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August 2021

How to Choose the Right Food Service for Your Wedding

by SandandLeaves September 3, 2021
written by SandandLeaves

One of the most important things guests remember from a wedding is the food. As a result, it is also one of the most common things couples stress about before the big day. You’re probably here reading this article because you’re now facing the same dilemma as them: how do you know which food service to pick? Is there a way to figure out which one is perfect for your wedding? To answer your question, below are some food services and the corresponding reasons why a couple such as you and your partner would want to pick them for your wedding:

Buffet Style

One of the most common food services for weddings is actually a buffet. A buffet is basically this “eat all you can” where different dishes are lined up on long tables manned by servers. In a buffet, hiring servers ensures a faster line and a more proportionate distribution of the food among the guests. On some weddings, however, the guests are also left to serve themselves. Besides the variety of food, an advantage in choosing a buffet is then the less number of staff you need to hire because guests themselves go to the food instead of the other way around. On the other hand, a disadvantage is the larger quantities of food you may have to prepare because guests are free to avail of second helpings. Moreover, lines may become long and slow. This is also why some tend to view buffets as “tacky” or lacking elegance. Nevertheless, it’s a good option to consider if you want to save money on catering staff costs!

Plated Style

This is the classic sit-down dinner with the guests just waiting for the staff to serve their food. An example of the sequence of food served would be first, the salad course, followed by the entrée, then the dessert and lastly, the beverage. Without the variety offered by the buffet, a plated dinner may require you to present choices to your guests beforehand to ask them what they would like to be served on the wedding day. This is usually done by way of the invitations where the guests can send back their preferences and tell you any allergies they may have. This traditional wedding reception style offers the advantage of being simple and straightforward. It would also ensure that no food would be wasted because everyone is already accounted for and the portions of food are already estimated well by the caterer. Furthermore, everyone would be served food at the same time so the guests would be more comfortable. The disadvantage of the plated meal style, however, would be the higher bill for the wait staff and the turnaround time for each meal.

Family Style

In the family style, different dishes are already placed at the center of each table in the reception along with the utensils. This food service style serves to replicate the idea of “family” and friends coming together, hence the name. So in this scenario, guests pass the food around in the table and help themselves to whatever dish they want. A pro of this wedding reception style would be the more casual and relaxed atmosphere between the guests which would also encourage more conversation between them. Basically, it provides for a more intimate ambiance which may align with your wedding theme. A disadvantage is that there is no way to control how much each guest gets so some may end up getting too full and others left too hungry. Other cons include food that might be wasted and the mess from leaving the guests to tend to themselves.

Cocktail Style

Cocktail style is basically a ‘stand up’ reception where guests aren’t seated so food is either served to them or is available in stations (or food trucks for some adventurous couples). In this style, guests also have the freedom to choose from a selection of food and they wouldn’t have to wait for the next round of meals like in the plated style. Aside from this, other advantages include guests being able to choose when they’ll eat and can spread it out through the night. As for you and your partner, one pro is being able to personalize the stations/food trucks according to what you want. Hors d’oeuvres (or light snacks and appetizers) served by the wait staff is also a common option for couples who want to add a touch of elegance to the cocktail style. This can be expensive, however, because appetizers like salmon sliders or braised lamb meatballs are labor intensive and cost more. Another evident disadvantage is guests not getting fed well because there is no guarantee that food gets to them.

Food Cart

In recent years, one additional option for food service that has become more popular for weddings is the use of food carts. Aside from the catering, some couples choose to hire coffee or dessert carts which bring in a touch of creativity on the array of food options for the guests. Of course, a common example for these food carts would be ice cream. But, more creative food carts for weddings include those with cotton candy, takoyaki, sandwiches, churros, nachos, among many others which really send the message that you want your guests to enjoy on your wedding night. Definitely, this is something you can consider if you have an additional budget for food and if you and your partner are foodies who would like the guests to try something you love!

To end this short list of food services you can choose from, one thing you can also consider in your decision is the overall look or feel of your wedding. Sometimes, thinking about the bigger picture helps you decide on the smaller things and keeps your vision for the wedding intact. If you still find yourself torn between options, try making a pros and cons list to see which really fits both your budget and wedding theme.

September 3, 2021
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Wedding Gift Ideas for Your Partner

by SandandLeaves September 3, 2021
written by SandandLeaves

If you’ve watched a lot of wedding highlights videos, you’d notice that one thing videographers always include is the couple’s heartwarming exchange of gifts before the ceremony. It’s either the sister or the bridesmaid or the groomsman bringing the gift with a handwritten card that the groom and bride read aloud to their friends inside their separate rooms. Of course, there are a few tears, if not smiles, here and there from opening the most thoughtful gifts they chose for each other. Now, if you don’t have any clue what to get your partner yet, this article is for you! Below are some wedding gift ideas.

For the Missus:

1. Jewelry

A necklace or a ring is one of the simplest yet still most meaningful gifts you can get your partner. Others get necklaces with pendants that symbolize something important in their relationship. While some get necklaces they want their partners to wear on the wedding day itself. Some brides also immediately wear the rings they get—of course not on the ring finger! Other jewelry like earrings are also a common yet gorgeous choice (with the help of a few your bride’s friends).

2. Personalized Items

It would be cute to give your wife something that adorably screams taken! Some do this by ordering customized robes or mugs with the word “wifey.” While some choose the more traditional way of writing and making a handmade card with their most honest emotions of love. Other choices include embroidered night pajamas and even pillows.

For the Mister:

1. Watch

When giving a watch, most brides choose to engrave something at the back of it. This may be the initials of her and her partner’s names or the date of the wedding itself. Although others also choose to engrave a whole message, this comes at a higher cost. Definitely, a watch is one of the most “timeless” gifts you can give your man.

2. Cufflinks

Personalized cufflinks are also a popular choice for wedding gifts. This is because like the jewelry for the missus, the groom can wear the cufflinks on the day of the wedding to officially complete his outfit. He may also choose to use them again on special dates you will have in the future like your wedding anniversary or any other celebration! Moreover, just like the watch, cufflinks can be personalized to suit your idea for a wedding gift like a cufflink in the form of the first letter of your name or perhaps a plain silver cufflink with a few romantic words.

1. Camera

Unlike any other gadget, a camera like an Instax, a DSLR, or a film one (depending on what fits your budget and what you think your partner would appreciate more) is a really cool gift. You could even include a message with the camera saying that it’s for the thousands of memories you’ll share together, starting with the wedding day. (Awwwe!) It may be on the more expensive end of gifts but it’s something you’re sure you and your partner can use as you start your own family.

2. Scrapbook

This one is a bit more creative and personal because it’s so much more than just a card. It’s something you’ll work hard on – from collecting pictures when you were still dating and composing messages you want to go with those pictures. There are many styles you can go about making the scrapbook and one example is the cliché yet sweet “Ten Things I Love About You.” Certainly, this is a very heartwarming gift and years after your wedding, both of you can share a few laughs and tears browsing through it.

3. Suitcase

If you’re that adventurous couple and you’ve always talked about travelling after you got married, you could get your partner a suitcase. Of course, this means that you are officially taking him/her up on that dream and that you want to keep that spontaneous and fun spirit in your marriage. You could even add in a cool pair of sunglasses and a world map to make it the cutest package! But, even if you don’t have any plans of travelling yet, your partner might a new suitcase and, embarking on this new journey in your lives, this might just be one of the perfect moments to give him/her one!

4. Embroidered Apron

This is one of those “I got you one and I have one too!” gifts. Giving an apron to your significant other is somehow symbolic of how you picture your life together. It’s saying that you’ll have Sundays at the kitchen cooking for your kids or Saturdays at the grill with your neighbors over. It’s a gift that says no matter what you do, you will do it together and that you’re happy to finally be able to do that after you get married. What you get embroidered on those aprons is up to you but common choices include “Mr. and Mrs.” and “His and Hers.” You could be more creative and embroider your endearment to each other or even be more personal by embroidering your childhood nicknames.

Needless to say, there really are a lot of gifts out there ranging from perfume to headphones to wine. It’s a matter of choosing what you think your partner will appreciate the most and what is most meaningful for you to give. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be genuine and, hopefully, something you’ve put a lot of thought into. If you’re still feeling a bit lost about what you get your partner, start thinking back to the times you had together or even to the conversations you’ve had about your partner wanting to get something. That might help! Best of luck gift hunting!

September 3, 2021
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