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Critique my catering plan

556 replies

PermanentTemporary · 06/01/2026 06:51

Give me your most viperish take - I’ve got 18 months to sort this.

Plan: early June. 2pm ceremony, 2.45/3pm reception. Gorgeous huge local garden, marquee/stretch tent for cover as needed. Seats and occasional tables scattered about. Circulating staff facilitating the food. Vintage china (hired). Buffet food tables/tablecloths.

Fizz on arrival (cremant de Loire) or sparkling elderflower. Jugs of water available.

Cocktail bar making jugs of 4 different cocktails for the staff to circulate- likely Pimm’s, a gin cocktail and 2 nonalcoholic ones.

Vegetarian sandwiches from local sandwich place: cheddar and chutney, Brie and grape, roasted veg &hummus, cucumber.

Crudites and 2 dips, probably tsatziki and hummus again.

Cake: 2 mini scones per guest with clotted cream and jam (300 scones). Choice of rich chocolate cake, lemon drizzle, Victoria sponge with strawberries and cream. Additional gluten free and vegan option depending on numbers needing this.

Wedding cake bought from local
cake maker: fruit cake layer, gluten free layer, vegan layer.

Also plain strawberries with/without cream on offer (the venue is a farm that does pick your own strawberries).

Big question: is it crazy to think I could make the scones and basic cakes myself and freeze them over the months, and hire someone to defrost them over the previous 24 hours, ice them and manage them on the day? Money isn’t necessarily the issue so much as preferring my own baking. 300 mini scones, 10 each of the large cakes above.

OP posts:
Cherrytree86 · 18/01/2026 16:48

NotMeNorI · 18/01/2026 15:48

Definitely add in pizzas, if they can cook and serve them quick enough to keep up with the number of guests (sometimes tricky with proper pizza ovens).

Maybe some savoury scones with cheese and chutney, bags of posh crisps, mini quiches or canapes etc.? (You could definitely make and freeze mini puff pastry tarts.)

Could also do a big cheese / crackers / fruit platter?

I love the afternoon tea theme and that it's all vegetarian, but you may be lacking in savoury options and 'filling' food.

@NotMeNorI

pizzas don’t fit with the afternoon tea theme though.

BeardedBarley · 18/01/2026 16:56

NotMeNorI · 18/01/2026 15:50

Oh! Also a pick and mix station is always a fun one - you can bulk buy sweets online, get pretty cut glass containers from charity shops and some retro striped paper bags. Adults REALLY love them. Aldi do a fab range of vegan sweets too.

I never met an adult that would love this.

Cherrytree86 · 18/01/2026 17:02

BeardedBarley · 18/01/2026 16:56

I never met an adult that would love this.

@BeardedBarley

Me neither. That kind of stuff is for kids

sittingonabeach · 19/01/2026 16:35

I know a few adults that fill up on pick n mix at the cinema

ZoomerBoomer · 04/04/2026 01:03

PermanentTemporary · 06/01/2026 07:25

Definitely a fully vegetarian wedding. (I’m not veggie in fact but dp is and I don’t want a thing served at his own wedding that he can’t eat). I’m not providing 2 small sandwiches, think 2 full rounds per person, plus scones, plus up to 3 pieces of cake, now adding pizza in.

Im not that focused on the vintage china, more that I wanted to paint a mental picture… but I do get that a pretty vibe full of hungry people is no good.

Yes to a certain extent I’m doing it on the cheap, in that I remember doing a full on sit down gourmet buffet for my previous wedding and most of it going home with the caterers at £25 per head (20 years ago, more like £50 a head now)… this to me feels like delicious food that people will eat

Afternoon tea is so disappointing, 2 rounds of sandwiches, pizza, scones, 3 pieces of cake per person - it’s all so beige and stodgy.

RampantIvy · 04/04/2026 03:14

ZoomerBoomer · 04/04/2026 01:03

Afternoon tea is so disappointing, 2 rounds of sandwiches, pizza, scones, 3 pieces of cake per person - it’s all so beige and stodgy.

It's a good job you aren't a guest at this wedding then.

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