Comments on: Punch and Cake Reception For About $100

By: Mo

Mo — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:04:20 +0000

I love this idea! I am getting married in July and I am freaking out about the reception. I want a small wedding and I think this post just might have solved my problem. Thanks so much. If you have any other ideas please post.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Wonderful break down, and don’t forget that if you where only going to present one cake for view then you could bake and frost the precut cakes yourself as well, cutting down the costs even further.

By: MerchantShips

MerchantShips — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:33:27 +0000

She had fruit left over at the end, so it must have been sufficient. I used a large rectangular silver tea tray and the fruit was literally heaped to overflowing on it. Guests could serve themselves however much they wished, in addition to the cake or in lieu of it.

One thing that helped was that the strawberries were small–ie, one pound yielded at least 20 berries, as opposed to the giant berries you get from california.

The catering book suggests as a general rule that for every 100 guests you prepare 300 finger sandwiches or 300 pieces of fruit.

By: margo

margo — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:31:31 +0000

I love that bouquet. I really admire your sensibilities.
Here in the North, no one does cake and punch receptions – too bad. It’s so elegantly simple.

I also admire your breakdown of costs and suggestions for innovations. Thanks for such a practical post (well, I don’t have any receptions to plan, but you know, thanks).

By: Tracey

Tracey — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:43:34 +0000

Thanks for the recap, Meredith.

I miss the simple receptions I grew up with, nothing like that here in Northern Virginia. It everything in excess.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:25:23 +0000

The flowers were lovely and I think a cake and punch reception can be elegant in its simplicity if beautifully presented and the cake exceptionally good and generous. I am just wondering how on earth you managed to serve over 100 people with only 3 canteloupes and 10 pounds of berries. Were they for garnish only and you put them with the cake when you plated it or was the fruit on a tray and you hoped everyone took a very small portion?

By: cheryl

cheryl — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:09:04 +0000

I live in Western PA and I have never seen a cake and punch reception. The cookie tables alone would cost more than that. Sounds very nice though.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:56:07 +0000

We lucked out with Aldi produce this week, although both Harris-Teeter and Publix offered 1 lb. strawberries 4/$5, too. I think it must be the first Florida harvest.

Strawberries are so quick for a fruit tray because, if you leave the stems on, there is no cutting involved.

By: Shannon Miller

Shannon Miller — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:37:34 +0000

This sounded lovely. I love to help with weddings and punch and cake can really be elegant.
The flowers, too, look beautiful. I did the same thing for my bridal bouquet – I bought roses and my gifted aunt took cuttings from her house plants (it was December!) to fill in. I still have the ivy that my grandmother planted for me from those cuttings. That was a precious gift, by the way, and much simpler I think than trying to root the roses. And ivy means fiedelity – appropriate for a wedding:)
Oh I just love weddings!

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:04:10 +0000

Wow, I haven’t seen strawberries for anywhere near $1.00 a pound near me, nor canteloupes for $1.00 each! Great job!