Should you serve a plated dinner or buffet dinner at your wedding? A few things to consider when making this decision: What sort of atmosphere are you trying to create? What is your budget? And how many guests will be attending?
Generally, a buffet dinner is much more casual than a plated dinner as the evening is less structured than a plated dinner. A plated dinner can be structured in the sense than you can plan speeches and toasts and even dancing in between courses. If you want your wedding to be a formal affair, then serving a plated dinner is the best option. Plated dinners ensure that there is no chaos that could come with buffet dinners when everyone goes to get their food.
With a plated dinner, everyone eats at the same time and will be finishing up at the same time and you can move on to the next part of the evening.
In order to control the chaos that comes with buffets, you have to think of ways to control the traffic by setting up lines to get food or setting up two buffet tables with the same food to limit long lines or sometimes even scheduling times for each table to go and get their food. This results in each table eating at different times and can hinder your desired proceedings for after dinner.
Buffet caters for larger groups and a variety of tastes, meaning there is usually something for everyone, which is appreciated by your guests. But being served is also appreciated; and if you offer special meals for people with dietary requirements, everyone will be happy.
Budget-wise, it is tricky to determine which style of dinner service is more cost-effective as there are many factors that will influence the cost of the type of dinner service that is chosen.
Buffet style is generally considered more cost-effective as you do not have to hire as many waitstaff as you would have to if you do plated. However, you cannot determine exactly how much food will be needed and can therefore end up over-catering or have the possibility of running out of food.
Plated dinners are easier to plan as the caterer will know exactly how many portions of each dish are needed and there is no possibility of waste or running out of food. You can also save in this way as you control each persons’s portion size.
At the end of the day, it is your wedding and you will need to decide on the type of atmosphere you are trying to create. If you want a formal wedding, a plated dinner service is the better option as it is much more structured and guests are not expected to stand around and attempt to balance their plates while trying to get their food all the while being in their formal clothing.
If you want a more casual wedding then buffet is the better option because guests have the freedom to structure their own evening by eating when they want and how much they want, just ensure there is enough food.
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Choosing an engagement ring might seem like a more daunting task than popping the actual question. So many aspects need to be considered to create the perfect symbol of commitment for your significant other. Below is a quick guide to make sure the ‘wow’ lasts a lifetime…
Determine your budget
Don’t pay the slightest attention to the ‘2 months salary’ rule – spend what you can afford instead of landing yourself in debt. The ring is supposed to be a symbol of love, so buying something that is romantic and sentimental means more than just splurging on a big rock. Go with a clear understanding of what you want the ring to look like, as well as an exact budget. Most of the time, like with buying a car, the price can be negotiated to fit your needs. With that said, also be realistic.
Determine the ring size
Imagine trying to slide your carefully-chosen ring onto your partner’s finger and it doesn’t fit. Get it right from the start by swiping a ring that he/she wears often to your jeweller. If the size is wrong you could always take it back to the jeweller for adjustments, bear in mind that this entails forking out more money.
Pick the band
When it comes to choosing the colour of the metal for the band, take note of what she wears on the regular. Is it gold, silver, or something more along the lines of rose gold? This will also have an influence on the ultimate cost and durability of the ring, for example, gold is shinier, but wears down faster whereas platinum lasts longer but is more expensive. Luckily, mixing metals to ensure the colour and durability is fashionable. Mix gold with copper to achieve a rose gold appearance, or mix platinum and gold to achieve white gold.
Choose the shape
This refers to the shape of the most prominent stone, most often being a diamond. The classic styles range from round, princess and cushion shapes to more unusual shapes like trillion, marquise or emerald. Once again, the shape you choose needs to reflect your partner’s style. That said, gemstones are also popular choices for engagement rings, offering something more unique and a little less expensive, but with the same shape options.
Remember the four C’s
The four C’s refer to the cut, clarity, carat weight and colour of the diamond. Not to be confused with the shape, the cut entails the angles and proportions in which the diamond is cut in order to reflect light. This is what ultimately gives a diamond its sparkle. The clarity of a diamond refers to how perfect or imperfect the diamond is, measured on a graded scale to refer to the amount of ‘inclusions’ (trace minerals or fractures in the stone) a diamond has. The fewer inclusions, the better, but some that are only slightly included (SI1 – SI3) could appear almost flawless (FL) or internally flawless (IF) to the naked eye. The carat weight refers to the weight of the diamond, greatly determining the ultimate price. The colour also has an influence on the price, especially if you want that classic white, or ‘clear’ diamond compared to something more opaque or champagne in colour. Opaque diamonds offer something more unique, such as black and grey diamonds, whereas champagne or cognac colored diamond are more vibrant and antique in appearance.
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Want a truly unforgettable wedding day? Of course you do! Pull it all together and throw the best wedding ever with our simple 7-step guide.
1. CONSIDER HIRING A WEDDING PLANNER
Many couples set out thinking they can accomplish planning a wedding on their own. In the case of smaller weddings, this is definitely achievable, but if you have big plans for yours, hiring an experienced professional is the way to go. Other than having the benefit of them taking the reins and allowing you to really enjoy yourselves, wedding planners can customise specific packages according to your needs and budget, and recommend trusted vendors they have worked with in the past.
2. TAKE TIME TO GREET ALL OF YOUR GUESTS
Some of them will have travelled from far just to attend your wedding. Show them just how much you appreciate their presence by taking time to greet everyone. It doesn’t have to be all at once – spread the quality time throughout the evening so you get around to spending time with each person; whether it be a quick chat over a drink, visiting their table during dinner, or shaking it out later on the dance floor.
3. SPEND 20 MINUTES JUST ENJOYING THE MOMENT
It may seem like an obvious thing to do, but you’ll probably be so wrapped up in other aspects of the wedding that you may even forget to just take a deep breath, relax and live in the present moment. Set aside a few minutes to tell your spouse how much you appreciate them and how you’re looking forward to experiencing this next chapter of your lives together.
4. CREATE CHARGING STATIONS
We’re sure you don’t want your guests glued to their phones the entire night, but having a few plug points with chargers available in well-placed areas is a nice (not to mention modern) way to show your guests you care. This will also encourage them to capture some pics for Instagram, so be sure to put up a sign nearby with your wedding hashtag if you have one.
5. HAVE AN MC
While it may seem unnecessarily formal, choosing a family member or friend with a commanding voice to be the master of ceremonies on the day will come in handy for announcements or gathering people for group photos. Try to keep speeches to a minimum to maximise dining and social time.
6. ASK FOR SONG REQUESTS
A great way to make sure your guests are grooving it up on the dance floor until the early hours is to ask them for song ideas. Lock down the ones that are most special to you and your partner first, but pepper the big day with submissions from your friends and family. Ask them to RSVP with their top pick, or allow them to ask the DJ to play their favourite tracks on the day.
7. SERVE LATE-NIGHT SNACKS
If you plan to extend the wedding festivities late into the night, you may want to cater for those still standing. The last thing you want is for your guests to go home hungry, so hire a food truck to dish out midnight snacks, such as boerie rolls, popcorn cones and gourmet sliders, or simply order a few pizzas for the really ravenous. A coffee stand is also a great option – guests will be grateful for a warming pick-me up.
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With golden leaves and a slight chill in the air, autumn is here and so are the fall bridal make-up trends of 2019! This year there’s a fun mix of colour bold designs, while some looks are heading to back to simple glamour. Find your perfect autumn look with our top five picks.
1. VAMPIRE GLAM
A dark lip is a perfect look for all skin tones. Keeping the eyes light and naturally creates a gorgeous contrast effect that will leave you glowing. Go for a dark cherry or blackberry shade for a rich shade of red.
2. ALL BLACK
This isn’t your average smoky eye. The all-black eye look really embraces the cool and darker tones associated with the coming of winter and lets your eyes stand out. Pair this with a light and natural lip to balance out the boldness of the make-up.
3. METAL MAGIC
Will we ever stop loving metallic shades? Not when these shimmery looks keep coming back as top contenders in all aspects of the wedding day. Dazzle your eyes with rich shades of shimmering orange and gold to mimic the fallen leaves of autumn for your bridal make-up.
4. BOLD EYES AND DEWY LIPS
Graphic designs have added an artistic touch to bridal glam, with fine line work, extended cat eyes and pops of colour. Match this look with some dewy lips to perfectly complement the light and minimal feel.
5. ALL THAT SPARKLES
Imagine the glitter on your eyes as little snowflakes falling on your face and you have a stunning magical wintery look. But don’t just stop at your eyes, bring the glitter down along your cheekbone for some added highlight and a more whimsical style.
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