Macomb County Wedding Caterer Gives Tips for Outdoor Weddings

Macomb County Wedding Caterer Outdoor weddings can be beautiful and successful, utilizing the surroundings and embracing Mother Nature in all of her glory—and unpredictability. For receptions that are also taking place outside, special considerations must be made for the comfort of the guests, the realistic expectations for the setting and time of year, and the goals for catering. Indoor wedding receptions easily allow for traditional forms of catering, but when the party moves outdoors, it is important to consider all of the variables.

Keep Your Wedding Caterer Informed

When informing your caterer of the setting for your wedding, make sure they know just as many details as you do. While you make the final decisions on the menu, the options that you have to choose from will change when indoor comforts are not readily available. Dishes that require being kept on ice or chilled for the duration of dinner will be more difficult (if not impossible) to serve. Avoiding mayonnaise-based pasta salads and side dishes is advisable as well. You will also want to consider your wedding’s theme and overall aesthetic; traditional comfort foods like baked chicken and redskin potatoes at a simple gathering in a park or backyard will make the most sense, where an upscale country club setting may require fancier fare like pork loin or pasta primavera. For a unique and fun outdoor wedding, consider a crowd-pleasing pig roast or a barbecue, family-style. The more information that you can provide for your wedding caterer, the more they can help you make the best decisions about menu choices for the outdoors.

The logistics of catering an outdoor wedding reception can be very simple or very complex depending on the weather and season. If your date is expected to be a scorcher, it is vital to discuss cold drink options and availability with your caterer. Summer weddings are great fun, as long as none of your guests get dehydrated. Remedying the problem with alcohol is never the answer, either!

If rain is a possibility, you’ll need to acquire a tent for your guests to sit beneath. Even if there isn’t a cloud on the horizon, it still is a necessity to keep guests from baking in the sun. If you and your caterer have decided on a buffet-style meal, make sure to provide a tent for the area in which the food will be kept as well. For a windy destination, discuss linen options with your caterer that are more substantial and will be less likely to get rumpled and wrinkled. Also, check in to make sure that extra clips for your linens are provided to keep your tables and place settings gust-proof.

Outdoor weddings have a nostalgic, family-oriented feel, and are a wonderful option where space and climate will allow. To make sure that yours is free of unfortunate surprises, consult your wedding caterer and all those helping with your special day.