Selecting a caterer for your reception is one of many important decisions you will execute regarding a stressful, exciting and very special day.

Every caterer will of course provide food for yourevent.  But, that being said, every reception is its own, depending on wants, needs, tastes and budget.  Creating a great reception has many moving parts.  When exchanging correspondence with your prospective catering choices try to have some ideas of budgets in mind.  This will help your caterer to be very specific when building your catering package.  You plan your wedding your caterer has many.

Some important questions to ask.

• Cost of the proposed menu yours or theirs
• Services provided included in that cost….Set-up, travel, service attendants, clean-up, china or disposable serviceware, linen and cake cutting
• Will you be provided a contract?
• What are the deposit requirements?
• When is a guest count required?
• When is the final payment due?

Just remember that when selecting your caterer you compare apples to apples in selection.  These bids can vary a great deal, make sure you are going to receive the quality food and services that are required for your reception.  Full Service and not full service catering prices will always differ.

Submitted by: 

Jonathan Jacobsen
Big Sky Catering
375-0937
www.bigskycatgering.com

Choosing an Idaho Wedding Location

No doubt about it, if you are an Idaho Bride there are many locations to choose from for your special wedding day without having to travel too far. Keep in mind these things when considering a location:

1. How many people are you going to invite?
   • Obviously, the number of people you are inviting will affect your budget, but will also have an impact on parking – make sure there’s enough room for everyone to park and consider how far Grandma will have to walk if that’s an issue.
2. What time of year are you planning your wedding?
   • Well, indoors or out? Weather definitely tends to change around here, and your Idaho wedding location needs to consider the time of year and what your backup plan might be.
3. What is your realistic budget?
   • Don’t just look at how much the facility costs to rent – consider also any special transportation for your wedding party, does the facility come with seating and tables or will that be extra? Also, how decorative is the area you’re looking at – will you want to bring in minimal or extensive wedding decorations or is mother nature enough if you’re looking at an outdoor wedding location? If you are outdoors, will you need tents for your guests and food?
4. Is your reception going to be in the same location as your wedding or a different location or different day?
   • Separate locations can be wonderful – but make sure you’re leaving enough time for transportation between venues and that you reserve each space for plenty of time to set up and clean up. If you’re an all in one location – do you need extra time or extra space for staging setup or to move guests around?

Whether you are an avid outdoor enthusiast or looking for a lavish dream indoor storybook wedding – there are a vast array of Idaho wedding locations for you to choose from. Consider everything – your day should be a representation of who you are as a couple and should above all make you feel special. To get you started on ideas – check out some of our wedding and reception location spaces available!

• Event site indoor
• Event site multi-use
• Event site outdoor
• Hotel accommodations
• Hotels – full service

Don't forget the Mother of the Groom in your wedding planning and help

Typically, the mother of the bride is quite involved in the excitement of the wedding planning, but often the mother of the groom is ignored, though she may want to be involved as well. If the groom is an only child or has only brothers (no sisters), the only way for the mother to “experience” the excitement leading up to the wedding is if the bride includes her in the pre-wedding activities.

Traditionally, the parents of the groom host the rehearsal dinner, prepare a list of names to receive invitations, and pay for the rental of the groom’s tuxedo and perhaps another item or two, but that is about all. They tend to be largely forgotten when other decisions are made unless they are sharing in the costs of the wedding. (If they are helping with the costs, they should definitely be consulted about decisions for which they may be paying.)

If the groom’s mother lives near the bride, she might be asked to go along to visit the ceremony or reception location, to go shopping for items needed for the wedding, or to go for a gown fitting (or even to shop for the gown). If she lives in another city, she might help plan a bridal shower for the bride in her hometown or, if she lives near the bride, she might help plan one for the groom’s relatives (though her name should not appear on the invitation). If she lives in another city, she might plan a reception to be held after the wedding. If she doesn’t live nearby, let her enjoy the pre-wedding excitement through e-mail, notes, and photos.

The bride and groom should jointly make the final decisions concerning the wedding, but keeping everyone informed and involved will strengthen relationships, both with the bride and her future mother-in-law and between the bride’s mother and the groom’s mother, and you will create lasting memories of shared experiences.

-Submitted by Glenna Tooman, Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC
© 2006, all rights reserved
www.memorable-events.com

Have your guests take advantage of shuttle busses

With a bit of planning, it is easy to make your wedding more earth-friendly, from the invitations that you choose to the attire, the food, and the dishware. The suggestions discussed over the last month can be incorporated into other events as well, from anniversary parties to company picnics.

By making a few changes, you can do your part to make the Earth a better place and reduce the glut of landfill waste.

Transportation - If you will have a number of out-of-town guests attending the wedding, you might arrange transportation for them so they don’t need to rent cars. Most hotels will provide shuttle service to and from the airport. Many cities offer trolleys and/or shuttle buses that you can rent by the hour to transport guests to and from the ceremony and reception. If your city doesn’t offer such a service, then rent one or more passenger vans and ask a friend or relative to act as chauffeur.

-Submitted by Glenna Tooman, Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC
© 2006, all rights reserved
www.memorable-events.com

Red or White or both?

Are you considering serving wine at your upcoming Idaho wedding? Is the choice of serving red or white or both stressing you out?

Consider the following items when making this wedding catering decision:

• Are you and your family/friends wine fans? Would most of your friends/family prefer to drink wine instead of champagne?

HINT: consider using wine for your toast – a nice white wine could be a great crisp note after a brilliant toast

• What time of day is your wedding? Indoors or out? Time of year?

HINT: pair your wine selection with the weather and the atmosphere just as much as with your food

• What are you serving? Snacks or sit down catered meal?

HINT: pair your wine selections with your food flavors, but narrow down your choices so you can buy in bulk and cash in on savings

• Who all will be drinking wine? Is it an open bar? Is it the only alcoholic beverage you will be serving?

HINT: just as you wouldn’t dare serving any catering or your wedding cake without sampling – be sure to sample your wine choices! Have a pre-wedding tasting party and invite key family members and friends. See which wines are the most popular and stock up for the big day!

Above all, don’t let this choice be a stresser. Your friends and family are there to see you get married, and any sauce on the side is just gravy… so to speak!

Another reason for holding your wedding reception with a full service hotel is the food and beverage licensing. In-house catering of the food and beverage comes with licenses and insurance so again, there would be no need for you to obtain them on your own. Many other venues and locations would require permits to have food and licenses for beverage at their location. Book with a full service hotel and enjoy the piece of mind that comes with knowing everything is already taken care of and you won’t lose your home should one of your guests have too much fun!

Many hotels also offer discounted guestroom rates for your friends and family as well as complimentary suites for the Bride and Groom! Go ahead…ask and you will be surprised how affordable it can be for your guests to stay the night.

When checking with a full service hotel location be sure and ask about free parking and complimentary airport shuttle. Many hotels still include this as part of their service and your guests don’t have to worry about outrageous parking garage fees, permits, or potentially walking long distances. Free airport shuttles transport your guests right where they need to be and there is no need to rent a car to navigate a strange city!

These are just a few of the advantages of holding your wedding ceremony and/or reception with a full service hotel. All things considered, it’s a great way to save money, make planning the event easy, and insure that you and your guests have the best time possible.

Submitted by:
Lori Knipe
Owyhee Plaza Hotel
208.343.4611
lknipe@owyheeplaza.com

Keep things simple. Sometimes a grouping of small vases with flowers has as much impactas a huge ararangement. Ask friends and family who they used for vendors such as caterers, music, rentals, florist or other details. Think ahead and do not procrastinate. Consider professionals to do details that you perhaps could do, but time restraints on your wedding day may make it a problem for you or your family to accomplish.

An example: You have a perfect location, but you have only two hours before the wedding to decorate. You should be having your hair and nails done and getting gorgeous.

Submitted by: Nancy Squire, consultant for Event Rents

1. Where will everyone park? Established outdoor Idaho Wedding Venues come with parking for your guests because weddings are their business.
2. Are family members comfortable with having the wedding party, etc. in their home for changing into wedding attire? Do carpets need to be cleaned? Rooms cleaned for the wedding party? Bathrooms readied for extra people? Extra yard work done?
3. What about tables and chairs, tents, portable outdoor restrooms for your guests? And who will set it up and tear it down afterwards? Many established outdoor venues include some of this, it not all, in their price. Some venues even have areas for dancing or dance floors so you do not have to rent one.
4. Insurance- be sure you have enough coverage to cover someone getting hurt accidentally or a child falling in a water feature or pool. A rider on your homeowners policy would be a good thing when you have a wedding at your own home.

Before choosing where to have your outdoor wedding, consider all the rental fees and work involved getting the location ready verses the cost to have your wedding at an established Idaho Wedding Venue. This is your day, make it as relaxing and stress free as possible for you and your family. Let the professionals make that happen!

Ruth Anne Inselman
Fourth Street Gardens
398-8273

No two reception facilities are exactly alike.  They vary in size, formality, and services provided.  At some locations, you rent an empty room and you have to transform it into a beautiful site.  Other facilities provide nearly everything you need for your reception.  Most facilities fall somewhere in between.

Before visiting locations, first determine about how many guests you will invite to your wedding, whether you want everything to occur indoors, everything outdoors, or a combination of the two. The following questions will help you compare reception centers and be certain you are getting just what you need for your event.

• Which rooms are available and what is the maximum number of guests each room can accommodate? What is the configuration of the rooms?  Generally, a large square or rectangular open room is more useable than an L-shaped one or a room with pillars throughout.
• What is the rental fee and how many hours are included?
• What is the deposit? What is the cancellation policy if change your date or choose another facility? Is there an additional fee for security or cleaning?
• Is overtime use allowed, and if so, for how long and what is the charge?
• What is included in the room rental, such as tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, and flatware?  Who does the set-up and clean-up, you or the facility?
• Are any additional fees charged, such as a fee to cut the wedding cake, for a dance floor, or to use a sound system?
• Are there certain days of the week or times of the day when the price is discounted?  Many facilities charge less on Sunday, which is usually the slowest day of the week.
• Can the site be used for both the ceremony and reception? If so, must both events occur in the same room or can two rooms or an outside area be used?
• Will other events be occurring in nearby rooms?  If so, will the sound carry from the other room? What about security?
• Will another event be booked in the room before or after yours?  If so, you may be limited on the amount of time you have to decorate and for the reception.
• Can you use your own caterer or is there an in-house caterer whose services must be used?
• Can you bring in your own wedding cake?  How about mints, nuts, and similar items.
• Are there restrictions on the type of music that can be played, the length of time it may be played, or the volume? How about music played outdoors?
• Are there restrictions on photography or videotaping?
• Are dressing rooms available for the bride, groom, and attendants?  Is there an additional charge to use them? Can they be locked when no one is around?
• Does the facility have an alcohol permit or a beer and wine permit? Are there restrictions on the type of alcohol that can be served? Do they provide a bartender, and if so, how is he/she paid?
• Are beer kegs allowed? Is there a corkage fee for wine or champagne?  What is the cost per drink? Can you choose the beer and wine to be served?
• Can you provide your own alcohol?
• If you are doing your own catering, is an adequate kitchen available? What dishes/pots/pans/cutlery are available for your use?  How about coffee pots and punch bowls?  Is there an ice machine, and if so, is there a charge for ice?
• Is a dance floor available? If so, is there an additional charge to use it?
• Are plenty of electrical outlets available?  This is particularly important at outdoor locations.
• Do they provide a microphone, a cordless mic, or a lapel mic for toasts and announcements or do you need to rent them? If you hire a DJ, he/she will have them.
• If the reception will be held outside, is there adequate lighting, if needed?
• When is the lawn mowed and watered?  Will it be too wet or muddy?  Freshly mowed grass can stain the wedding gown and people’s shoes.  What about sprinkler systems?
• If the event will be held outdoors, ask about bugs. Are they a problem? What kind are they – bees, flies, gnats? What will be done to reduce or eliminate the problem?
• Are adequate restroom facilities available or must your guests use porta-potties? Are handicapped restrooms available?
• Is liability insurance, including liquor liability, included in the rental fee or must you, the renter, provide your own policy?
• Is there a coat rack available for winter events? Is it located in a secure area?  Can a coat rack be placed inside the room you are renting, not in a hall or common area?
• Is adequate on-site parking available? Is there a charge for it?
• If the reception will be held outdoors, can the area be tented in case of bad weather, including heat in summer? Can stakes be driven into the ground?
• If an outdoor location is chosen, is an alternate location available in the event of bad weather, including heat in the summer?
• If the reception will be held at a private home or facility, do neighbors, police, or security companies need to be notified?
• If the site is associated with a private home, do they have a conditional use permit to operate the facility?  (If they are operating without one, they could be out of business before your wedding.)
• Is a cleaning deposit charged?  If so, what services are taken from it, such as a dishwashing fee?  Is any portion of it refundable, and if so, how soon after the event will it be returned?
• Who will clean up?  Will the facility’s employees do it, or must you do your own cleaning?
• Are there restrictions on the type of decorations that can be used and how they can be hung or attached?  Many facilities do not allow tape, staples, wire, or tacks.
• Are candles allowed?  If so, must the flame be covered with glass or is an open flame allowed?
• What other restrictions do I need to know about?

These questions should help you to make an informed decision as you compare reception locations.  You will probably think of other questions as well. By preparing ahead before visiting facilities, you can reduce the number of places you visit to only those that best fit your needs.

Glenna Tooman

Memory Makers Event Planning

376-5110

Copyright © 2002, Glenna Tooman, Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC; all rights reserved