FAQs with Acme Fresh Market
You’ve probably been going to Acme Fresh Market for years for affordable, fresh groceries. Did you know they can also help you plan your wedding? They can create beautiful cakes, delicious catering, incredible flowers, and even offer wedding planning advice! We sat down with their event planner, Kate, to find out what their most frequently asked questions are.
Who pays for what in a wedding?
This is a tricky question. Traditionally, the groom and his family were meant to cover:
- Marriage license
- Officiant fee
- Groom’s attire
- Bride’s bouquet
- Men’s boutonnieres
- Corsages for mothers and grandmothers
- Honeymoon
- Rehearsal dinner
- Bride’s rings
- Liquor
- DJ or band at the reception
Check out more about who pays for what HERE with a little game.
Nowadays, you may not break up costs according to the bride’s family and the groom’s family. Odds are, you’ll pay for the majority of the wedding as a couple. If your parents are planning to help out, “My advice is to sit down with both families right after you get engaged,” says Kate, wedding planner at Acme Fresh Market. This conversation can be a little uncomfortable. It’s never easy to ask for money! But the sooner it happens, the sooner you can start planning and know how much your budget is. Kate knows from experience with her own wedding planning that “the one hour of awkward conversation will save you SO much time, hassle, and potential heartache as you move forward.”
I Really want the food at my wedding to be different. What do you suggest?
Acme Catering
The biggest trend in the past few years is to make your wedding 100% your own. Add unique touches that represent your personalities as a couple. That being said, Kate recommends only mixing things up “a bit.” “Remember, traditional wedding food is traditional for a reason. When you have a large group of people, the overlap of culinary tastes can be minimal at best.” This can be especially true if you decide to invite children. They likely won’t have any part in your chicken curry or roasted duck.
Kate advises getting more experimental with the appetizers versus your entree. “For example, my husband LOVES Chicken and Waffles and Nashville Hot Chicken. I wouldn’t serve those as the main dish, but we could get creative with the appetizers. For instance, a Tempura Chicken on a bite-size heart-shaped waffle, drizzled with local maple syrup and served with a dollop of Chipotle butter!” Brainstorm ideas with your caterer and present them with your favorite dishes or family recipes. They can create something truly unique using those flavors! “The sky is the limit. Feel free to add personal touches to the menu here and there. At Acme, we’ll work with you to create an epic menu.”
some other ideas:
- Bars like an exotic cheese bar, pizza bar with various toppings, or soup bar (“I did this once for a fall wedding and it was a HUGE hit,” Kate says. We had 3 beautiful stoneware soup kettles with Baked Potato Soup, Tomato Bisque, and an Italian Wedding Soup. We offered bacon, shredded cheddar, chives, garlic croutons, and more as garnishes!”)
- Ask your caterer to use bread from your favorite local bakery, and have multiple butter, jam, cheese, and spread options to jazz up your traditional dinner rolls
I don’t want guests to leave too early. What are some tips to get people to stay?
Rising Star Photography
Besides having awesome entertainment, your best option is to motivate guests into stay by having a late night snack. Consider a food truck, pizza delivery from your favorite local shop, or a sundae bar! “Did the two of you meet while working at Taco Bell in high school? Order a couple hundred crunch tacos!” Kate says. Imagine the excitement as a food truck pulls up to your reception. Anyone who left early is sure to have major regrets. That’s why Kate advises couples to “let guests know your plan early on in the evening, so they can plan accordingly.” AKA, extend their babysitters or not overindulge on cake. “At Acme, we have a variety of ‘After Glow’ menus available. A s’mores station is one of our more popular offerings!” Name a more perfect treat for a summer or fall wedding.
What is your #1 piece of advice for brides?
Today’s Bride and Kate agree on this: Don’t sign up to do too much yourself. Kate shared with us that she often hears brides saying “Oh, I can just do that myself beforehand.” Or, “We don’t mind tearing down chairs.” Or, “We can help with cleanup the next day.” While you may think that now, because you’re not swept up in the excitement and magic of your wedding day. Trust us when we say you won’t regret spending a few extra dollars to have someone else take care of the small details. At the wedding, you’ll have a million thoughts going through your brain and a hundred or more guests wanting to hug you. The last thing you need is to forget to set up the ceremony chairs. “My amazing coworker, Jeannette, always says, ‘You HAVE to leave your wedding reception before the regular lighting gets turned back on. When the lights come back on at midnight or whatever time, you’re just in a plain old messy room and the magic is gone. I can’t recommend highly enough: leave when it is still magical.'”
Acme Fresh Market is essentially a one-stop-shop for planning your dream wedding. Besides handling your cake, catering, and flowers, Kate is a trained event planner ready to help you create magic. Email or call 330-645-6222 today to set up your appointment!
