KATIE E. SPIETH / Scroll
Having a catered wedding reception can take stress off both the bride and groom and their families.

To spend or not to spend; why the extra money can alleviate stress

by Brittani Lusk LUS04002@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

A few months before the wedding, it’s hard to think that having a catered reception is worth the extra money.

Some couples find that catering is too expensive, but others like the fact that it relieves stress.

“When someone from the family makes the food, they can’t enjoy the wedding, so we decided that a catered reception was really the best option for us,” Jeanne Deveraux, the manager of Brookside Village who has been married six-and-a-half years, said.

“I plan on having my reception catered because it will take the stress off of me on my special day. I don’t want to have to worry about preparing food, and I don’t want that for my family either,” Heather Campbell, a senior from Bellevue, Wash., who getting married on May 21, said.

Some couples also enjoy catering as an option because the set up and takedown is covered.

“Having a catered reception is nice because it is just a done deal. It’s easy and that’s the main reason we’re doing it,” Campbell said.

If brides are interested in creating a reception that is non-traditional or unique, caterers can help.

“The BYU-Idaho University Catering created our wedding cake and all of the food for the reception. It was nice because it was one less headache for us to deal with,” Deveraux said.

“The greatest thing was that the catering service found out exactly what we wanted. We even had a non-traditional wedding cake that was made of rice-crispy treats and frosting. They really catered to our needs and wants.”

University Catering offers options from traditional tiers to frosted rice-crispy treats.

Cakes from University Catering start at $125 and go up from there. University Catering asks that couples reserve the date early to ensure availability.

“One of the interesting things we offer are art sculptures. In the past we’ve created swans, temples, hearts, vases and a variety of other images,” Warren Moore, the catering manager of University Catering said.

“Most of the weddings we cater are during the months of June, July, August and December; however, we do have a pretty constant flow of people who order food, pick it up themselves and do their own wedding preparations,” Moore said.

University Catering can provide linens, utensils and attendants.

Contact University Catering for more information by calling: 496-2246 or 496-2247. E-mail at catering@byui.edu, or fax 208-496-2196. Pricing information is availabe at www.byui.edu/foodservices/catering/catering.