#TuesdayTips :: Creative Catering & Bar Ideas

I always like to pay extra attention when planning the catering portion of an event. First of all, it's a significant portion of the budget. Beyond that, there are so many different options available to research and compare in order to decide exactly what you want. Here are some catering ideas so you can break the creative barrier and have a delicious spread without breaking the bank! 


Dessert Displays
While the traditional wedding cake is still prevalent, dessert stations are extremely popular as well. You can serve your guests anything sweet for the after dinner treat; pies, cheesecakes, cookies, donuts, chocolates, tarts, cultural desserts, cookies & milk, a S'mores station, or even have ice cream made to order right there on site! Mix and match, pick your faves, and display them in a manner that makes your guests go ooh and aah!

Photo by David Loi Studios

Grazing Stations
I'm always a fan of something that kills two birds with one stone. Creative food stations not only feed your guests, but also provide entertainment and eye-catching setup displays. Guests can serve themselves buffet style from a series of different food stations. Make a fun side station with tons of toppings - mac-n-cheese, grits, mashed potatoes. Make a taco station where guests choose their ingredients. Get creative! 


Food Trucks
Having one of these is an exciting addition to any event. It can be a late night surprise food truck for late night snacks, or a dessert or ice cream truck to arrive and serve after dinner. Both kids and adults alike love it when they are at the window of the food truck getting a yummy treat!

Penguin Perry's Ice Cream Sandwich Truck

Espresso Bar
You can always have a coffee pot with cream and sugar available. Take it farther by getting a full espresso bar. You can have a barista, flavor options available, and even personalized coffee cups and sleeves!


Signature Cocktails
Create a creative signature cocktail to match your event. If it's a summer soiree, serve popsicle cocktails or have a hard lemonade stand. For winter events, spiked hot chocolate and cider are always a fave! Find a delicious cocktail personal to you, give it a fancy name, a creative display, and create a sign letting guests know your personal signature cocktail to order!

Champagne Supply Co.

DIY :: Pumpkin Donut Hole Seating Cards

These darling little “pumpkin” treats would make terrific escort cards or seating cards. What’s the difference you ask? Escort cards are usually displayed on a large table at the entrance to your reception, and your guests would take their treat and table info, and walk into their table. Seating cards would be at each place setting, telling each guest where their exact seat is.

SUPPLIES:

• Fresh Donut Holes
• Pretzel Sticks
• Mini Cupcake Liners
• Tag Punch
• Cardstock
• Twine

MAKE THE TAGS

Using a cute tag punch, create your seating cards or escort cards. I used Pages to create this text layout, printed it onto 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock and then trimmed the paper down to punch out each tag.

ADD THE PUMPKIN "STEM"

On a baking sheet, layout as many mini cupcake wrappers as you can. Then add a donut hole to each one. For the pumpkin “stem” break a pretzel stick in half and press into each donut!

ADD THE PUMPKIN "LEAF"

Cut some pale green twine and tie a little knot around each pumpkin “stem” for a cute little leaf look. You could also add a little leaf with pale green frosting instead.

Since you’ll want these donut hole treats to be fresh for your guests, you’ll need to assemble them the morning of your event. If you can’t do that, the night before will work but you’ll need to store them in an airtight container.

See the original post at Something Turquoise.

DIY :: Late Night Snack Boxes

I am in love with this idea! I posted recently about a DIY Pizza Party, and you could combine the two and use these boxes at the pizza party! Guests can make their own pizzas from the party post, and take them home in these pizza holder boxes. Or, they can be used as surprise snacks for any type of party. Perfect for a late night snack at a wedding reception!

SUPPLIES:

• Kraft Single Slice Holder Pizza Box, #8114549
• Kraft Snack Sacks, #1114100
• Kraft Cookie Window Box , #85159000
• Sticker Paper
• Home Printer
• Scissors
• Pizza, donuts or chips
• Our free printable labels at the end of the post!

Pizza

Start by downloading our free pizza label at the end of the post and then print it onto 8.5″ x 11″ sticker paper. Cut out each label. There are 3 per sheet.

Assemble + Adhere

Fold the darling pizza boxes together, peel the backing from the sticker and adhere to the front of the box – so cute!

Reception Timing

We need to make sure that your pizza is as fresh as can be, when it hits the dance floor. So you’ll want to assemble these boxes ahead of time with the stickers and all, and then give them to your waitstaff to fill before bringing them out later in the evening. If your venue doesn’t make pizza, you’ll need to coordinate for delivery by your favorite pizza place which can easily be done ahead of time.

Donuts

Start by downloading our free donuts label at the end of the post and then print it onto 8.5″ x 11″ sticker paper. Cut out each label. There are 10 per sheet.

Fold the darling donut boxes together, both the top and bottom, add a donut, peel the backing from the sticker and adhere to the front and around the side of the box – so cute!

We need to make sure that your donuts are as fresh as can be when they make their entrance on the dance floor. So you’ll want to assemble these boxes ahead of time and have the stickers cut and ready to adhere to the boxes. Coordinate for someone to pick up your favorite donuts the morning of your wedding and either have a donut assembly party while your getting ready or let your wedding planner take care of it.

Chips

I have to talk about these bags for a moment because they are awesome! They don’t get greasy! They are made of sturdy #45 grease resistant Kraft paper and so your yummy treats will look fabulous in them… no matter what kind you choose to serve! Peel and adhere a label to the front of each chip bag – so cute!

We need to make sure that your chips are as fresh as can be when they hit the dance floor. So you’ll want to adhere the stickers to the bags and have them and your bulk bags of chips ready to go for the waitstaff. Since chips can get stale easily, you’ll need the waitstaff or friends to fill up the bags on the spot and then bring them out to share. They would be SO cute tray passed like appetizers!

Click here for "Pizza" Labels

Click here for "Donut" Labels

Click here for "Chips" Labels

Paper Mart is the largest discount packaging supply company in the United States, with an emphasis on retail, food and industrial packaging items. Now in its 96th year of business, Paper Mart is a 4th generation owned & operated family business that currently lists more than 26,000 items for sale. Paper Mart prides itself on giving everyday low prices to everyone with exceptionally speedy service and delivery, making them the perfect resource for the DIY bride!

See the original post at Something Turquoise

5 Things Your Guests Will Love

As the hostess or host of any event, you always want to be sure to leave a wonderful lasting impression with your guests...so give them something they'll be sure to remember! There are a few things that are sure to get the guest's attention and create a lasting memory they will cherish!


Photo & Video Booth
Photo and video booths are an all-time favorite with the guests! They have tons of fun playing with the props and posing with friends, plus they get to take home a printed photo as a souvenir of the shenanigans! The bride and groom also get copies of the photos and videos, so it's fun for them to look back and watch everyone having such a great time!

Photo by EM's Event Photography

Late Night Food Surprises
Dinner is always fabulous, but it's a great idea to have some late night snacks for several reasons. Not only does it help with some of the alcohol consumed, but the guests just love a delicious surprise to give them their second wind! Food trucks, dessert stations, passed mini foods, a taco bar, a donut table, ice cream cakes....there are all sorts of options for surprising your guests with a delicious treat before they go home!

Photo by Michéll Events

Specialty Entertainment
Interactive entertainment for the guests is always something they will ooh and aah over! I've seen caricature artists and painters, cigar rollers, acrobats, tarot card readers, steel drums, live tables cruising the room, fireworks displays...think outside of the box and give your guests some entertainment that is sure to catch their eye!

Child Care
Onsite child care is a fabulous addition to be able to offer your guests. Some guests aren't able to make the event because they can't find child care, so this will take care of that problem from the beginning! I've seen the child care two ways - - same room as the reception, children had their own table / entertainment / supervision - - or a different room nearby with the same options where they could still be included in the event. Either way, parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that child care is available so they can relax and enjoy the event even more!

Anniversary Dance
The Anniversary Dance is a tradition that is still predominantly upheld at weddings. All married couples are invited to dance, and as the songs plays they are excused as their years of marriage pass...5 years...10 years...until the last couple dancing is the longest married couple. It's a beautiful thing to see all the married couples, and an even more beautiful thing to see the longest married couple beam as everyone cheers. They can be given a prize, or sometimes the bride chooses to give them a bouquet rather than tossing it to the single ladies.