Let’s face it, weddings are expensive. One of the more costly things at a wedding is food service at the reception. Most places that routinely cater weddings are very expensive. What if you could use your favorite restaurant to cater your wedding and have them look every bit as classy and professional as an expensive wedding catering company? You can.
Thing is, your favorite restaurant would probably love to cater your wedding for a fraction of the cost of an expensive wedding catering service; they just don’t have the fancy uniforms. Here’s where the creativity comes in. Hire your favorite restaurant and buy them inexpensive, classy restaurant uniforms. With so many styles to choose from, the options are almost endless. Since you are in control of costs, you can choose from a variety shirts ranging from pique polo shirts all the way up to Oxford and tuxedo shirts. Pants styles include the more relaxed style kitchen pants and tuxedo pants. Apron styles include waist, bistro, bar, and wait staff and come on a variety of colors and prints. Best of all, you can have the colors and style of the food service staff match that of your wedding party.
Chef attire consists of hats, coats, and pants. Chef hats come in many styles including skull caps, head wraps, toques, and baseball caps. For most formal or semi-formal occasions, it is best to go with either the skull cap or toque. Chef jacket styles include short sleeve and long sleeves as well as single breasted, double breasted, sold color, stripes, and print designs. Chef pants come in styles that include cargo, baggy, stretch, low rise, and executive. For a finishing touch, consider adding a scarf. It is also worth taking utility and comfort into consideration. Cotton breathes well and will keep your chefs cool. Synthetic blends are more stain and wrinkle resistant. Just about any chef will tell you that he or she cannot have enough pockets. Chefs tend to carry a variety of tools including tasting spoons, pens, paper, and of course, food thermometers.
Consider this; most companies that cater weddings can cost as much as $50 to $100 (or more) per guest. At a wedding with 50 guests, that works out to $2500 to $5000 (USD). Expensive! Should you go with a local favorite restaurant; the cost may go as low as $22 per adult. When you dress up the staff with some stylish shirts, pants, and aprons you will have mouthwatering food from a local favorite restaurant, classy looking food service personnel, and extra cash in your pocket.
Costs can be cut even more if you have chef friends prepare the food and other friends serve the food. The most expensive part of food service is the service, not the food. By dressing your chef and serving friends in stylish, inexpensive chef and front end staff uniforms, your friends will look the part and have a keepsake from your wedding day. Just keep in mind the most important thing is that this is your day and one of the most important you will ever have. Have fun with it.