Wedding Day Advice | Wedding Planning

In these tough economic times, budget is paramount in everyone’s minds. While you may have had your heart set on a grand wedding in a magical location, perhaps your budget simply doesn’t stretch that far. Not having a huge wedding fund doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have a fabulous celebration, however. To cut down on costs, you could host your wedding at home. Here are ten top tips on how to go about it…

Photo courtesy Green Wedding Shoes, Photographer Stephanie Williams

Tip One: Identify a space where your service and reception can be held. Make sure you have enough space for guests. Consider the weather and have an indoor option, as well. If there’s space in your garden, hire a marquee.

Tip Two: Begin tending your garden some months in advance, for example, dress the lawn, plant some perennials and do some landscaping. If you have the budget, hire a landscaper to do this for you.

Tip Three: Source service providers for chairs, crockery, cutlery, glassware and the like. Get recommendations and quotations and remember to draft contracts with your chosen service providers.

Tip Four: Consider hiring portable loos…and fill pretty baskets with plenty of loo paper and paper hand towels…you will be surprised how quickly it’s used up!

Tip Five: Hire a professional catering company and bar service. Ensure that they visit your home to assess whether they have enough space in which to work or if alternate arrangements need to be made.

Tip Six: Hire a florist to deck out your home with beautiful floral arrangements.

Tip Seven: Hire a DJ to provide the entertainment, or rig up your home entertainment system and nominate a talented family member to play DJ for the night.

Tip Eight: Check that your marriage official is licensed to perform a service at your home, and that your home venue complies with any regulations in this regard.

Tip Nine: You may want to take out insurance to cover any damage to your home and property on the Big Day. Be sure to pack away any valuables to avoid them disappearing or getting broken.

Tip Ten: Remember you neighbours…to avoid complaints about noise levels or the number of cars, either invite them or warn them well in advance that you’ll be hosting a celebration at your home.

Catering for a Home Wedding: My Experience

“Guests are still raving about our wedding food…It was absolutely delicious! Ros and the team from Olive Twist boutique catering company prepared something different – an Asian-inspired buffet, with some traditional European desserts.

While I missed out on some of the canapés when I was having my photos taken, those that I did taste were absolutely divine. The team even managed to match the garnishes to our colour scheme. Besides preparing a deliciously decadent menu, the team was thoroughly professional in all other aspects – firstly, Ros did a site visit to see what she had to work with; on the night, they timed the serving of the courses to perfection and they cleaned up afterwards. What a pleasure – we shall definitely be using Olive Twist again for any catering requirements we may have in future!”

The Wedding Menu:

Canapés
Prawn Skewers with Lemon Coriander Mayonnaise
Tuna and Wasabi with Pickled Ginger on Wonton Wedges
Soft Spring Rolls with Chicken, Mint and Coriander
Prawn Crackers with Sweet Chilli Dip
Caprese Spoons (tomato, basil, mozzarella and pesto)

Starter
Sesame-seared Salmon Fillet Noodle Salad with Ginger-Lemon Dressing

Main
Creamy Coconut Chicken Curry with Cashew Nuts
Curry-marinated Dry-style Pork Belly Curry with Lemon Zest and Coriander
Jasmine Rice with Toasted Sesame Seeds and Chives
Steamed Asian Greens
Seared Coriander Pepper Salad with Lime and Rice Wine Vinegar Dressing
Nuoc Cham and Plum Dipping Sauces

Dessert
Dipped Fortune Cookies
Mini Cheese Canes
Dark Chocolate Nut Brownies
Mini Meringues
Berry Selection

Article contributed by SouthAfricanFoodies.co.za
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