DIY Buffet??

[Leopard12]

So I'm looking to have a late afternoon wedding (ceremony is at the same place as evening and same people all day) and the venue are doing a BBQ complete with all the sides which will be at around 5 quite soon after the ceremony has finished for a ridiculous £25pp But I also want an evening buffet around 9/10 (party is until 12). At the venue their advertised buffet option is also very expensive and pretty posh food, they said they are flexible but I'm trying to keep costs down. All I want from the late buffet is a few sandwiches and typical party food; mini sausages, crisps, cheese and pineapple etc. I'm thinking my three bridesmaids come to mine the day before and we make a load of simple sandwiches ourselves, most of the other stuff can be bought in advance and I'm sure DM and DSis would be willing to help and provide some dishes. Is this putting way to much pressure on myself or is it as easy as I seem to think?

[Leopard12]

Probably should mention this is for around 80 guests

I could always get most of the buffet food ready done from M&S or similar but I just feel that simple sandwiches would just be so much cheaper and quite easy to make myself.

[CodyKing]

Got any helpful aunties? They love being busy are organising stiff?

[Leopard12]

My aunties both probably would help but live far away and I don't want the food arriving with the other guests, I may ask a helpful friend to take it there early in the morning or even drop it off the night before if the venue will allow.

[LizardBreath]

We had a bus for our wedding and I had originally planned to do little 'snack box' type food for the guests whilst on there. This swiftly went out the window when I realised the effort, and I was so glad when it got to the days before that I hadn't decided to do it-much too much going on!! If you have lots of close by helpers, then not such a pain I guess

Where would you serve your own buffet? Are your venue happy for you to serve it there despite them not making any money from it?

[Wait4nothing]

I doubt your venue would allow it - they are missing out on profit! I would state a low budget and see what they can do for it. We had a full meal at 5 so opted for various pizzas, wedges and wedding cake at 9.30 which was reasonably priced.

[FortyFacedFuckers]

My dsis was going to do this at her wedding as her husband is a caterer but her venue wouldn't allow it, have you checked with your venue?

[Leopard12]

Venue is in a university building, so although they have links with the caterers on site they don't mind not using them, you just can't use their facilities to do so.

LizardBreath - what were you doing the days before the wedding, people keep saying I'll be busy but hopefully everything else will be sorted!

[LizardBreath]

That's good then, I'd be tempted to get m&s or similar sandwich type platter things to make it easier.

That's good people have warned you leopard no one really did me until I was in the midst of it, then my friends were all 'yeah, the week before was awful'!

, I did the table flowers, so they were all bought mid week and then prepped as and When. Also made favours myself (mini layered cocktails in jars, many failed attempts in couple of days before) and also prepped room ourself the day before. Then there was just general tooing and froing. Had to have 2 extra hair appts as my clip in extensions didn't quite match my actual hair, mani / pedi booking, and general just last minute panics! We got married on the sat and I only had the Friday off. In hindsight I should have had an extra day or so off. We also got married at Christmas so had all general Christmas gatherings / stuff going on too! Also in diff location as close friends family so no one felt we could ask for help.

I was actually quite organised, there was just lots that could only happen the days before. When do you get married?

[momb]

You'll need to make sure that your platters pick their fridges, and that you can have access to their fridges. Otherwise if you'll have time it's a great idea.

[momb]

fit their fridges, not pick...and also that you have fridge space at home for the night you do all this.

[annielostit]

If you've access to fridges you could do it, but that far into a party would you get help.
An option might be for every table of say 10, get these. Really it's just a pick & to soak up any beer. Put one on each table.
www.marksandspencer.com/98-piece-party-selection/p/p21054563?prevPage=plp

Speak with the catering that your using about what you want