Carole runs a very successful catering company in South West London called Parties to Go and when she’s not doing weddings and celebrity parties she’s thinking up great recipes that are easy to make and will impress your friends and families. Here’s Cook’s Corner to get you started.
Why small weddings rock says Carole. Here is her take on planning the food and event.
With this pesky virus still causing confusion and chaos around the world, the wedding industry and subsequently many happy couples to be have been left devastated by the restrictions put in place since March this year. And whilst these are beginning to lift, and guidance is changing week on week, there is still no real idea when larger weddings will be able to take place safely again.
From 15 August 2020 government guidelines stated that receptions and other celebrations for weddings and civil partnerships can take place, but only in a COVID-19 secure venue where they can be safely accommodated. There is an attendance limit of a maximum of 30 people at the reception or celebration to include the couple, guests and any third-party suppliers such as photographers (but not including venue staff or third-party catering staff). This means that if you had your heart set on a large party or a celebration of significant size then you may be reassessing dates for your forthcoming nuptials.
However, there are still plenty of couples continuing forward and adapting their original plans to fall in with current government guidelines whilst many others are embracing the thought of a smaller function for future dates in case the restrictions continue through to next year. So, if you’re now thinking about cutting numbers but are worried that a smaller wedding just won’t have as much impact, then here are five really good reasons why smaller functions get a massive thumbs up from us, and just may be the way forward.
Small weddings are kind on your purse
It’s all maths really. Smaller weddings, smaller venue. Fewer people, fewer favours. Fewer guests, less food and drink… the list is endless really. Of course, you can always spend more or upgrade in areas you may not have done if you had more people in attendance, but spending less of the day itself may mean you can afford to put more towards other things a wedding requires such as your honeymoon. Which brings us to the next point.
Small weddings let you indulge where you want
Firstly, you’re saving per person by only catering for 30 and (maybe) not the 150 you initially had in mind. Whereas you may have gone for the £20 per head menu you could now double up and have a gourmet menu to die for, and yes, still save money. And let’s not even start on the dress. Your dream designer gown no longer has to come in under £1500 – now, the [dress] world’s your oyster so to speak. And let’s not even begin to think were your new budget may take you for your honeymoon – exotic destinations may no longer be just a dream.
Small weddings allow you to take care of everyone
We’ve heard on so many occasions how the happy couple has just not had a chance to catch up with everyone on their big day, but with a smaller, more intimate affair, you are afforded the time to be able to get around all of your guests and share the day with everyone equally. It also allows you to be more personal with things such as favours and thank you cards. When dealing with higher numbers you aren’t always able to be as bespoke, but fewer guests mean more time dedicated to each one individually.
Small weddings let you focus on those that mean the most
No more pressure to invite your second cousin twice removed because you may upset your Great Aunty Diedre if you don’t. When the guest list needs to be limited you can focus on those most important to you sharing your day and you’ll be less likely to offend as others will understand numbers need to be limited.
Small weddings mean spending more of the day together
You would think as it’s a day about you as a couple that you would be focused on each other. However, one of the common things we hear is that many find the day goes by so quickly and they’ve spent most of it apart. With fewer people to get around and a smaller venue to lose each other in the focus can be more on spending the day, and enjoying it, together. After all, the focus really should be on you two as a newly married couple!
If you’d like to speak to us about how we can help with your wedding then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. At Parties to Go, we have much experience in catering for weddings of all sizes, and our flexible menus mean we can tailor the food and drink to your needs. We also have experience following new guidelines and restrictions for socially distanced gatherings set out by the government in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
https://www.partiestogo.co.uk/
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