How to Cater a Wedding Open House
Plan A: Call a caterer.
Plan B: Call a food blogger. Cross your fingers.
I am not a caterer, but because I have this overwhelming urge to feed people, I couldn’t pass up the chance to feed 80. It was for the daughter of a friend I attend church with, so I was happy to do the job.
Even though I hadn’t done any catering before. And I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Me = a little insane.
The event was held the day after the wedding at the home of another friend. I love the colors they used — purples, greens, and peacock feathers. See that “storybook” above? That was actually a real book in a past life and is forever preserved in mod podge and spray paint. I kept staring at it in wonder. I can be creative with food, but when it comes to that kind of stuff my brain just turns off and I start thinking about what to make for dinner.
I had a lot of questions (both off and online) about the food that was served. Here’s a breakdown for you! I added links (when applicable) and comments to clarify. And I apologize for my yellow-ish photos. I literally had 2 minutes to shoot pictures of everything before people started coming through the door.
Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese, & Crispy Prosciutto Crostini: Adapted from this recipe. (Omitting the garlic steps and adding oven-baked shards of prosciutto on top.)
Pesto Chicken Crostini with Shaved Romano: Chicken breasts cooked in the slow cooker, shredded, then returned to slow cooker with a bunch of basil pesto. Topped with fresh Romano cheese shavings.
Caprese Salad Crostini: Chunks of mozzarella and tomatoes mixed with basil chiffonade, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables with these dips…
Strawberry Cream Trifle Shots: Adapted from this recipe. This is one of my most beloved desserts and up until now it hasn’t had a photo. I need to update the post to do it justice. It’s a spectacular dessert!
Nutella Brownie Trifle Shots: I layered brownies, a drizzle of warmed Nutella, Nutella custard (the custard from the recipe above, adding 1/2 cup of Nutella at the end), whipped cream, and a brownie bit. This one deserves a post of its own. I can’t even describe how good this was! Complete and utter bliss.
The dessert cups were the favorite that night. My little party girls agreed. Yes, party. That’s why my 4-year-old is dressed like Belle.
Overall I think it was a success. I’m glad there are people out there who are crafty in nature. The open house was gorgeous and my food was arranged so beautifully with the decorations! I definitely learned a lot along the way and would do things a little differently if I had the chance to do it again. It was a lot of hard work, but I had so much fun doing it!
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Dea-chan — June 27, 2011 @ 12:25 pm
Every now and again I'll see a little girl all dressed up like that and it makes me smile, because that was totally me!
Your food sounds delicious! Did the friend let you do your thing, or were there suggestions and requests?
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Ann — June 27, 2011 @ 1:03 pm
Hey there! I did the same thing for a friend a few years ago! It was the first time – I had a ball, but it was a ton of work! I made heavy appetizers for about 75 people. We had 8 different kinds….
The most popular item that I made was Parmesan pastry coins stuffed with garlic chicken salad. About the size of a fifty-cent piece. The other thing everyone liked were the bacon roasted, sugared pecans. I also made the cake…LOTS of work!
But didn't it feel wonderful afterwards? I'm sure your food was a hit and it looked SO beautiful!
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Cara @ The Boys Made Me Do It — June 27, 2011 @ 1:43 pm
Everything looks wonderful! I've catered many times with my godparents and love doing it! The dessert shooters look wonderful too! I have been wanting to make some mini desserts and these look perfect!
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Natalie — June 27, 2011 @ 2:03 pm
Dea-chan – I love that she likes to dress up… even when we go out in public. Someday she's going to think all of the dress-up and playing princess is lame, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts. As far as the food, I offered a bunch of suggestions and together we came up with a menu.
Ann – Wow, both of those app's sound great! Luckily they had a cake at the wedding dinner (I think) and I wasn't asked to make one. I probably would have declined anyway, if they wanted a towering layered fondant-thing. That's just not my thing :)
Cara – Thank you! Ya, those shooters came out wonderfully. I have so many variation ideas now!
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Ann — June 27, 2011 @ 2:07 pm
I'm completely with you! I do NOT like fondant! My theory is the cake has to taste good as well as look good! I made a really good, soft buttercream. Since I was cooking at my friends house – there wasn't a storage or transportation issue and I was able to make a softer cake.
I only make cakes as gifts – so…since they're free…my hard, fast rule is NO fondant!
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Natalie — June 27, 2011 @ 2:18 pm
Ann – I share your theory :) I also don't like spending hours and hours on something that won't taste that great. (I've tried all kinds of fondants, even homemade and I don't like any of them.) And I'd be really sad to see it torn apart! Buttercream is my friend :)
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pinksuedeshoe — June 27, 2011 @ 2:27 pm
Um, my mouth is watering over brownies and it's only 8 am. Those look fantastic!
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pinksuedeshoe — June 27, 2011 @ 2:28 pm
(Oh, and the Peacock feathers are amazing. It makes me want to get married again!) (to the same person).
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sherri lynn — June 27, 2011 @ 2:51 pm
What a fun opportunity! I would be freaking out if I had to cook for that many people but all of your food looks delicious and so pretty!
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Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen — June 27, 2011 @ 2:56 pm
What at wonderful job you did! Everything looks amazing and the desserts sound incredible!
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The Café Sucré Farine — June 27, 2011 @ 3:07 pm
You are so brave! Everything looks incredible, what a great job you did!
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Karly — June 27, 2011 @ 3:52 pm
Looks like you did a great job! Love that you shared the recipes for everything!
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Chelsea — June 27, 2011 @ 4:18 pm
Those are impressive, Nat! My favorite desserts are the trifle kind, too. They typically taste the best and have such a great look about them!
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danasfoodforthought — June 27, 2011 @ 5:06 pm
You are so brave!!! I can't imagine cooking for that many people… I get flustered enogh when I have a dinner party for 10!
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Joanne — June 27, 2011 @ 5:28 pm
This is totally something I would have recklessly agreed to as well (Even though my kitchen is barely bigger than my pinky finger.) Everything sounds so delicious! I'm so impressed that you pulled it off!
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AlyGatr — June 27, 2011 @ 7:23 pm
You are SO brave! I would have run screaming at the thought, but then again, I run screaming at the thought of feeding 4 :) BLESS you for posting about the link to the Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese, & Crispy Prosciutto Crostini (well, the one you adapted). I'd had some very similar to these when my sister had her baby shower and I'd always wanted to know how you make them. I think that's simple enough for lazy ole me!
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Natalie — June 27, 2011 @ 8:04 pm
You did a fabulous job! Everything looks so professional! I have a feeling this isn't the last time you're asked to do this… :)
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Kristi — June 27, 2011 @ 8:10 pm
I would die of happiness if I got to go to a party catered by you!
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Natalie — June 27, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
Thanks so much everyone!
sherry lynn, dana, & alyssa – I'm usually stressed out over feeding people, too, but the fact that this was at someone else's house had a calming effect on me. I guess my anxiety comes from having my house in order and not from the food! :)
Kristi – Oh, my. I think the combination of really high expectations and pressure to perform would make the whole thing a flop. Or at the very least mediocre. But if you're ever in Reno, we'll have you guys over for dinner! :)
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Janssen — June 27, 2011 @ 9:34 pm
This is ridiculously impressive.
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gwen — June 28, 2011 @ 12:34 am
Everything looks incredible – way to go! I'll have to make that balsamic bean dip for myself. :)
Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I've always secretly hoped my friends would ask me to cater their weddings or bake their wedding cake… (None of my closest friends are planning weddings right now, so I guess I have few years to convince them all!)
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Kathryn — June 28, 2011 @ 5:05 am
you da WOMAN!! How on earth did you make all those cute appetizers?! Did you have any help? I hope so!
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Natalie — June 28, 2011 @ 10:42 pm
Thanks Janssen :) I wish my stamina had been more impressive. I was a walking zombie the entire day after!
Gwen – I've had that secret hope as well. Haha. And even though this whole shindig was crazy, I hope I get to do it again!
Kathryn – I split everything up over the course of about 10 days, doing a couple of things every day so it wasn't so overwhelming. The girls even helped sometimes :) Because I don't have enough pans or a big enough fridge (we even have a second out in the garage and I still didn't have enough room) I just made all the components for the crostini and the dessert cups and just assembled them at the house where the reception was going to be that morning. I did have some help that day!
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Jolene - EverydayFoodie — June 28, 2011 @ 11:45 pm
You did such a great job!! I am hosting my sister's post wedding open-house, and am scared, because I won't have a lot of time to get ready for it.
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Lauren's Latest — June 29, 2011 @ 8:11 pm
Have you tried marshmallow fondant? That is the only kind that tastes good {in my opinion} and is super cheap to make at home.
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Natalie — June 29, 2011 @ 9:53 pm
Jolene – I'm sure it will turn out great!! How much time do you have? I had about 2 weeks. Any less than that would have stressed me out even more.
Lauren – Yes, I have. It was slightly better than store-bought, but it still tasted like straight sugar to me. Ugh.
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Jenny — July 2, 2011 @ 4:23 am
The food that night looked and tasted amazing! It was almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
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Cara — July 12, 2011 @ 2:17 am
Congrats on a job will done, this looks fantastic!
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Timmy.Norris — December 5, 2011 @ 2:54 am
Congratulations it looks like it was a success.
Congratulations it looks like it was a success.
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