travel arrangements.
- Select the attire for the groom, the usher, as well as for the best man.
- Check into wedding license requirements.

If you want fewer hassles, better organization, and just an all around better wedding planning experience, keep this simple wedding check list by your side. Not only will planning the event be far easier, it might actually be enjoyable!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Wedding Catering: Buffet Or Service

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Another conundrum for soon-to-be married couples is the dilemma of having servers versus having a buffet for the reception. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s look at both sides before you make your decision.

At the buffet table

The first and most obvious upshot of having a buffet style dinner at the wedding is the opportunity for all of the guests to choose what they want to eat. This way everyone is happy and they can have as much or as little as they want. There can be multiple things for various dietary restrictions as well as a multitude of side dishes for the vegetarian that hates getting pasta at every wedding.

But the downside of the buffet table is that things that are popular will run out. If you do not plan ahead for shortages, then you may have guests that didn’t get what they really wanted to eat. In terms of movement, the buffet table can be tricky. The bride may have troubles moving up there and might be afraid to spill anything on her dress, as other may be as well. Trying to find ways to serve items without having a large opportunity for spillage will help to avoid any dry cleaning bills.

The service is excellent

Having servers for the reception is a classy and easy way to keep everyone happy during the reception. Not only will no one have to move until the dance, but the servers can also attend to any problems without the couple even knowing about them. Drinks can also be served, which is wonderful for everyone—no more needing to get up and down during dinner.

On the other hand, this excellent service does come with a price tag. It will be costlier to have staff waiting on the guests, especially with more guests. You will also take the chance of the staff being nice to the head table and not to the rest of the guests. The best advice is to interview each staff member as well before the reception.

Both buffets and service are great options for reception dinners. If you’re looking for something a little more casual, then the buffet will be great, but for the more formal occasion, service is best. You may want to stop and consider your guests at this point. If they’re older and don’t move around well, service is a great way to keep them comfortable.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Starting a Catering Business? What You Must Know Beforehand

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Running a catering business can be very rewarding financially and can also be a lot of fun. Whether you cater events, weddings, corporate lunches and conferences on a full-time or a part-time basis, the opportunities can be significant.

However, catering is more than just knowing how to cook good tasting food. To succeed in this business you have to know your market and not only that. You have to know how to serve your market and to deliver your food (as well as an unforgettable event) at any place and at any time.

Each catered event is a new experience and a challenge as you are always working with a new group of people. While the financial rewards can be great, you should also never forget to make things fun with your clients. However, with fun also comes demanding work and for this you will need energy, stamina and the ability to work under pressure.

So what are the different types of catering you can get into? Let’s take a closer look.

Mobile catering is common at outdoor events (such as exhibitions, boats, concerts etc.), workplaces, and downtown business areas.

Event catering is a bit different. It ranges from lunch drop-offs to a full-service catering offering.

Corporate catering services are a bit different again. They focus on small and big businesses corporate companies and parties. They can also include corporate conferences, corporate fundraising events, staff functions and corporate training days.

Finally, there is Wedding Catering. A full service wedding catering company is expected to make that special day one to remember and everything must run without a hitch.

A catering company is expected to know how to prepare food and to make it attractive. As mentioned above, each catered event can be a different challenge as you are constantly dealing with different types of people, so you must be prepared for anything.

Things to take into account

Many venues will “take a cut” of the catering bill. Therefore, catering will sometimes cost a lot more at one venue compared to another. You must take this into account when calculating your cost of doing business.

What’s YOUR market?

The development of a business plan is crucial to any business, and catering is no different. A proper business plan will help you in planning a successful operation. Prior to starting a catering business, you need to determine your type of business and your market. Will you be just doing weddings and wedding receptions or will you focus exclusively on the corporate catering market.

You must analyze your market. Who are your clients? What are their needs? Who is your competition? How do you plan to effectively compete with existing catering businesses?

Popularity: 9% [?]