Change the time
If you’d rather not serve a dinner, opt for lunch, afternoon tea or a breakfast reception. Breakfast will cut out a huge expense for alcohol and will give you the choice to serve something different, such as colourful fruit smoothies and mouth-watering pastries. Or a high tea in the morning or afternoon will reduce the amount of food you’ll serve. With beautiful bite-size sandwiches and cakes, it can still be an elegant, decadent affair.
I think it’s great you want to do everything yourself, but that’s a lot of pressure at a time when you need to be there for your daughter. Find some people to help you – maybe a service group or local school mothers – and make a payment to a charity of their choice in exchange for their assistance. Then, do the shopping trip and delegate the food to be made to different people in the group. I’ve seen this done, and it was amazing how good the meals were. And why not get a group of senior school kids to dress in black and serve the food.
Glitz and glamour
If you would still prefer something in the evening, opt for cocktails and canapes, and ignore the complete sit-down meal. You’ll spend more time mingling with guests – but make sure they know not to arrive expecting a large multicourse meal; you don’t want them going hungry.
Do it yourself
It’s not as scary as it sounds. As a couple, plan a meal yourselves; one that be made in advance and reheated on the day. Get some friends to help by bringing a plate.
At your service
Having meals catered for and delivered to the reception gives you the chance to provide a course, such as the salad or starters, yourself to cut costs.
Casual affair
Everyone loves the kiwi tradition of a barbecue, especially in summer. So, if yours is a warm-weather wedding, combine a juicy piece of meat with a few salads for a smoky feast.
Help yourselves
A buffet meal can often end up costing much less than a sit-down, multi-course meal.
The sweet stuff
Keep it simple with a dessert reception that can be a chance for guests to enjoy devouring some delicious dishes – day or night.
Less is more
Don’t feel pressured into having an extravagantly large wedding cake. A smaller size is fine as long as there is enough for the guests and the wedding party.
Downsize
You’ll be surprised how quickly your budget will grow as your guest list gets. Don’t feel the need to invite people you’ve lost touch with or barely see. Stick with close friends and family and keep your guest list (and budget) small.
Dine al fresco
If yours is a summer wedding in a beautiful outdoor setting, why not keep things casual with an outdoor picnic? Lay out beautiful blankets for sitting on, and hang colourful lanterns from the trees. Lay a table of meat and beautiful salads and let guests help themselves.
A contribution
Give guests the option to pay something towards the cost of the food instead of a wedding present.
Wine, madam?
Let waiters pour the wine instead of placing bottles on the tables – they can quickly empty.
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