Starting to plan....

GridironGriller2 · 11-12-2009, 05:38 AM

Well I got lucky my girlfriend of 2 1/2 years agreed to marry me.(I really think it was fact that I love to cook that sealed the deal.) So its time to start planning the wedding for next summer apox July 31st. I have thought of the unique idea of having both best men and best cooks. The best cooks are friends and mentors that I have cooked with for years. The basic idea is that the best cooks will help cook the rehearsal dinner and reception along with me and the best men.

So i wanted to lay out my plan as of now and let you guys pick it apart. We have plenty of time but the sooner I can lock everything down the better.

The rehearsal dinner will be a Memphis style BBQ dinner (The wedding is in Memphis and our families are not from here). Apox size 40 people. I was thinking pulled pork, bbq chicken, Pork loin or ribs, salad, slaw, beans, breads, and brownies for dessert. Appetizers would be a sausage and cheese tray (with a few fatties), ABTs, and moink balls.

My soon to be wife also has given me control over the reception food. The reception will be in the evening so i was thinking HEAVY ordirves. Apox 200 -250 guests. Items like smoked salmon with sides of cream cheese, capers, and onions with baguette toast, 3 different hot dips w/ baguette toast (Hot Sausage & Mushroom, Carinvial Crawfish, and spinach & artichoke dips), Veg tray, Fruit Tray, Cheese tray, craving station with smoked pork loin and a beef item (still debating what type) with sauces and rolls. Also thinking of a sweets table with little sugar cookies, mints, etc.

With the help of the best cooks I have plenty of cookers and cooks to help make this task alot easier. Also equipment like camboros, chaffing dishes, etc are not an issue.

So before I even think about quantities I need your help to review the menus, add suggestions, and make comments.

Thanks in advance.

Bbq Bubba · 11-12-2009, 06:59 AM

Congratulations!

Hire a caterer. You have to many other things to worry about on your special day.

3 Rivers BBQ · 11-12-2009, 07:51 AM

Congratulations! I recommend that you and your bride elope! The biggest fights that my wife and I have ever had in our 16 yrs, was the wedding planning. True mostly from families, but it was bad. We ended up calling family on Wednesday and telling them, we are getting married this saturday a this chapel that fits 12 people, so if you want to come...then come..if not then dont. We saved tons of money, headaches and have never regretted it at all! Now if you do the big wedding....caterer it....focus on the bachelor party and enjoy the day! Hopefully many years after.

early mornin' smokin' · 11-12-2009, 10:44 AM

hire a caterer and enjoy ur day!

KnucklHed BBQ · 11-12-2009, 11:56 AM

It looks like somebody's trying to find a distraction. "If I'm up to my elbows in meaty treats and smoke, then I don't have time to think about the 2 words I'll have to say later in the day... Do I? I mean, I Do."

Godda say, I like the rehersal dinner idea though, makes it personal and you get to have fun with your bros, but man... reception dinner for 300 peeps on a day that's already jam packed... hire it out or have your best cooks handle everything. Put together a menu, hand them a wad of cash and then don't think about it again (except to go steal some early samples).

BTW - Wife and I eloped, best damn decision we ever made (except for the guilt trips we still get from family 13 years later...) We still had a large reception a few weeks later but most of the stress was gone. was a good day.

Congrats!

GridironGriller2 · 11-12-2009, 12:54 PM

That is a concerned I had about the reception... would it be to much??? I've done plenty of gigs with 200 people with very little help. My problem though is price for a caterer. I do like the idea of handing the best cooks a wad of cash, basic menu, and let them run with it.

Jet2 · 11-12-2009, 01:46 PM

Contratulations on her saying yes! I'm with everybody else here-let somebody else do the cooking. Even though it has been almost 25 years since we said I do, I remember that day and with pictures, cake cutting, family etc there was no way in the world I could have pulled off catering the reception or the rehersal.

chambersuac · 11-12-2009, 03:19 PM

Gridiron, congratulations! I have to agree, get a caterer - or at least just have your buddies do it and you stay away - you'll be busy - and IF something goes wrong it won't be because you were spending too much time cooking.

big brother smoke · 11-12-2009, 04:10 PM

Hand the keys over to someone else for the reception. I could see if you eloped and was having a reception later. However, if you must, make sure you do things you can freeze in advance such as butts and briskie.

Menu looks good!

bbqbull · 11-12-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bbq Bubba

Congratulations!

Hire a caterer. You have to many other things to worry about on your special day.

Congratulations!

I cooked my own wedding, what a huge mistake on my behalf, and would not recommend it to anybody.

Hire a caterer like Bubba says!

lazybonesmoke1 · 11-13-2009, 09:18 AM

Where are you planning on having your wedding reception?

Smokin Mike · 11-16-2009, 05:48 PM

I wouldn't touch that.

can I come to your wedding anyways?

GridironGriller2 · 11-19-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazybonesmoke1

Where are you planning on having your wedding reception?

Downtown Memphis... no idea about locations yet we are still looking.

PCDoctor_1979 · 11-19-2009, 05:16 PM

I have to agree with the rest of the group - hire a caterer and enjoy the day! Doing the rehearsal dinner is an intriguing idea. Perhaps the best way to go would be to gather your cooking buddies to do something for the bachelor party! Congrats and best wishes!

11-12-2009, 05:38 AM	#1
GridironGriller2 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-02-08 Location: Memphis, tn	Starting to plan.... Well I got lucky my girlfriend of 2 1/2 years agreed to marry me.(I really think it was fact that I love to cook that sealed the deal.) So its time to start planning the wedding for next summer apox July 31st. I have thought of the unique idea of having both best men and best cooks. The best cooks are friends and mentors that I have cooked with for years. The basic idea is that the best cooks will help cook the rehearsal dinner and reception along with me and the best men. So i wanted to lay out my plan as of now and let you guys pick it apart. We have plenty of time but the sooner I can lock everything down the better. The rehearsal dinner will be a Memphis style BBQ dinner (The wedding is in Memphis and our families are not from here). Apox size 40 people. I was thinking pulled pork, bbq chicken, Pork loin or ribs, salad, slaw, beans, breads, and brownies for dessert. Appetizers would be a sausage and cheese tray (with a few fatties), ABTs, and moink balls. My soon to be wife also has given me control over the reception food. The reception will be in the evening so i was thinking HEAVY ordirves. Apox 200 -250 guests. Items like smoked salmon with sides of cream cheese, capers, and onions with baguette toast, 3 different hot dips w/ baguette toast (Hot Sausage & Mushroom, Carinvial Crawfish, and spinach & artichoke dips), Veg tray, Fruit Tray, Cheese tray, craving station with smoked pork loin and a beef item (still debating what type) with sauces and rolls. Also thinking of a sweets table with little sugar cookies, mints, etc. With the help of the best cooks I have plenty of cookers and cooks to help make this task alot easier. Also equipment like camboros, chaffing dishes, etc are not an issue. So before I even think about quantities I need your help to review the menus, add suggestions, and make comments. Thanks in advance.

11-12-2009, 06:59 AM	#2
Bbq Bubba somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-07 Location: New Baltimore, Mi.	Congratulations! Hire a caterer. You have to many other things to worry about on your special day. __________________ Owner of Bubba's BBQ & Catering L.L.C. Beer Snob I cook the #bestbrisketnorthoftexas. Get over it. #detroitporkmafia BBQ Person of the Year 2013

11-12-2009, 07:51 AM	#3
3 Rivers BBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-02-09 Location: Lexington, SC	Congratulations! I recommend that you and your bride elope! The biggest fights that my wife and I have ever had in our 16 yrs, was the wedding planning. True mostly from families, but it was bad. We ended up calling family on Wednesday and telling them, we are getting married this saturday a this chapel that fits 12 people, so if you want to come...then come..if not then dont. We saved tons of money, headaches and have never regretted it at all! Now if you do the big wedding....caterer it....focus on the bachelor party and enjoy the day! Hopefully many years after. __________________ Horizontal Roadside Smoker, Perfect Flame Vertical LP Smoker, Weber Performer

11-12-2009, 10:44 AM	#4
early mornin' smokin' is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-06-08 Location: wading river, ny	hire a caterer and enjoy ur day! __________________ L trailer spicewine, webers, 2-26.75's, performer, heineken 22 1/2, 7 level pro-q 20 excel

11-12-2009, 11:56 AM	#5
KnucklHed BBQ Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-14-09 Location: Kalispell, Montana Name/Nickname : Head KnucklHed	It looks like somebody's trying to find a distraction. "If I'm up to my elbows in meaty treats and smoke, then I don't have time to think about the 2 words I'll have to say later in the day... Do I? I mean, I Do." Godda say, I like the rehersal dinner idea though, makes it personal and you get to have fun with your bros, but man... reception dinner for 300 peeps on a day that's already jam packed... hire it out or have your best cooks handle everything. Put together a menu, hand them a wad of cash and then don't think about it again (except to go steal some early samples). BTW - Wife and I eloped, best damn decision we ever made (except for the guilt trips we still get from family 13 years later...) We still had a large reception a few weeks later but most of the stress was gone. was a good day. Congrats! __________________ [B]1967' Int'l Harvester M1100 Food Truck, 220ci 6cyl - 5' ABS Judge - Plethora of Weber Kettles - 2 WSM 22.5's – Bunch of Thermapen Mk's - 36” BlackStone - 3 Bayou Classic Fryers - Ice Cold Kegerator[/B] [B][I]“We shall throw our bacon wrapped all beef justice upon the wooden skewers of truth to be held on high and let them know that we will not stand for this.” ~Butz[/I][/B]

11-12-2009, 12:54 PM	#6
GridironGriller2 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-02-08 Location: Memphis, tn	That is a concerned I had about the reception... would it be to much??? I've done plenty of gigs with 200 people with very little help. My problem though is price for a caterer. I do like the idea of handing the best cooks a wad of cash, basic menu, and let them run with it.

11-12-2009, 01:46 PM	#7
Jet2 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-30-09 Location: Alexandria, LA	Contratulations on her saying yes! I'm with everybody else here-let somebody else do the cooking. Even though it has been almost 25 years since we said I do, I remember that day and with pictures, cake cutting, family etc there was no way in the world I could have pulled off catering the reception or the rehersal.

11-12-2009, 03:19 PM	#8
chambersuac somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-09 Location: San Antonio, TX	Gridiron, congratulations! I have to agree, get a caterer - or at least just have your buddies do it and you stay away - you'll be busy - and IF something goes wrong it won't be because you were spending too much time cooking. __________________ Dan IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball maker and IMBAS Sgt. At Arms. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. [Acts 20:32 KJV]

11-12-2009, 04:10 PM	#9
big brother smoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-06 Location: Ventura, CA	Hand the keys over to someone else for the reception. I could see if you eloped and was having a reception later. However, if you must, make sure you do things you can freeze in advance such as butts and briskie. Menu looks good! __________________ Peace and Smoke, BBS Powered by the West Coast Offense: Big Poppa Smokers and Simply Marvelous BBQ - "Walk with Us" My weapons: Humphrey's Smokers

11-13-2009, 09:18 AM	#11
lazybonesmoke1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-10-06 Location: MICHIGAN	Where are you planning on having your wedding reception? __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS]DENI-DETROIT[/FONT] [FONT=Comic Sans MS]LAZYBONES SMOKEHOUSE[/FONT] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][URL="http://www.LazybonesSmokehouse.NET"]WWW.LazybonesSmokehouse.NET[/URL][/FONT]

11-16-2009, 05:48 PM	#12
Smokin Mike is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-06-07 Location: St. Johns, FL	I wouldn't touch that. can I come to your wedding anyways? __________________ Disco Pigs competition team Gateway drums Yoder 640 and 1500 FEC-100's KCBS, FBA Judge

11-19-2009, 05:16 PM	#14
PCDoctor_1979 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-01-09 Location: West Des Moines, IA	I have to agree with the rest of the group - hire a caterer and enjoy the day! Doing the rehearsal dinner is an intriguing idea. Perhaps the best way to go would be to gather your cooking buddies to do something for the bachelor party! Congrats and best wishes! __________________ Brian Sweeney - CBJ #3691 - '77 Step Van Mobile Kitchen, Horizon Marshall, WSM with Pro Q Stacker, Weber Kettle & Smokey Joe GOLD. "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" - Clarke's Third Law

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