Food Ideas

@Jenna, while that was kind of you to offer your guests free accommodations, it wasn't necessary. What IS necessary is safe, delicious food handled by people who know exactly what they're doing.

ETA jeans have no place at a wedding. Just fyi.

@Penny

honey, I never said anything about it. lol assuming you're new here, having dry wedding and self catered food in the same thread on WW will get you, well... in this exact position.

@mf....

You didn't have to say anything the meme you posted says it all. Your pretty much saying my wedding will be a train wreck because I have a dry wedding and I'm self prepping my wedding.

@Penny

Oh boy... you don't understand things very well, do you? No the train wreck here is this thread, once again if you haven't looked around at how well it's going.

But okay...

Your wedding won't be a train wreck but it will be incredibly boring with no alcohol, and ...interesting with self catered food. You will likely feel like a train wreck the day of when you're spending time in the kitchen instead of a hair and makeup chair.

And a fyi to everyone ..... new or not to ww noone should be this rude to people. For posting questions or things there doing for their wedding. Everyone should be supportive or keep there mouth shut about things. Not bash a bride/groom for doing things a different way than everyone else

Oh a different way is fine! People frequently posts unique elements to their weddings. But when you come on here breaking etiquette rules and with a potential dangerous idea, that's when people get up in arms.

Yeah we're the rude ones.

Because being rude to your guests by making them work and not letting them have a drink if they so choose because it's "your wedding day" and no one else matters isn't rude at all.

OP. Sorry, everyone turns out really rude on here when you ask abput self catering. I think most people are aiming for formal plated tlc 4 weddings type receptions. 80% of weddings I've been to have been self-catered or family catered. Catered food doesn't necessarily mean there's less of a chance of people getting sick. I have food allergies and a really sensitive stomach so I get more sick from restaurants than anywhere else. Also, have people not seen some restaurant's kitchens? There's some truly disgusting ones.

Honestly who gives a sh*t what people's opinions are. Do whatever you want. It's your wedding. I've seen some ugly dresses and centerpiece pictures on here but I don't say anything. It's their wedding, not mine. Weddings are not competitions and they're one day over the rest of your lives.

As for us, we were going to do pastas but we decided to do mexican/tex mex food- baked chicken and beef fajitas, rice and beans with guacamole, salsa, chips and tortillas. My FH is Mexican and there's some of his aunts that have restaurants and they're going to help as well...but not using their restaurants. Idk everyone says itll be so stressful. It's just a party. We have them allllll the time. There's not that much pressure on my wedding. We're having a church wedding with a 4000$ budget. So far so good.

You do you (: It's your day. Not anyone else's

@JennaB and @OP...will your guests be informed of the self-catered reception on the invitation? Particularly @JennaB- you say if people don't like it, they don't have to come. True fucking story. But, will they KNOW what they are in for before they RSVP? I would be pissed if I attended a wedding and brought a gift only to be fed potentially dangerous homemade food and use a porta-potty. At any event YOU are hosting, your GUESTS should be the number one priority. Where did this "all-about-me" mentality come from? Jeez!

It's probably cheaper to just get a caterer for a buffet style meal. They get their foods wholesale and you don't.

@JennaB.

Yes all of my guest are aware. All the people that are coming are very close friends and family that we communicate with pretty much everyday and we have talked to them about how we are doing out food ourselves. For the porta-potty we are not using those. The place we are having our wedding and reception has 4 bathrooms in it. The whole mentality thing. THE WEDDING IS ABOUT YOU AND FH. the guest are joining you on your day what you do and how you do it is all about you.

And this one's still up, as well?

You know, to all of those who repeat the "If you don't like it, don't come to my wedding" mantra, I completely agree with you. Here's the problem...I've never seen a wedding invitation that advises the guests that the food they will be served has been prepped, cooked, and handled by a lot of happy, but unprofessional, hands. Add that to your invitations, and I'll take you up on your "If you don't like it, don't come to my wedding" ultimatum. Declines.

How about this:

"Reception, featuring an "All Hands on Deck" family and friends created and prepared meal, to immediately follow.

No Indoor Plumbing Available, but Porta-Potties will be onsite for guest use."

It makes no sense to say, "If you don't like it, don't come" when they don't know that they're not going to like until they get there -- because you intentionally failed to disclose what they won't like (and please, don't say word of mouth gets the message out -- put it in writing).

ETA: Not asking you, Penny. We're more than done. This was a question that is directed to the poster (Jenna?) -- it applies to her posts.

SaraJ -- this is the second time in the last two days that you've read my mind, lol

@Penny, I guess we just weren't raised the same way. I was always taught to consider others before myself...even on my wedding day. I get to plan the exact wedding I want, down to the venue, date, time, colors, music, bridal party, guest list, decor, flowers, and china pattern used...but I'm for damn sure going to make sure my loved ones are well taken care of in the process. I will spare no expense to ensure they are properly hosted. I have a tight budget, so most of it is going for food and beverages.

If your guests are demanding a gourmet chef and a 50000$ wedding I'd question your guests. Have you guys never had dinner parties? Or do y'all not know how to cook or something? Or are y'alls own kitchens not sanitized or something? None of you personally know OP and her FH soooooo back off and leave her be. Her question was for ideas. It was NOT what do you personally think of self-catering. Self-catered does not mean tacky or gross. I've had catered food that made me want to vomit. Some people need manners. What happened to if you don't have nothing else to say don't say anything at all?!

@Sarah R, it's against community guidelines to tell others not to post on a public thread. You may want to revisit these guidelines in the pinned post under the forums tab.

@SaraJ. Lol ok? No where did I say not to post. I said be nice.

To everyone saying some restaurant/caterer kitchens are gross - who is forcing you to hire THOSE restaurants or caterers specifically? The fact that there are shitty "pro" photographers doesn't get used (that I've seen) as an excuse not to hire a pro photographer at all. This argument doesn't hold up - like with any vendor do your due diligence and hire food made in a clean, well functioning and INSPECTED kitchen when you need food for a three digit guest list. This is pretty basic guys.

"Back off and leave her be." Maybe I misinterpreted, but that's a pretty clear indication that you want people to stop posting in disagreement with the OP. Edited: typo

Liza is big mad