Weddingbee boards

Hi Bees. I don't have a lot of posts but I have been reading the Bee for about a year so I really value everyone’s opinion.  I got engaged at Christmas and our wedding is in August so I have a pretty tight timeline. Typing up the list for my menu to send to one of my bridesmaids for input, it seemed to me that there is just a LOT of food!  I started to feel borderline over the top by the time I hit the end of it.  I can’t really change it much (shorten it or pare it down because it’s what’s included in our package), it is what it is—but I wanted to get your opinions.  I don’t want people to think we are being ostentatious!  Not only that, I am worried that there will be a lot of waste, or that people won’t even get to try and appreciate everything because of all the choices.  To me, the cocktail hour alone is almost enough for a meal.  Here is the menu, please tell me what you think.  Thanks in advance, Bees!

Cocktail HourApps (8)

Mozzarella sticks, Mushrooms casino, beef franks en croute (lol pigs in a blanket, fancy!), baked clams, coconut shrimp, Asian chicken, teriyaki, bruschetta, vegetable quiche

Displays:Vegetable crudités, assorted cheese and crackers, antipasto, tropical fruit platter

Carving stations w/turkey & steak, plus trimmings, Pasta station

This seafood boat w/lobster, jumbo shrimp, clams on the half shell and Alaskan king crab legs (this is an add-on but we fell in love with it, especially since we have a nautical theme, summer wedding and love seafood)

Chafing Dishes:  8 selections out of 30 dishes , I am leaning towards Hawaiian chicken, Buffalo Wings, Chicken Francaise, Pasta primavera, Stuffed rigatoni ala vodka, Seafood newburg, beef au poivre, St Louis BBQ ribs

DINNER

Fruit or pasta & a salad or duet of choice of  fresh mozz & tomato, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, prosciutto and citrus salad or vegetable strudel (leaning towards either mozz/tomato or crab cakes)

Main course Choice at table of Chateaubriand (a definite pick for my menu), Chicken (either Cordon Bleu, Wellington, Francaise or Sorrentino, I need to choose one), Duck a l’orange, fish(I need to choose from filet of sole oreganata, almondine, or seafood newburg or grilled tuna w/citrus lemon butter, shrimp scampi—leaning towards grilled tuna)

DESSERT

Peach melba, almondine royal, Ice cream sundaes or ice cream eclairs, sherbet or chocolate mousse

Wedding cake

Viennese hour with pastries, cakes, pies, ice cream bar, fruit, cannolis, carved fruit display, chocolate dipped strawberries etc.

Cordial bar/International coffee & espresso station

Full open bar w/premium liquor, bottles of red and white wine on tables, champagne

Please tell me what you guys think.

Whoa, that is a lot of food! I agree with you that I'd be full just after cocktail hour. I'd be concerned you'd have a lot of food left over (unless you have a HUGE guest list?) - is it possible to cut down on the food?

lefeymw, that is exactly what I am afraid of.  I am not sure what to do.  Maybe I can work a deal out where they can pack up some leftovers and we can give the to the local food pantry for distribution.

caffeiney, we are having about 200 people and I don't think we can cut down the list of food.  Well I guess I could tell them to serve less but we are still paying the same.  I just don't want to see a lot of waste, it makes me feel bad especially in this economy.

@sehrler:  I like the idea of re-gifting the leftovers if that's possible. Since you're paying for the food, you should be able to take anything that isn't eaten - as long as re-heating it won't be a problem. Maybe the caterers have come across this in the past? They might be able to suggest something. At least you know your guests won't go hungry!

Thanks Bees, I will check with the venue and see if they allow take-home (I know I've read some places don't) and if so if they know of a place that would accept the leftovers.  Or if the guests are allowed to take food home that's fine too I just don't want it wasted.

i think a lot of venues don't allow you to take the food (or donate it) because it's a liability issue.  btw, when i read the title of your post, i was thinking "there is no such thing as too much food".  now, i definitely think it's too much, and i really wish i was invited to your wedding!  i guess one question is how much each of these items will there be?  Like if there are 8 appetizers during cocktail hour, does that mean that each guest can have one piece of each?  or two pieces of each?  or are there enough total for the guests to have 3 pieces, and they can just pick which ones they like?  if it's the first one, holy cow that's too much.  if it's the last one, then your tons of variety is awesome, and it will probably be okay.

@szaerpoor:  The apps are butler style and unlimited during the cocktail hour, I guess they just refill the platters they carry offering the choices as needed. I have a meeting there this week so I will check on being able to take home some leftovers but I have a feeling it will be NO.

In my opinion this is way too much food. I basically wouldn't touch anything after cocktail hour. Can you do away with the seafood? I know you love it but since that is an add-on, maybe you can get it taken off the bill. 

I agree that it's way too mch food.

After the cocktail hour, I wouldn't eat any dinner.

How about having a cocktail reception?

You serve all the different Horderves but not have a complete sit down dinner. I think most people will be full just with all the appetizers you are serving and won't need a full dinner.

I love the seafood boat.

Thanks for the suggestions ladies :)

We definitely don't want to do away with the seafood though.  Got totally suckered in by loving that boat and the yummy seafood plus it's summer and our nautical theme...just don't want to!

And we definitely want the sit down dinner.  I don't see too many options for changes since we are stuck on that boat and want the dinner.  Like I said, I will be there this week so I'll ask about cutting down appetizers/chafing dish options or something.  I know the past few weddings I've attended had all those options and I hardly ate any apps knowing that I wouldn't touch dinner if I ate all that beforehand. I was hoping everyone would say that it was normal and not to worry!

Oh well.

That's certainly a lot of food. I would be full after cocktail hour lol

seafood app...I don't think you can take it home since they are sitting out there for hours...

but do see if your venue is willing to serve less for some dinner items for your reception and let you can take the un-served food items to local shelter afterwards. 

My sister and brother in law took a lot of leftovers to the shelter that night, along with all the leftover cupcakes they have from the wedding :)

I will let you know when I find out!  Good luck to you guys too...we are lucky that too much is our problem vs the alternative.

lamkky, that is great about your sister/BIL...I hope I can do that, it would be a great feeling to share part of our day with others like that!

@RhubarbPie:  13-14 cakes, that's an awesome idea!  I'm a big dessert person...YUM!

@AshleyR83:  That's what I was afraid of...don't want to be in poor taste! OK, bad pun.

Going there tonight...I'll see what they say.  Also, does anyone have suggestions on how to write the RSVP card?  I will probably ask this in Paper but I don't know quite how to word "you get to choose at the table" instead of giving the pre-determined menu choices like I always see.

That seafood boat makes my mouth water!!!! I think it all sounds fabulous, go big or go home! hahaah PS-is this Vineyard Caterers? That room looks similar to the cocktail room there :)

@WantToBeM.E.:  No, Swan Club!

And I can't change the amount so I agree, go big or go home it is!  If I can get people to be able to take some home all the better.

Funny, I just found a review of my venue here:

http://www.weddingbee.com/2011/10/18/new-york-ballroom-weddings/

looks like everyone enjoyed it so I'm not going to worry!

@MerryWidow:  Thanks MerryWidow :)  I have seen reviews online where people took home their dinner because they were stuffed, that was back in 2006 though so I need to ask them.  I haven't had a chance to talk about it yet. 

Here is another question--how does it work, if you take home any food and/or your top layer of wedding cake?  Meaning, do you have to make arrangements to take it right away or have a family member take it? If you are leaving for your wedding night I don't think I personally want to worry about stuff like that, just leave with the hubby!

SO relieved!!!

Met with venue yesterday, they said 1) guests that don't finish their personal entrees can take them home; and 2) that every Tuesday they donate all the leftovers to The Inn, a nearby shelter/soup kitchen!  Apparently in NY there are strict laws concerning liability for food donations but they are waived when it comes to non-profits like that so all is good...I can enjoy without guilt of wasting all the leftovers :) 

Pleasant surprise!