Buffet Styles - What are they??

So you've been on our website and have an idea what you might want for you menu. You've headed to our Build Your Own Quote link on our Homepage, but you don't really know what we mean by Buffet Styles. Have no fear! Here is a quick guide to what our Buffet Styles (also know as Service Options) are.

Option A:
Option A is a drop-off service. This is great if you're having a picnic, but not great for most other events. With Option A, we bring the food to you, fully prepared, and give it to whoever is in charge. This does not add anything to your menu price.

Option B:
Option B is the first tier of the options most people consider for their events. It includes buffet service, with uniformed attendants to maintain the buffet and to bus guest tables. There is also a drink station, and this includes all necessary plasticware (plates, forks, knives, etc.). Plates, forks, knives, and napkins are at the end of the buffet.
     For $2.25 per person, you get all of the above and your chosice of the pictured plates:

     For $2.75 per person, you get all of the above with your choice of these plates:

Option C:
Option C is much the same as Option B, but instead of plasticware, it includes linen napkins, real silverware, and glass plates and goblets. At $4.50 per person, you have the choice of the following plates:

Option D:
Option D is what we call a half sit-down. There is still a buffet, but all the tables are set-up with plates, silverware, napkins, and glasses. This option requires a four-hour set up, and is $5.95 per person. Here is a beautiful picture of Option D:

Option E:

Option E is a full sit-down service with an Option D set up. That is, all the tables are set up as in Option D, and there is no buffet. All the food is passed or on the individual guest tables. At $15.00 per person, Option E looks like the following picture:

Hopefully this gives you abetter idea of what our Buffet Styles are, and which is best for your event!

Affordable Catering Feature!

We were recently featured by this blog! Check it out, there's a bit of information about us, and a short video to watch.

What to Expect from Affordable Catering - Finalization Meeting

The last meeting you will have with us at Affordable Catering is you Finalization Meeting. We like to use this meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page - something we're sure you want to make sure of as well. At this meeting, we will go through a Finalization Checklist. This includes making sure that we know exactly what you expect from us (linens, menu, bartending, etc.). We will also ask for the names and contact numbers of other vendors, such as florists and DJ's, you are using. We've found this helpful in the past.

Another thing we will go over with you at this meeting is a Timeline. Don't worry, this doesn't have to be exact; we won't be timing you! This is just a guideline of when you want things to happen at your event. What time are the guests going to arrive at the reception? What time will you arrive, and will you be announced? What time do you want the buffet to open? These are the sorts of questions that we will be asking while making you Timeline.

Finally, we will also want to make sure we have a Floor Plan for you event. This is to give us (and you!) a visual of how your event space will be set up. This is especially important so that we know what we have to work with. Where will the buffet be set up? Where is the kitchen (if there is a kitchen)? Details like these simply make your day go more smoothly.

Of course, you will be able to ask us any questions you need answered at your Finalization Meeting. We don't want you to be worried about anything, so make sure you feel free to share any concerns you have. We prefer to have these meetings about a month out from your event, so that there is still time for any changes that need to be made. If your event is coming up quickly and you haven't made an appointment for a Finalization Meeting with us, give us a call or send us an email and we'll set one up!

What to Expect from Affordable Catering - Tasting!

Mmm, food!

What's one of the most important factors in choosing a caterer? The food, of course! At Affordable Catering, we think that before you make your decision you should get to sample our food so that you are sure you like it.

You can have a tasting at your first meeting with us, or you can schedule another meeting specifically to taste. All you have to do is mention that you would like to taste something while making your appointment with us. You can ask to sample specific items, or we can give you some of our most popular dishes to inspire you. Don't ask for too many different things, though; you may confuse the tastes!

We also offer samples of our wedding cake. You can try any flavor you want; just let us know a week or two in advance. Our list of possible flavors can be found on our website, just scroll down on this page. Again, don't attempt too much, because you do want to be able to make a decision.

If you're not sure where to start in picking what to taste, check out our menu on our website What sorts of meats, sides, and vegetables do you like? If you're still unsure, our Grilled Chicken in Wine Sauce, Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce, and Sirloin Beef in Burgundy Sauce all come highly recommended.

Give us a call to set up your tasting today!

What to Expect from Affordable Catering - Initial Contact and Meeting

This is the first of a series of posts about what to expect from Affordable Catering, from your first email or phone call until the day of your event. We know that event planning can be an involved and complicated process, and that not all catering companies work the same way. Hopefully, this makes the process a little less confusing.

When you first email or call Affordable Catering, we'll want to know the date of your event, what kind of event you are planning, how large it will be, and if you have a venue in mind. These are important factors in planning your event. While we will be happy to tell you about Affordable Catering over the phone, we would rather set up a meeting with you to really discuss what you would like for your event. Meetings are complementary; we believe that you should get a preview of us before making your decision. You are welcome to request a sample of our food when scheduling your meeting, and if there is a certain type of dish you are interested in, make sure to let us know!

At your first meeting, you will meet with one of our event coordinators, who will tell you about all the services Affordable Catering offers. We have several different menu options, and can also help you to build a custom menu for your event if you would like. Your coordinator will also introduce you to our service options, and help you make a decision about that. Any questions you have about us, our food, and our other services are welcome at this time. Please let us know about any themes or special ideas you have. We would love to tie our food into those and help make your day unique and special.

At the end of your meeting, your coordinator will calculate a quote for you. You are welcome to take a copy of this with you, and we will send you a formal copy both in the mail and via email. Our quotes include complete breakdown, so you can see where each cost comes from. To book with us, simply sign the contract included with your quote and return it with a $300.00 booking fee. After this, we consider you booked!

You can have several meetings with us if you wish, but the really important ones are your first meeting and your Finalization Meeting. We also recommend a tasting at some point.

Making Our Ceremony Unique | Weddingbee

Making Our Ceremony Unique | Weddingbee

This is a great blog entry about a way to make a ceremony unique and to include guests in the ceremony. Check it out and tell us what you think! Would you incorporate this into your ceremony?

Sprint 4G Launch

This summer, we had the pleasure of catering Sprint's 4G launch in downtown Kansas City, and it was a blast! There was so much to this event--from the lounge setting to the decor and lighting to, of course, the food. The event coordinators were looking for trendy accents, and a great way to incorporate that was through the food we worked with them to serve.

With a lounge setting, the launch was designed for mingling, so it had to be possible to eat without and knife and fork. You might not think this is possible, but check out what we came up with! You might get some ideas for ways to incorporate a mingling-friendly menu for your own event.

Appetizers - For a fun, trendy flair on traditional veggies and dip, we made Crudites Shots with Ranch Dressing, Carrots, Celery, and Cucumber with Sliver of Red Pepper.




 Salads - Did you think that salads weren't portable? They can be! These different salads (you can see a second option off to the side), are great for munching on while mingling- just grab a fork!


Entree -  People tend to think you can't have pizza and be elegant and upscale. Why not? These flatbread pizzas are delicious, but also trendy (and not at all messy!). And, as you can see, by the time we got to them with the camera, people had already begun to snap them up!

Entree - A second portable entree we did was a combination of mini-sliders - Beef, BBQ Beef, and Thai Spiced Turkey. These are great little treats to carry around, and they don't require any silverware at all!

Vegetable Side - How do you manage a vegetable side without needing a plate? Just look at our Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Grilled Asparagus! Manageable as a side or an appetizer yet not at all restrictive for minglers, these good-looking vegetables were a major hit.

Dessert - Are you looking for a unique dessert? One that people will love and that will stand out from the typical cookies? Cheesecake and Brownie Lollypops are becoming very popular, with their trendy looks, unique design, and delicious taste. Plus, they're small and manageable, perfect for a lounge-setting.



Sprint's event was a major hit, and we enjoyed catering it. Whether you're looking for some ideas for your next corporate event, or interested in a lounge-like setting for a wedding or another event, we hope you found some inspiration here! For more pictures, head over to our Facebook Page, and you can always email or call us with questions.

Wedding Planning Timeline

One of the most frequent questions we get at Affordable Catering is "When should I start planning catering for my wedding?"

When we first decided to begin this blog, Jayme made sure to give me a specific timeline she has found helpful in the past. You can find similar timelines in most wedding magazines, like The Knot and KCWeddings, but this is the one we recommend. Of course, catering isn't the only thing to worry about, so we haven't limited this timeline to that (though I have put CATERERS in all-caps just in case).

Immediately After the Engagement

• Select a wedding date 
• Discuss the size and style of your wedding with parents and your fiance. This will help you decide on a tentative budget, who pays for what, and will give you ideas on what you want in regard to flowers, food, etc.
• Start a wedding file on your computer to keep you organized
• If you have a specific officiant in mind, schedule a meeting to discuss pre-marital counseling and/or the ceremony (if applicable)
• Decide and ask wedding party to be a part of your day
• "How many ushers do I need??" We recommend one usher for every 50 guests.
• Begin looking through magazines, websites, and blogs (like this!) for ideas and pictures (check out what we've posted on Facebook)
• Research and then reserve locations for the ceremony and reception (keep an eye out for some of our favorites, like Town Pavilion, Emaline Ballroom, and Drexel Hall)
• Create a "Save-the-Date" guest list and order the "Save-the-Date" cards
• Decide if you are going to hire a wedding coordinator, and, if so, begin interviewing and select someone as soon as possible
• Begin contacting photographers, videographers, CATERERS, bakers, and florists
• Schedule appointments at bridal boutiques

6 Months or Before

• Address the "Save-the-Date" cards and send out
• Decide on the wedding gown, and place order 
• Begin shopping for bridesmaids' dresses
• Have your engagement photos taken, and send engagement announcement to newspapers
• Begin compiling your guest list; utilize spreadsheets/word processing programs on the computer to help keep you organized
• Select a hotel (or more than one) for out-of-town guests, and discuss reservation and cancellation policy with the event manager
• Meet with photographers, videographers, CATERERS, bakers, and florists. Reserve your choice at this time
• Set portrait date
• You'll want to be certain that your dress will be ready in time!
• Make arrangements for the music at the ceremony and the reception
• Begin working on the honeymoon and contact a travel agent if necessary
• Begin working on your gift registry

5 Months

• Finalize the budget
• Decide on bridesmaids' gowns and place order
• Work with florist on floral arrangements for ceremony and reception
• Complete the guest list and shower lists. Send shower lists to the hostesses as soon as they are completed 
• Begin shopping for invitations
• Finalize dates for showers and parties
• Book honeymoon plans
• Book wedding night accommodations
• Complete registry list
• Shop for wedding rings
• Place order for any special equipment rental (lights, tents, etc.)
• Order any special items for the ceremony and reception (napkins, favors, etc.)
• Reserve rehearsal dinner location, if applicable

4 Months

• Work with CATERER on the menu and beverage selections and make a decision
• Affordable Catering works with you on developing a menu from your first meeting, and we are flexible with changes--your final decision on the menu is not due until 30 days prior to your event
• Schedule dress fitting
• Purchase hostess gifts and cards for your showers. Wrap gifts and write cards ahead of time
• Shop for your wedding shower outfits
• Finalize the date, time, and place for the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner
• Decide and place order for veil, shoes, and headpiece
• Make all transportation arrangements to and from the wedding
• Order invitations (25-50 extras) and personal stationery
• Hire a calligrapher (if desired)
• Meet with photographer to discuss times and specific photos that you would like
• Order wedding rings
• Check your state's requirements for blood testing and marriage liscense

3 Months

• Work with florist on floral arrangements for ceremony and reception
• Mail any outstanding deposits to vendors
• Select special readings and begin working on vows (if applicable)
• Order the groom/groomsmens' wedding attire; send out measurement forms to all groomsmen
• Set day and times for beauty preperations
• Hire any additional staff that may be needed (valets, bartenders, etc.)
• Begin writing thank you notes for shower gifts and early wedding gifts.
• Several reasons- it won't pile up, procrastination really isn't your friend, it is easy to get behind, and people like to receive prompt thank-you's (it shows you really appreciate them).
• Meet with CATERER and/or reception site manager (and your florist if possible) to discuss logistics and for a food tasting session
• Affordable Catering loves when people come in for tastings! 

2 Months

• Purchase disposable cameras for the reception 
• Have you seen that "Friends" episode? Those little cameras are important!
• Purchase a guest book, sign-in pen, cake knife, and lifter, and champagne flutes 
• You can rent these through Affordable Catering if you would prefer
• Order rehearsal dinner invitations (if applicable)
• Have bridal portrait taken
• Mail wedding invitations

6 Weeks

• Purchase presents for groom, parents, and wedding party attendants
• Finalize ceremony music, songs, and readings 
• Prepare out-of-town guest information letter
• Shop for lingerie for bridal gown and wedding night
• Finalize your selections for the cocktail hour and reception songs and review with the band/musicians/DJ

4 Weeks

• Submit the wedding program information to the stationary store
• Begin working on your wedding weekend outline. Important information to include would be restaurant recommendations, driving directions to the hotel, ceremony and reception sites, a schedule of events, and any other information that is special to your wedding 
• Finalize details with your CATERER, baker, florist, photographer, videographer, and musicians
• Finalize transportation, including bride and groom, wedding party, and guest transportation
• Assign a day-of "Problem Solver," someone not in the wedding party whom the caterer, florist, DJ, and venue can contact if needed on your big day.

 2 Weeks

• Check in with any invitees who haven't responded
• Give the CATERER a final headcount
• Get legal information regarding your name change (if applicable)
• Confirm delivery times

1 Week

• Pack for your honeymoon
• Pay balances for services
• Rest up and enjoy the time with the people you live

Day Of

• Enjoy your day! 

 Of course, you don't have to do things exactly when a timeline says you should. It's more like a guideline. Various wedding magazines and websites were used to create this list.

Did you think of something we missed? Have a better idea? Leave a comment and let us know!

Wedding Cake Toppers

Wedding cake toppers are one of the most popular ways to show some creativity and individuality in your wedding. You can always get ideas from the most recent wedding magazines, but my Yahoo homepage just came up with the following article, and I really wanted to post it. My favorite is the robot one!

Check out these wedding cake toppers!

Have you had any great ideas for toppers? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

KC Weddings Bridal Spectacular

Welcome to the Affordable Catering and Event Planning Blog! Affordable Catering has been serving the Kansas City area for more than 20 years. Recently, we showed at the KC Weddings Bridal Spectacular. This event takes place twice a year, in the summer and the winter. It’s a great event; all sorts of different vendors are there to discuss their services. From caterers to photographers to venues, everyone has information for you.

At our booth, we were sampling some of our most popular dishes. On one side, we had some vegetables and ranch dip, and also our Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip with chip. The Spinach and Artichoke Dip was very popular, especially among those who enjoy spicy food! If you don’t like spicy, we can control how much of a kick there is. Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip is a major player in most of our appetizer packages, and we were happy to see so many people enjoy it!

At the other end of our tent we had two meats for sampling. Sweet and Sour Meatballs are also part of our Appetizer Packages and were very well received. Appetizers are great if you want more of a cocktail party feel for you event--people can just pick up a few things and mingle while they eat instead of being tied down to a table, or they can fill a plate and sit down with it if they prefer.

The other meat we had for sampling was our Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce. This is one of our most popular meats, especially with our Hot Dinner Buffet package. Kansas City loves her BBQ, and people keep coming back for our BBQ Brisket! We do, of course, offer several choices, and we are happy to have couples schedule tastings with us before finalizing their menu.

We also, of course, had wedding cake to sample. Several people told us they thought our cake was the best at the show! People loved it so much that even though we brought several boxes of it, we ran out! If you were at the Bridal Spectacular and didn’t get to try any, you can arrange a cake sampling by calling our office. We offer several different flavors (and fillings if you want them), so don’t be afraid to ask about something other than white and chocolate!

If I’m able to load this picture properly, you should be able to see the table setting we had set up, too. We are happy to help set up guest tables for receptions, and this color scheme and decoration has already been mentioned by several brides who have come in for meetings. This table is set for a full sit-down service, as you can see, which is our Service Option E. We have several Service Options, so if this is more formal than you want for your event, don’t worry! We’d be happy to show you all of our choices.

If you want to see more pictures of the Bridal Spectacular, or of our food and other services, check out our Facebook Page: search for Affordable Catering and Event Planning. You can see our menus on our website at www.affordablecateringkc.com.