Guest post

April 12, 2019 by Guest Leave a Comment

10 Most Important Things to Consider Before Finalizing Your Wedding Venue

Congratulations! You’re about to tie the knot! You are happy and excited, aren’t you? But despite all the fun of anticipation, wedding planning can be stressful. There are already so many things to take care of, especially the wedding venue.

Though numerous wedding venues are available, all of them may not be a good choice depending on your preferred style, the number of guests and the budget. So how do you narrow down the choices and decide on the best venue?

Wait, let’s not get overwhelmed. San Diego is filled with many wedding venues, but not all of them will be perfect for you. Ideally, you should visit the location, and you’ll instantly know if you’d like to have your wedding there or elsewhere. Check out the interior and exterior, and see if it will work with the theme you have in mind. Consider a number of aspects including the maximum capacity offered, the location, the offered services and of course, the rates. Let’s review all of these one by one, and by the end, you should have found the best venue for your big day.

1. Estimate the Number of Guests

You should have already finalized your estimated guest list before beginning your search for unique wedding venues. What’s the count? The maximum capacity for the venue should be the same or greater than this number. Choosing a smaller venue will clutter up the interior setup and décor. The entire hall will feel stuffy, hampering your big day. So make sure your chosen venue is big enough to accommodate all your guests comfortably.

That being said, keep in mind that very large venues cost more. In case the rates are a little more than what you would want to pay, consider revising your guest list.

2. Indoor or Outdoors?

Where do you want to have your wedding? Indoors or out in the sun amidst nature and beautiful landscapes? Indoor weddings venues can be booked for any time of the year without worrying about the weather on your big day. Also, you may have more freedom in terms of decor selection. If you prefer intricate and elegant details, then an indoor wedding might be for you.

Outdoor wedding venues are great if you love nature and want to have a country-style wedding. These venues are often located by beautiful sites, and since there is plenty of natural daylight, the pictures turn out to be amazing. Generally, outdoor venues are more spacious than indoor facilities so they are a better option if you have many guests.

3. Check the Venue When it Has Already Been Set Up

Looking at an empty room or open space makes it hard to imagine how it would look like when it is full. Make sure to visit the venue when it is booked for an event. The decor will give you a much better idea if it’s the kind of venue you want. If this isn’t possible, check out the photos. Generally, most venues already have a prepared photo book featuring different setups and decorations.

4. Evaluate the location

Where will most of your guests be coming from? The venue should be located somewhere in the center so that it is accessible to all. If you have guests coming from other cities and states, then the venue should preferably be close to hotels so that your guests can comfortably stay nearby. Also, see how far the venue is from the airport so that it is easy for guests from other locations.

5. Is It Available?

What is your chosen wedding date? The venue must be available on that day. Generally, the best ones are booked months before scheduled dates especially if you’re planning to have a wedding during holidays or on festive days.

6. Stick to the Budget

True, some of the venues are absolutely gorgeous, but if they are far above your budget, you should take a moment to review and consider your priorities. Wedding planning already incurs many expenses, some of which you may not even have planned for and budgeted. So avoid spending a bigger amount unnecessarily. Only consider venues that are close to your budget.

7. Hear What Friends and Loved Ones Have to Say!

What kind of venues are your loved ones suggesting? Where did they have their weddings and was their experience a good one? Consider their recommendations and act according to their advice. If they are married, they would have planned their wedding and can guide you about choosing the most affordable venues that are still elegant and sophisticated.

In addition to asking for recommendations, read online reviews because they can give you a really good idea of the experiences of others.

8. Find Out Catering Options

Some of the venues offer in-house catering, in which case, they can provide a wide variety of food options to choose from. See if you can try out the food beforehand. After all, all the dishes have to be just perfect for your wedding day.

What if there is no in-house catering? Add the task on your list of to-do items.

9. And Before You Finalize…

Ask any remaining questions of the venue team one more time before booking and ensure that it is what you want!

10. Book Harbor View Loft!

Harbor View Loft is one of the most unique and affordable wedding venues that you will come across in the San Diego area. Situated on the Harbor Island, this venue offers a stunning and breathtaking view of the Harbor, Coronado Bridge, and downtown city. Plus, the rates are affordable for a sophisticated venue, and they recommend booking well in advance so that you get your preferred dates.

In addition, the surrounding water views will make a perfect backdrop for your wedding photos! Visit the website for further information.

Author Bio:

Charles is a travel blogger who loves to explore awesome event places in the world. This time is visited one of the wedding venue in san diego and shared his thoughts…

April 12, 2019 by Guest Leave a Comment

Is it possible for barbecue meat to smoke well in an electric smoker?

The concept of smoking food has evolved over the years. Today, it is more about taste and texture, not so much making food last longer. For tender and better-flavored meat, you may want to try out smoking your BBQ this season. When talking about smoked meat, most people think of ham and bacon, and not so much barbecue. But what if you could get just as much out of your electric smoker? The real question is, is it even possible to get your barbecue meat readied by your electric smoker? Find out below:

The art or science of smoking

Unlike the belief of most people, smoking is far much an art than it is a science. It is not so much about how well you can use your electric smoker, but how much patience and expertise you have in getting your barbecue meat evenly cooked.

Selecting a smoker

For your barbecue meat to be what you want it to be, you need to start with the choice of smoker you get. Technically, the entire process requires you to have a container to hold in the smoke, a source of the smoke, and the food to smoke. This means you need one of the best electric smokers there are in the market to set in for the cooking. However, when it comes to the choice of the smoker, you need to analyze it based on:

The space you have
The fuel you’d like to use
The amount of effort you want to put into it
the amount of food you would want to be preparing
your budget

Your choice of fuel

Different smokers have different fuel needs, ranging from charcoal, wood pellets and propane, to hardwood and electricity.

However, for the best smokey taste on your barbecue meat, you need to get a smoker that relies on the hardwood as fuel. Freshly cut hardwood is the best as half of its weight is water. This gives your meat some nice, moist steam that will help flavor the meat. Other than that, hardwood contains a lot of sugars and carbohydrates, which further sweeten the meat.

The good thing is that you can find an electric smoker that can heat the wood and give you quite the results you need.

Controlling Temperature

Smoking barbecue meat requires a lot of patients and keenness to details. As the meat has to cook slow and low, you need a smoker that can control the temperatures. This is where an electric smoker can come in handy. Get one that has regulating controls to help with managing the temperatures. Remember that the low temperatures allow the smoke enough time to sink into the meat, while also to naturally tenderizing the meat.

Pro tip: Keep your temperature between 212 degrees Fahrenheit and 230 degrees Fahrenheit for best results.

Keep track of the smoke

On your electric smoker, you need to be alert with the kind of smoke you are using. The last thing you want is to end up with meat that tastes like they were in a house fire. Black smoke is a bad smoke you want to avoid. Your goal should be toward white and blue smoke, for a more refined taste. To avoid the black smoke, ensure that your food is not directly over the fire. The reason is that it will cause the juices of the meat to burn out because of the lack of proper ventilation.

To answer your question, it is very possible to enjoy barbecue meat smoked in an electric smoker. Like with other types of smokers, you will need to learn the art of smoking, so that your meat can be evenly and adequately cooked as you enjoy as much flavor and juices as possible.

April 12, 2019 by Guest Leave a Comment

7 Wedding Catering Options That Will Save You Money

Weddings tend to be one of the most expensive events that people put on in their lifetime. With the average wedding costing over $35,000, it’s not all too surprising that many brides and grooms-to-be are on the constant lookout for money saving techniques and options.

One area where average costs can be significantly reduced tends to be catering. Sure, you have to feed your guests throughout the day and food can be an extremely exciting area of the wedding to get involved in. But you don’t have to fork out a fortune for something memorable!

Here are our 7 top catering options that will help to save you money in the lead up to your big day!

Research your caterer – if you’re going to put your trust in a caterer to provide the food for your big day, you want to be sure that your food is going to be in good hands. You want your guests to be satisfied and you want the food to look good in your wedding photography and pictures. So, take a look at their portfolio and read up on recommendations from previous clients. This should give you a good idea of their capabilities and performance. Having to find someone else if you are let last minute can be extremely costly.

Go buffet-style – it costs a whole lot more to have individual meals plated up and served to your guests. You can save a lot by going buffet style. This will see food served up in huge trays, which your guests can then take from themselves. This also gives your guests a lot more freedom in choosing what they want – they can taste different things depending on how they’re feeling on the day, rather than having to place down order months in advance.

Try food trucks – food trucks are rapidly growing in popularity, with events springing up left, right and center that bring food vans together for people to pick and choose from. Food trucks tend to be a lot cheaper than other forms of catering at weddings. Plus, there’s just something cute and unique about them that will leave a lasting impression in your guests’ memories. They’re a real novelty!

Serve Up Pasta – pasta is one of the cheapest forms of cuisine around. It can be purchased in bulk loads and turned into delicious dishes with just a few natural ingredients added in the form of a sauce. So, why not consider it for your big day? This is a particularly good option for bigger weddings where you have a lot of people to feed.

BBQ – if your wedding is in the summer months, a BBQ could be a good option. Not only will this get everyone outside in the good weather, but it’ll create an intimate and personal atmosphere, bringing garden parties and relaxed summer afternoons to mind. Plus, BBQ foods tend to be cheap. Burgers, hotdogs and buns are all relatively low cost. Just make sure you cater to all of your guests’ dietary needs. You might find that you need to purchase some vegetarian and vegan alternatives too – and you may need more than one grill so there isn’t cross contamination.

Burritos and Tacos – another food tends to be burritos and tacos. Shells and wraps are extremely cheap and you can fill them up with all sorts of wholesome ingredients. Make sure you have plenty of salsa, guacamole, and salad to add into the mix. Again, make sure that you cater to all of your guests’ dietary needs. A salad wrap or taco really doesn’t sound all too appealing!

Fondues and Fountains – when it comes to dessert, hiring a chocolate fondue or fountain can significantly cut costs in comparison to individually served desserts. Offer a variety of different things for your guests to dip in. Strawberries and marshmallows tend to go down a treat, but you could get a little more creative if you like.

Sure, catering at your wedding is going to be somewhat expensive, especially if you have a lot of guests. But there are ways that you can save a whole lot of money in this area of your day. This surplus could be saved or put towards making a different area of your big day a little more lavish!

If you overspend on your catering, make sure to capture the delicious overpriced food with some good wedding photography. A good photo will make it all worth it later on when you look back into that magical day.

April 12, 2019 by Guest Leave a Comment

Things To Keep In Mind Before Planning An Outdoor Wedding Catering

Is your wedding on the cards? And are you planning to make it grand by employing the best resources? Do not forget to hire the services of a professional wedding caterer especially when the wedding is outdoors. People love the idea of live food stations and hot piping food at a wedding. The best option to provide your guests this experience is to hire a professional wedding catering company and mesmerize your guests. There are a lot of wedding caterers in the industry, thus it is important to hire the services of a professional caterer who understands your needs and curates the best menu that leaves your guests impressed, and the event worth remembering.

There are a number of challenges associated with organizing a wedding, that too outdoors. Outdoor weddings can be the most memorable moment of one’s life, provided necessary steps have been taken to make it grand and lavish. The best solution to make the experience unforgettable, is to appoint the services of a professional and experienced wedding caterer. An outdoor wedding is inexpressibly unique and a worthwhile event. Imagine yourself marrying the love of your life in the beautiful location of the serene oceans, a romantic botanical setting, or in your own lavish backyard. As spellbinding as the experience sounds, it also involves equal amount of efforts and hardwork to make amends for all arrangements.

You have to think about the decor that will match with location, the lighting, the outfits, hote arrangements, and most importantly the food menu. You do not want to leave your guests disappointed as this is going to be one of the most memorable moments of your life. Therefore, it is essential to make prior arrangements and choose the best wedding caterer to take care of the catering at your wedding.

Below Mentioned Are The Things To Keep In Mind Before Planning An Outdoor Wedding Catering

Take into consideration the prevailing weather conditions

The weather conditions are unpredictable. Many people forget to notice the weather conditions and make arrangements for an outdoor wedding only to ruin it later. The occurrence of rain, storms, and other climatic disturbances cannot be ascertained. It is therefore important to keep a check on the weather forecast and then take proper steps to make arrangements for the outdoor wedding. Climatic conditions also have a considerable amount of impact on the catering arrangements. Your caterers will require a backup plan to keep the guests fed and the event going. Make sure the venue that you select for your outdoor wedding has alternative spaces for such situations and a separate arrangement for caterers.

Give Your Wedding Caterer Indoor Access

The venue at which you are hosting your wedding ceremony might not have appropriate arrangements for your catering company to lay their setup. You might even face power fluctuations at the chosen venue. If you wish for the caterers to still continue doing their job, provide them indoor access. The least that can be done is to arrange a tent for them where they can cook, plate, and serve. You can also consult your wedding caterers about the possible options and let them work according to their convenience. This is an important consideration as the wedding caterers will have a lot of stuff that they will cook with. Therefore, they require a place to stock everything and begin the preparation.

Plan The Menu As Per The Location, Weather, And Tastes

This is the most important thing that is ignored. Taking a note of the weather conditions is of utmost importance as it will help you taking the necessary precautions against these weather calamities. If you choose a location that is far off, your caterer will have to go through plenty of logistical issues already. The catering company should be eligible enough to find a way to cook and serve the guests in every condition. Plan your menu according to the weather conditions, the location, and preferences. If you are unable to decide the menu, let your caterer decide the menu for you. You can tell the caterer about your preferred dishes and the caterer can then curate the perfect menu to serve to the guests attending your wedding.