Now the big day is over, take that turkey carcass and strip it of all the useable meat for sandwiches, casseroles and the like. Boil it in a pot of water with some onions, celery and carrots and include neck and giblets if you have them. A day later you will have a delicious base for gravies, soups and  even for moisturizing stuffing

We all tend to shy away from paper and plastic, sensing that it gives a “lesser than” presentation of the meal.  There are products out there now, however, that look like the real thing in china and silver and are very sturdy.

Another alternative is to use high end paper and plastic and coordinate the color palate. Never forget that we are attracted to things that are appealing to the eye and the eatware can really complement the meal!

Squash is available in many types around this time of year and you will see them popping up all over catering menus.

A local favorite is butternut and, cooked low and slow in the oven, liberally basted with brown sugar, butter and local maple syrup – don’t let it out until it is fork tender – your holiday meal will have just gone up a notch in your guests’ estimation!

Even as caterers we are often challenged by the variety of tastes of our clientele. This is especially so where some of the guests are vegetarian as is most often the case today.

Here is a tip – even though there is a wealth of vegetarian recipes out there, if you are faced with one entree only , break it up into its components- a chicken broccoli alfredo would be broccoli alfreo with grilled chicken on the side!

Generally there is some form of pre buffet while the photographer is doing his thing right after the ceremony. As appetizers are usually priced by the piece and you would expect a guest to eat 5 or 6 per half hour, your photographer could be costing you more than just photographs!

Ask if you can schedule some shots before the ceremony, ones that only require just one side of the family and just the bride or just the groom. This can cut down on the cost of the pre buffet and also get the party going that much quicker!

Believe it or not the season is already underway! Though the holiday festivities will tend to eclipse the following Summer for the time being, those who plan to be married next summer are well into their planning already. This is wise, as saving the date becomes an extremely important, if understated, facet of the wedding.

A case in point is a client of ours who wanted a specific locale for his daughter’s wedding. By the first of the year all the summer weekends were booked up for that type of place (not just that place). In the end the wedding was held on a Monday afternoon because, for them, the place was even more important than the date.

As you start your wedding planning make sure that you prioritize your needs; date, place, theme, catering, music, flowers, etc., etc. and all the activity will flow from there.