5 Tips For Planning Your Orange County Wedding Reception
Few things are as fun and fulfilling as planning your OC wedding. Of course, few other things can inspire as much fear. You worry about the guest list and the venue, the music and the photos. And you agonize over your catered wedding food. All those anxieties are why many couples hire a pro. That’s fine. It’s just there’s a huge difference between planning your special day and filing your taxes. Even if you hire a top-notch wedding planner, you don’t want to hand everything off to a stranger. You’ll want to be involved. How else will the wedding feel like you? A great place to start is by choosing a wedding catering service in Orange County with experience helping brides and grooms in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Dana Point and throughout Southern California. You’ll also want to look at this list of tips for planning your wedding reception.
Build a budget for your wedding
Wedding receptions can be pricey. Nothing will break your bank like not having a wedding reception budget. Examine your resources. Do you have support from family? Do you have a dedicated savings account? You want the day to be special. You don’t want to start your new life together facing mountains of debt. So do some research and create a spreadsheet. Make a guest list: how many people you invite determines the size of the venue, the amount of wedding food you order, and much, much more.
A rule of thumb is that half of your total wedding day expenses will be devoted to the reception. Around ten percent will flow toward flowers, with another ten each for clothing, entertainment, and photos. Smaller wedding expenses include invites and gifts. Keep in mind that half of a wedding receptions’ cost is devoted to food and drink. Then again, that’s the element many guests remember the most!
Pick your wedding date
Many decisions will naturally flow from picking a date. Keep in mind that the longer lead time the better. Weddings are booming in 2022 after two years of postponements. Popular venues are often booked many months in advance even as supply chain disruptions make it hard to get certain items. If you’re facing a time crunch, consider a less sought after season. Even in sunny Southern California winter isn’t as big for wedding receptions. Since Saturday is the most popular day to get married, you might have better luck landing a Sunday on short notice (except for three-day-weekends). Picking less crowd-friendly dates can save you big bucks on the budget.
Get yourself organized
There’s a reason people turn to wedding planners. With their detailed lists and colorful charts, they often inspire confidence before a single decision has been made. Besides a spreadsheet, develop a mood board. Start a Pinterest page. Even in our digital age, binders and paper can be comforting. Consider buying a guidebook like The Wedding Book.
Choose your wedding caterer
Do yourself a favor and choose your Orange County wedding reception caterer before selecting your OC wedding venue. That’s because many sites require you to use either their in-house caterers or from a small list of approved vendors. Got forbid you want to choose your own food or hire your own wedding dessert caterer. If you prefer options to rigidity, then you’ll want to look at a wedding catering company like Taylor Made Cuisine. They have experience customizing menus. Plus, they’ve spent years catering weddings in towns like Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point for a variety of venues. Speaking of location…
Book your wedding venue
As you consider food, start scouting locations. Walk the properties. Spend time in the ballrooms. Get a feel for the place. If it's outdoors, find out if they have a contingency plan if you’re beset by bad weather. Get a price quote. The location you select will inform your decisions about food. For example, a scenic vista at your outdoor OC wedding venue is perfect for passed appetizers while an intimate gathering of your closest friends and family is ideal for family style wedding dinner service. For a “food show” think about setting up action stations with skilled chefs like those at Taylor Made Cuisine catering.
In fact, no matter what type of wedding reception you have in mind, Taylor Made Cuisine wedding catering service can help you with delicious delights and a personal touch. Give them a call today!