J. Scott Catering » saving http://blog.jscottcatering.com Unique decor, exciting food, superior service Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:04:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Wedding Tricks and Observations in a Challenging Economy – Part 2 http://blog.jscottcatering.com/wedding-tricks-and-observations-in-a-challenging-economy/9/ http://blog.jscottcatering.com/wedding-tricks-and-observations-in-a-challenging-economy/9/#comments Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:35:47 +0000 Scott Walsh http://blog.jscottcatering.com/?p=9 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Catering is one of the largest expenses on your wedding budget, and I am sure the one that brides wrestle with the most. As caterers, we try to add value to our wedding packages and build relationships that are important to us and our clients. We often work with brides and grooms for at least six months leading up to their big day, so a good relationship and trust are important factors. You want to select a caterer you can trust and then let them guide you. When it comes to budget, my advice is to be honest with the caterer you like in your gut and trust; shopping 10 different caterers is going to do nothing but confuse you in the long run and result in some restless nights of sleep.

When planning the reception, do not believe everything you read in wedding magazines. They are all trying to increase readership through interesting articles and novel ideas that may not always be realistic. For example, cocktail only receptions may seem like a good idea, but only lead to unhappy guests in my experience.

If your budget is coming up on the short end, here are a few proven solutions to please everyone and the check book.

  1. Streamline everything — put out a good yet simple entrée with filling food. Tilapia, Airline Chicken Breast, and Top Round of Beef are all items that are simple, and cost-effective.
  2. Cut the reception down to four hours, which will save on service time — the biggest cost hands down. Is a five-hour reception really that important to you?
  3. Forget the favors. Make a tax deductable donation to your favorite charity if you must do something. One recent bride did just that and placed a note in the pocket of each napkin announcing a gift was made in the guests’ names (classy and smart).
  4. A beer and wine only bar will save you good money. If you don’t think you can do without a hard drink, consider a single specialty drink that makes a statement, pleases guests and saves money.
  5. Have a small token wedding cake for pictures and then feed everyone dessert from sheet cake. This will save costs and, frankly, not everyone eats cake. Don’t over do it on the desserts!

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]]> http://blog.jscottcatering.com/wedding-tricks-and-observations-in-a-challenging-economy/9/feed/ 32 Wedding Budget Tricks and Observations in a Challenging Economy – Part 1 http://blog.jscottcatering.com/wedding-budget-tricks-and-observations-in-a-challenging-economy-1/42/ http://blog.jscottcatering.com/wedding-budget-tricks-and-observations-in-a-challenging-economy-1/42/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:13:09 +0000 Scott Walsh http://blog.jscottcatering.com/?p=42 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> These days I think we all are on sensory overload with the words “economic downturn”, “recession”, “depression”, and the like.  The pain can be felt across all sectors of the economy and we, in the food service business, are not immune to it either.

While every potential customer wants to ensure that they can receive the greatest quality for the lowest costs, this is particularly true during these troubling times for those young couples who are making preparations for their wedding day.

I thought I would share some with you the same thoughts that I have expressed to those brides-to-be, and hope this information is helpful.  Since there is much to cover I will break it into 3 parts.

  • First, plain and simple: If you need to reduce costs, reduce the number of guests.  Yes, we at JSC understand that you want to have everyone share in your exciting day, but if you are going to spend $40 per guest for a reception for 250 of your closest friends, it probably is not going to come off the way you want it to.  So, reduce the guest list to 110 friends and family, and at $90 per guest, it may just be the wedding of which you always dreamed.
  • Second, most caterers (us included) are reacting to the market in some sort of fashion.  Some are adding in hors d’ oeuvres at no charge, others are throwing in a chocolate fondue “River”, while others are offering special value added menus.  But be careful.   Like anything else in life, you get what you pay for.  If it seems too good to be true it probably is.
  • Third, we work hard to provide every bride-to-be with all the information necessary to make an informed decision.  There are some things to keep in mind, however, when you are comparing caterers.  And, the most important may be that each caterer has their “signature”, and sometimes you might find yourself comparing apples to oranges.   So, be careful.   Compare the overall package and make a decision based on both price and performance.  You should be comfortable knowing that your choice of caterer will play role in helping to make your wedding day dreams come true!

Up Next: In Part #2, I will share additional thoughts on ways you can create a spectacular wedding even during challenging economic times.

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