I met with D1 yesterday. She showed me her budget (which I think is too high,) but we got along sweetly. She's got 4 or 5 venues in mind, each with its own charms. Most of the rest in consideration (like the photog) is strong recommendations from recent bride friends. She surprised me that one place is a local church both of them like. It recently built a gorgeous adjoining pavillion for events.
I told them their next step is to vet them in person. Decide if they want me along or not. Then get to tasting food. Another surprise: turns out she cares next to nothing about the food. The elegance, an open bar, dancing, her own look matter more. Said she never remembers the food at past weddings. So I'll probably get a large vote in how we handle that. They're thinking 5-10pm, so a meal is a must. Agrees on a Fri or Sunday choice.
Some places include a "day of" coordinator. Most include passed hors d'oeuvres (I remember someone's comments about add-on pricing for that.) Most have an hour open wine/beer bar. The others, we'll see how the caterer manages.
And as with so many here, the guest list has risen from 60 to 70.
Thanks. You betcha. This is is great food area. I've eaten from the top 3 caterers in play (attached to a venue or their short list,) and they're great. In the past. One place does their own and they're the unknown. Private club. We do need to test eat. Lol.
We are fortunate that D's venue has a single caterer that I have tasted many times. They have a monopoly on many country clubs in the area and dentists tend to hold meetings in those spaces. I have eaten just about every entree over many years and they are absolutely fine. I agree that people don't remember good food, and maybe not even bad!
She and FSIL are coming to taste in a few weeks anyway. She is vegetarian and they have offered to plate a veg meal for any guest who requests it (no extra charge). The buffet will have 2 entrees. They haven't chosen them yet, but leaning toward the beef and chicken options.
The bakery has changed as one I grew up with now has a local shop. She wants cupcakes and we had a few in January. She and FSIL are sold on them! For a small fee, they will provide all trays and stands for set-up, plus offer tips for design.
We are moving right along. The shower invites have been ordered, the invitations are designed, her dress is almost finished with alterations, bridesmaids selecting their dress style, hair/makeup salon reserved. Check, check, check.
BunsenBurnerRegistered UserPosts: 37,762Senior Member
Big kiddo chose the catering program at a local technical college to cater her reception meal to let them practice and to save $$. Chicken, veg, and salmon are all I can remember. It was not a Michelin-starred meal, but the guests were quite happy. The "cake" was a cupcake pyramid (baked by big kiddo and buddies), and the centerpiece was handpainted by baby kiddo (wooden figurines from Michael's). I agree that unless the meal is really awful or the guests are so picky they expect a five-star restaurant service, the food is not going to be a big deal.
I remember bad food or not enough food (don't need to be expensive food, but has to be good). I am one of those people who get hangry. The next thing is drinks for me and my third is music.
For D1's wedding we specifically asked if they would have enough servers so food would come out fresh.
VeryHappyRegistered UserPosts: 18,346Senior Member
S2's wedding was last night, at her parents' beachfront house in Puerto Rico. Fabulous. We are still here. I will post lots more when I'm home later in the week.
VeryHappyRegistered UserPosts: 18,346Senior Member
So S2 and his now-wife met in college, in 2010, and they've been together ever since. He brought her to our house for Thanksgiving weekend in 2010 and we fell in love with her. She is from Puerto Rico and her family -- lots and lots of family! -- is still here. Her sister got married at her parents' house three years ago, so it was natural for S2 and DIL to have their wedding here as well.
The house is relatively small, but they have apartments attached that they rent out. They provided one of the apartments to us for our week-long stay here. The Atlantic Ocean is literally 25 feet from our window, and their entire back yard overlooks the ocean. The spot couldn't be more beautiful. They had a large tent set up, under which we ate dinner -- two long tables of 36 each, and the bride and groom at a table for two at the head of the two long tables. A dance floor. And the ceremony itself took place with the ocean in the background and all the guests gathered around. I have never seen a more beautiful setting for a wedding!
I also loved it because they had a nice, leisurely two-hour cocktail time, with passed hors d'oevres. We got to chat with the people we wanted to (our son's nanny, who was with us for six years, came all the way from England to attend!) and a few we didn't need to know. The bride's 100-year-old grandmother, who is sharp as a tack, was here, and I was thrilled to meet her. Also saw lots of S2's HS friends, who of course used to practically live at our house, as well as the couple's mutual college friends.
We are still in PR and leave in about 48 hours. Both sons are now married -- so no more weddings for us for a while.
Replies to: 2016 and beyond wedding moms and dads
I told them their next step is to vet them in person. Decide if they want me along or not. Then get to tasting food. Another surprise: turns out she cares next to nothing about the food. The elegance, an open bar, dancing, her own look matter more. Said she never remembers the food at past weddings. So I'll probably get a large vote in how we handle that. They're thinking 5-10pm, so a meal is a must. Agrees on a Fri or Sunday choice.
Some places include a "day of" coordinator. Most include passed hors d'oeuvres (I remember someone's comments about add-on pricing for that.) Most have an hour open wine/beer bar. The others, we'll see how the caterer manages.
And as with so many here, the guest list has risen from 60 to 70.
Still terribly early in the game.
She and FSIL are coming to taste in a few weeks anyway. She is vegetarian and they have offered to plate a veg meal for any guest who requests it (no extra charge). The buffet will have 2 entrees. They haven't chosen them yet, but leaning toward the beef and chicken options.
The bakery has changed as one I grew up with now has a local shop. She wants cupcakes and we had a few in January. She and FSIL are sold on them! For a small fee, they will provide all trays and stands for set-up, plus offer tips for design.
We are moving right along. The shower invites have been ordered, the invitations are designed, her dress is almost finished with alterations, bridesmaids selecting their dress style, hair/makeup salon reserved. Check, check, check.
For D1's wedding we specifically asked if they would have enough servers so food would come out fresh.
The house is relatively small, but they have apartments attached that they rent out. They provided one of the apartments to us for our week-long stay here. The Atlantic Ocean is literally 25 feet from our window, and their entire back yard overlooks the ocean. The spot couldn't be more beautiful. They had a large tent set up, under which we ate dinner -- two long tables of 36 each, and the bride and groom at a table for two at the head of the two long tables. A dance floor. And the ceremony itself took place with the ocean in the background and all the guests gathered around. I have never seen a more beautiful setting for a wedding!
I also loved it because they had a nice, leisurely two-hour cocktail time, with passed hors d'oevres. We got to chat with the people we wanted to (our son's nanny, who was with us for six years, came all the way from England to attend!) and a few we didn't need to know. The bride's 100-year-old grandmother, who is sharp as a tack, was here, and I was thrilled to meet her. Also saw lots of S2's HS friends, who of course used to practically live at our house, as well as the couple's mutual college friends.
We are still in PR and leave in about 48 hours. Both sons are now married -- so no more weddings for us for a while.