Suggestions for Autumn Reception DIY?

[Measha]

The reception seems to be one of the biggest worries for us, trying to cut down on prices. So far the guest list is smaller, 60 ish people, it may or may not be growing.

We're thinking since it'll be around Thanksgiving, sticking with foods for the season. We're also thinking of doing something "light" instead of a full meal. One example being little pumpkin pie tarts :whoohoo:.

It'll be a dry wedding so not worrying about bar cost, will be serving sparkling apple cider for toasts and the like.

What stands out to you as food of the "fall"? Any concepts or notions that pop into mind? I imagine turkey will wind up in here somewhere too. :D

[hummingbird521]

pumpkins, indian corn for decorations, sausage balls,

[Joe's girl]

Ahhh my specialty.. Fall especially around thanksgiving is a great time of year to have many different varieties of foods! You catering costs should be lower too since you are not going to have the standard chicken, fish or beef. I recommend as an appetizer having a nice soup,like a pumpkin, beef, or corn or potato chowder. You can have as a main course or buffet syle, Turkey, ham and a pot pie for something different, a few different kinds of potato's, stuffings,veggies and have a great cranberry mold. I do thatnksgiving every year and I have so much fun with it. Also you can do so many nice cheap decoration and center pieces with pine cones, acorns and fall leaves.

[WebLady]

Joe's girl had some great suggestions, but those are not really "light" like you mentioned you wanted.

I don't really know what would be light for fall/thanksgiving'ish ... maybe some turkey finger sandwhiches and the pumpkin pie tarts? A fruit tray (fall fruits - Apples, Bananas, Cranberries, Grapes, Kiwi, Pears) and a veggy tray (fall veggies - Avocado, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower) are always good too.

Good luck!

[Joe's girl]

Whoops..got carried away and missed the "light " part.

[Measha]

*chuckles* It's alright! Suggestions in any form at this point are still grand! It's early on in the planning process :).

Also, yes I am happy about the fact decorating should be a breeze with nature's help, hehe.

[Joe's girl]

I was thinking of you I just got my holiday menu planned mag and they had such cute ideas for light eating. They have which looks like to me a peice of toast cut diagnolly, with a little turkey, stuffing and a smige of cranberry sauce on top and it looks really elegent, you could do those as a pass around horsdouver (ha I know I didn't spell that right) and some little cup like potatos and lots of veggies for the season. I am so jealous because our original date was around thangs giving and I was going to do platters at the table's of ham, turkey and all the fixings.

[Measha]

Hmm, do you have any way you could scan those pages to post up? I'd love to see something with cranberry. A jello mold is likely too large, but I know I have to work it in somehow, it's not the season without it!

As far as little pumpkin tarts go I found an example image:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/crazedbluebunny/Wedding%20Type%20Stuff/pie-tarts.jpg

Though I could probably pretty them up a bit more hehe. And someone else (sorry I forgot the name, eep!) had a lovely idea of cutting meat and cheese into leaf shapes, that I just might steal.

[firespirit]

Squash soup!

(Or squash in general, it's pretty easy to bake in the oven or put on a grill).

[Measha]

Soup is a big part of the season....which is something else we've been thinking of. Depending on when the wedding is vs. when the reception takes place. I've been trying to think of a way to work it in. Perhaps have two types, a large container of it on either side. Make that large "good looking" container haha.

Another idea is to have slices of sweet potatoe with marshmallow on them. A cute way to present an old favorite. Could do something similar with squash, have it grilled and sprinkled with seasoning in little cubes.

Edit: ooh another thing I think I keep forgetting to mention, is that yes we're pretty much avoiding meat. As Jon and I only eat fish and poultry, and a lot of family and friends are vegetarian or even vegan.

[firespirit]

If you do the sweet potatoes and marshmallows, just don't forget to have some without marshmallows to accommodate your vegan friends :D.

Oh and while I'm not a fan, for some reason a lot of people do like cranberry sauce and that can be made to be pretty decorative too!

[Measha]

Yes, as I was saying to Joe's Girl....I have to find a way to incorporate cranberry!

We might use it in drinks, a sparkling soda base with some cranberry juice or some such. But I'd still like to use it in food as well.

[firespirit]

Hmm. Maybe a spinach salad with cranberries and almonds? Slightly away from the traditional.

[cassiopeia]

You could serve butternut squash soup in a hallowed out pumpkin, or do a squash/pumpkin soup.

I'm lame with food ideas, but soup is good and pumpkin is good, so soup in a pumpkin sounds good too ;)

[Measha]

That could actually be cute! You're not lame at all :)