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.

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.

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.

Where are you planning on having your wedding reception?

lazybonesmoke1 said:

Where are you planning on having your wedding reception?

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

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!