Staying Seasonal for Your San Diego Wedding

While the temperatures might not have dropped just yet, we are approaching fall. If you’re planning an autumn wedding, it’s a good idea to consider a seasonal menu for your food.

While the southland provides year-round fruit and vegetables, there are some seasonal variations that you can take advantage of. Some of the fall produce, such as apples, can be a great way to bring an autumnal feel to your menu, even if the weather’s warm. Other foods, like artichokes, are at their best this time of year and offer excellent flavors for your menu.

Much of creating a seasonal menu is in knowing the perfect ways to combine the flavors of the produce. Of course, you’ll also want something that looks beautiful on the plate! When you have fresh food, great recipes, and beautiful presentation, you’re sure to have the perfect wedding menu. Top this off with the right drink pairing and you can be guaranteed you and your guests will love every bite.

To find out what we can offer for your San Diego wedding, whatever season it’s in, give us a call today!

How Much Food Should You Have at Your Wedding?

You want your San Diego wedding to be something to remember, but you don’t want guests’ memories to be of how hungry they were. However, you also don’t want to end the day with loads of wasted food. When you work with an experienced wedding caterer, you won’t need to worry about either extreme!

One of the big mistakes people make in trying to cater their own event is under- or overestimating how much their guests will eat. It’s not as simple as figuring out a meal for four guests, or even a dozen guests. When you have a larger guest list, you need to take all sorts of things into consideration.

A professional caterer will also be prepared for the inevitable problems that arise at any event. If you’ve asked guests to choose their meal in advance, some will insist on changing their mind on the day. If you have a buffet, a few items will be unexpectedly popular. A caterer knows that this is bound to happen, and can prepare for it.

Of course, the biggest advantage of working with an experienced wedding caterer is that you don’t need to worry about the food on your big day. You can focus on enjoying your wedding and celebrating with friends while enjoying some fabulous food! To find out what we can do for your San Diego wedding, get in touch today!

How to Plan Your Wedding Weekend Menus

Wedding weekends are a popular option. You get to spend more than just one day with your friends and family, and they allow you to spread out the festivities. Of course, this can also mean making plans for multiple meals. The best way to plan the food for your wedding weekend is to work with a single caterer for all the events.

In most cases, you’ll want to think about your main wedding menu, a rehearsal dinner, and a morning after brunch. This can give you three wonderful opportunities to bring everyone together, but keep you from feeling like you’re in constant event mode.

By planning all three meals together, you can also make sure they all work together. If you’re planning something very rich and decadent for your wedding meal, for instance, you might want to plan something light and fresh for the rehearsal. If you’re expecting a late-night party for your wedding, give your guests something substantial for the morning after brunch to help them recover.

If you’re planning a wedding weekend in San Diego, we can help provide the perfect food for every meal. To find out more about our wedding catering services, give us a call today!

Planning Your Beach Wedding Food

One of the great things about San Diego is that you can have a fantastic beach wedding. If you’re planning a beach wedding, though, you’ll want to have a menu that suits the surroundings. Here are a few wedding menu ideas that are perfect for your beach wedding.

• Seafood: This is a natural choice for a beach wedding. With the ocean as a part of your wedding, make its bounty a part of your menu. From seared ahi tuna bites and calamari to fish tacos and grilled prawns, there are plenty of fabulous seafood options available for any style of wedding.
• Barbecue: Think about the great fun of a beach barbecue pit, and use that for your big day. Elegant twists on barbecue favorites, such as hamburgers, ribs, and grilled vegetables, can give that smoky flavor while still being formal.
• Iced desserts: No trip to the beach is complete without some ice cream! Grown-up versions of icy treats are a great end to your beach wedding menu. Think about gelatos and granitas in exotic flavors.

For more great ideas for your beach wedding, or any San Diego area event, give us a call today!

Ice Cream Sandwiches Are a Fun and Fabulous Wedding Treat

Did you know that August 2^nd was National Ice Cream Sandwich Day? Whether you celebrated this great holiday or not, it can be a great inspiration for your wedding menu. Here are a few ways to make ice cream sandwiches special for your wedding.

• Traditionalists can stick with a chocolate cookie and vanilla ice cream combination. Make it extra special by dipping it in white chocolate.
• Create a south of the border sandwich with a churro style cookie and margarita ice cream combination.
• French favorite macarons can be used for the cookie, with a delicately infused ice cream flavor like lavender.
• Allow guests to create their own combinations with an ice cream sandwich station. Offer a selection of cookies and let them mix and match with a variety of ice creams and sorbets.

To find out more about including ice cream sandwiches in your San Diego wedding menu, get in touch today!

How to Prepare Your Wedding Bar

Along with great food, your guests will be looking for great drinks at your wedding reception. This means planning the perfect wedding bar.

• Full open bar: This is the most expensive type of bar, and means that your guests will have pretty much any drink, with any brand, and not need to pay anything (though guests are always encouraged to tip the bartender). Your guests will love the free choice, but it could cost you around a third of your overall budget.
• Limited open bar: Whether you limit the available drinks to beer and wine, house brand cocktails, or a signature drink, this can help you save money while not costing your guests on a per-drink basis. The key is to offer some choice, but not every choice. This is often paired with offering wine during the meal and a glass of champagne for the cocktail hour and toasts.
• Cash bar: While your guests might not be thrilled with a cash bar, it will certainly help your budget. Consider offering wine during the meal, and a glass of champagne or cocktail during the cocktail hour or toasts. Your guests will still be able to drink whatever they choose, they’ll just need to be prepared to pay for it.

Your choice of bar type is really down to you, your budget, and any potential concerns you have about guest behavior. To find out more about creating the perfect bar for your San Diego wedding, get in touch today!

Pescetarian Menus Are a Perfect Wedding Choice

If you and your fiancé are pescetarians, you might not want to include a traditional meat option in your wedding menu. You also might not want to stick to just vegetarian options, either. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t offer your guests a pescetarian menu that reflects your diet!

With the Pacific right there, seafood is a natural part of San Diego wedding menus. It can be used in a variety of ways, from sushi-inspired nibbles for the cocktail hour to delicate and tasty fish tacos as an evening snack.

For your main meal, offering seafood options like salmon or tuna along with a vegetarian option can give any guest something they’ll love. A fresh ceviche is a great starter, with a sundried tomato bruschetta for those who don’t want fish.

Whether you go with a certain cuisine or a mix of favorites, a pescetarian menu is a great choice. You and your guests can still enjoy a great variety without any poultry or red meat. To plan the perfect pescetarian menu for your San Diego wedding, give us a call today!