Wedding reception foods do not have to be expensive. The ideas for stretching a small wedding budget are as unlimited as the imagination!

Any bride can have fancy appetizers at her wedding reception.

So what is the secret?

How can a bride with a tiny budget have fancy appetizers? The secret to having fancy appetizers on a small budget can be found in the freezer of a smart, budget-conscious bride months before her wedding day.

By starting months in advance and devoting one morning, afternoon, or evening a week to baking freezable appetizers, the budget-conscious bride can amass a delicious collection of appetizers for her wedding reception.

Delicious savory spanokopita, tiropita, miniature quiches, bruschetta, baby crab cakes, tea breads, mexican wedding cakes... the list is unlimited!

Yes, you truly can have the food you want at your wedding reception! If you are willing to think outside the box, tie an apron on yourself once a week in the months preceeding your wedding day, and ask for some help from family and friends you will be able to have the food you want at your wedding reception.

Having the dream wedding foods you want at your wedding reception is not something that is only available to some brides! Every bride can indeed have a wedding menu that delights the taste buds.

Maybe you are thinking "I want lobster or surf and turf." And you are thinking there is no way that you can afford lobster and filet mignon.

I ran into this situation hundreds and hundreds of times as a caterer. I can tell you that every single time I was able to come up with a creative and affordable solution that fit the bride's budget.

Even though the wedding reception budget did not allow for lobster tails for each guest, it did allow for a delicious lobster sauce to be served with a more economical, yet delicious dish. While the wedding reception budget did not allow for 8 oz. of filet mignon for each guest, perhaps it allowed for a delightful appetizer that incorporated a tender beef morsel into a flaky phyllo pastry. Again, I want to reiterate that the creative solutions for your wedding reception are truly unlimited. If you are willing to think outside the box, tie on an apron once a week, and ask for help - the solutions will be provided to you.

2006 Kathi Dameron, Kathi Dameron and Associates

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