Do It Yourself Fall Wedding Reception

Wedding DIY 101

• Know yourself…and your family and friends. You’ll need to be realistic on what you really can do.

• Manage guests’ food expectations. Let them know when invited whether it’s dinner, light refreshments or simply, desserts.

• Find out whether your chosen location allows you to supply your own food. If they do, consult our Do-Ahead Cooking strategies with food safety tips.

• Look for recipes with Do-Ahead Tips. It’s your wedding. You’ll want to enjoy the activities rather than be tied to the kitchen.

Just Desserts

• Cupcakes are the trendiest wedding cake and fit the DIY strategy to a T. Get tips with our Cupcake How-To and start baking!

• Do a recipe search on ‘cupcakes’ to see the wonderful variety offered here.

• Find cupcake display stands and carriers when you shop the Betty Crocker® Store.

A Little Help from a Friend

• The Cook for a Crowd chart give help on amounts to buy depending on number of guests invited.

• When scaling up recipes, here’s a chart you’ll surely use: Common Ingredients--Yields & Equivalents.

Serve with Flair

• Let foods create the look of your table. Three recipes that take fruit platters to another dimension are: Chocolate-Dipped Fruit Wreath, Fruit Kabobs with Tropical Fruit Coulis or Honey-Lime Fruit Salad. Fit these or purchased platters in to round out a menu.

• Search on ‘wreath’ for more center-stage food and centerpiece presentations you can use.

• Bookmark online or clip magazine ideas for serving and tableware. So many ideas, what to choose!

Cookie Favors

• Cookies make perfect do-it-yourself favors for guests to take home. Package them to suit your wedding’s theme and colors, like this collection for a December wedding—Peppermint Candy Cookies, Peppermint Swirls, Peppermint Snowball Cookies and Candy Cane Cookies.

• Or set up a table with baskets of cookies and let guests package their own home-baked treats in bags or small boxes.

• Here are a few favorites—Celebration Cookies, Chocolate Heart Peanut Butter Cookies, Mini Cookie Collection and Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies - to get you started.