How to Design the Perfect Wedding Menu

If you're anything like me, then you LOVE food. No seriously, planning what to eat gives me an unhealthy sense of excitement. I remember when I was growing up, my mom would always tease me by saying, "Danae, most people eat to live, not live to eat!" What can I say? I love food!

Because food is such a huge part of today’s culture, it's imperative that you choose an amazing wedding menu that reflects you and your soon-to-be spouse's taste. Thus, creating your perfect wedding reception meal should be a fun and exciting experience! Today's post won't be a very long one simply because I don't believe there is a perfect "cookie cutter" menu that will work for everyone. My goal is to suggest some options to think about based on my experience working in the catering industry. My internship in college was at a catering business called GreensPoint Catering based in Longmont, Colorado. Before writing this particular blogpost, I ran my tips by my old supervisor to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. I also received permission to mention them by name. I'm reference them because of my personal belief that they are professionals and extremely talented at what they do. And, I want to credit them with anything I have learned in this industry catering-wise. I feel I should also mention that I am not being paid to reference them and that this isn't an advertising ploy. That being said, let's move on to some tips on how to create the perfect reception menu!

Tip 1: Choose foods that you both love.

By making your menu reflect you and your fiancé's favorite dishes, it will make your reception more personalized and enjoyable. If you and your significant other absolutely adore spicy food, then don’t be afraid to feature some Mexican or Indian cuisine. The great thing about catering is that you can customize your food to whatever you want on your big day, so take advantage of that.

Tip 2: Know your wedding guests.

You and your fiancé know your guests better than any caterer, so it is important for you to be able to identify which guests have food allergies (gluten, lactose, peanut, etc.) and develop a menu that your guests can safely enjoy.

Tip 3: Have an idea of what your budget is for food.

Caterers can range in price from $22 a plate to $100+ a plate. If  you can't realistically afford a caterer, then don't be afraid to look at other options. For example, food trucks are a fun option and don't forget that Chik-fil-A, Qdoba, and Chipotle cater as well.

Once you know how tips 1-3 pertain to you, you can delve into the actual creation of your wedding menu!

Tip 4: Feature a light meat.

If you or your fiancé are vegetarian or vegan then please skip to Tip 6. If you're not vegetarian/vegan, then allow me to expand on what I mean by “light meat.” A light meat is simply a lighter protein; an example of this would be chicken or fish. If you do not like seafood, then have chicken somewhere in your menu. You can be creative with your menu, so don’t feel like you need to just have a plain chicken breast on each guest’s plate. For example, you could incorporate some chicken into a pasta dish or do something like chicken tacos, etc.

Tip 5: Feature a heavy meat.

This tip is for my fellow steak lovers! You can have rib-eye steak as an option for your guests; you could do pulled pork, tenderloin, etc. Your options are endless! And, keep in mind that some guests will eat more than others, so it’s a good idea to feature a heavy meat to fill up those hungrier guests.

Tip 6: Feature a vegetarian or vegan option.

This is always a good idea. You want each of your guests to feel included in the celebration of your big day and having a dish that everyone can enjoy will contribute to that.

Tip 7: Know approximately how many kids will be present at your wedding.

Children are notoriously picky eaters, so it is important to plan a meal specifically for them. You don’t want to be spending extra money on a steak that a 5 year old is going to sit and pick at with their fork. Many caterers have a kids' menu that you can purchase that will include something simple like chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, with grapes.

Tip 8: Enjoy your food at your reception!

So many newly weds get caught up in the excitement of their wedding and forget to actually eat. They're walking around and socializing, or they simply have lost their appetite from all the excitement. So, PLEASE take a second to sit down with your new spouse during the reception, try to eat and enjoy the amazing food that you chose for your big day!

      xoxo Danae

The Do's and Don'ts of Wedding Dress Shopping

As someone that has worked in the wedding industry for the past 3 years or so, I believe that I am more than qualified to give advice regarding the exciting topic of weddings!! Not only have I worked in the industry that long, but on my holiday breaks from college I worked as a stylist for Davids Bridal. All that work experience PLUS the fact that I am in the midst of designing my own wedding (WHOO HOO!) helped me to create this simple list that will hopefully help you lovely readers in your search for the perfect gown. 

DON'T eat a big meal before you go dress shopping! 
This may sound obvious, but you wouldn't believe the amount of customers I had that did this. It's only natural for you to want to gather around your favorite people and go get brunch and drink a few mimosas before you go dress shopping, but trust me, it isn't worth it! There's literally nothing worse than trying to squeeze into a gown thats a bit too small because you have a tummy full of food. It makes you feel fat and ugly and that is not how you should feel when trying on wedding dresses. Most wedding dresses run small as it is  so don't get offended if your stylist pulls a dress a few sizes bigger than what you normally wear.

Instead, gather your entourage and go dress shopping first, take A TON of pictures of each dress you try on, and then go out to eat with your girls afterward and dissect each dress over a delicious meal. Or, if you absolutely have to eat in the morning, then just snack on some fresh fruit and drink water. 

Side note: if you think you might need alterations on your gown, then remember that you can always bring a dress in, but you can't always let out the seams and make it bigger. So go a size up if you need to.

DO some research on wedding dresses before your appointment. Not only will this give you a better idea of what you like, but it will also help your stylist get an idea of what you're  looking for. 

I've had many clients come in and it was their first time ever trying on a wedding dress (and there's nothing wrong with that) but they had absolutely no idea what they wanted. It's always easier to narrow down your search and save time and stress if you have even the smallest idea of what you want to look like on your big day.

Additionally, do not attempt to try on every single dress style during your appointment. I understand that you feel like you won't know what style looks best on you unless you try every style, but this is a rookie mistake and will just confuse your vision of your dream dress. If you do your research on gowns and still aren't sure what you want, then admit that to your stylist. Oftentimes she can still help you eliminate certain dresses just by talking to you and getting to know your tastes, so don't stress :)

DON'T plan your dress around your wedding. Ladies listen up! It's YOUR wedding day and you should be able to wear whatever you want! If you're getting married on a beach but would love to wear a ballgown, then look for a ballgown that you feel gorgeous in! Do not settle for a tea length gown or something that looks more "suitable" for a beach wedding. 

I'll never forget this one bride that was having a destination wedding and she had narrowed down her dress choices to a gorgeous mermaid cut gown and an A-line gown with a beautiful long train. She looked amazing in both but she just lit up when she was in the A-line gown. You could see it in her face that she was completely in love with it. Sadly, she went with the mermaid cut dress simply because it was more beach friendly. I'm a strong believer that you should always go with the option that you feel the most beautiful and comfortable in, and for her, I think that was the A-line. Sorry about my rambling but my ultimate point is wear whatever you feel stunning in and then rock it on your big day simply because it is YOUR big day and you deserve it :)

DO bring a strapless bra and shoes with a heel length you want to wear on your big day! Davids Bridal has their own selection of bras and shoes for you to try on, but a lot of smaller bridal boutiques do not offer a selection of strapless bras for you to try on with your dress. Bringing shoes with the heel height you want to wear on your big day will allow you to see what the dress length will look like and give you a clear idea on if you'll need it hemmed. 

Side note: If you do need alterations on your gown, schedule them ASAP! Seamstresses are extremely busy during wedding season and it is imperative you get your appointment set up sooner rather than later. This will save you a load of stress in the long run.

DON'T bring a lot of people to your appointment. I know you probably want all your girls there for this exciting appointment, but more often than not, the overwhelming amount of people and opinions will just confuse and frustrate you. I recommend bringing 3 people at the most, and only those people who's opinions you trust. It's difficult to make a decision when everyone is chiming in their two cents on the gowns and it will end with you leaving discouraged and anxious. Shopping for your wedding dress should be fun and relaxing! Enjoy every minute of it and take lots of pictures to show everyone afterwards :)

DON'T be afraid of falling in love with the first dress you try on! Countless brides have said yes to the first dress they ever try on, and that's fine! Sometimes you get lucky and its the first dress. Even if you're in love with the first dress, try on two more just so you have something to compare it to, and then try on the first dress again. If you still love the first one the most, then don't be afraid to commit to it.

I know this is a lot of information to process so I'll leave you with one last tip: DON'T be afraid to walk away. Buying your wedding dress is a HUGE deal and oftentimes a big investment! Don't feel pressured into purchasing your dress the day of. A lot of brides get caught up in the excitement of finding a dress they love, they buy the dress, and then change their minds later and buy a different dress. If you know 100% that it's your dress then buy it! If you aren't completely sure, then that's fine too. Go home, relax, drink some wine and look at pictures of your dress again. You can always go back later and purchase it.

If you have any questions or comments about this post, feel free to leave them in the comment section :)

See you next time!
                       xoxo Danae