The Wedding Feast

Feasting has been around forever and ever.

For centuries, it was the accumulation of a ritual. A part of a ritual.
Weather the ritual was to commence the turning of the seasons, or the first harvest, eating in celebration meant far more than stuffing one's face.

A feast is sacred.
In many ceremonies it is traditional to have a potluck, where each guest brings a dish of food that has lovingly been made to share in the wedding feast. This allows each guest to contribute and bring their own offerings in the way of food.

Due to certain considerations and having a flock of guests from out of town, we've decided not to have a potluck.
Though we will have the elements of what the feast means by asking some guests to bring specific food items.

This bride is looking for a caterer who understands what feasting means.
That isn't to say you have to be overly religious or pray over the food while its being made, but we are looking for someone who has this level of understanding of what a feast actually is.

We don't want a caterer who can just assemble some food together and call it a day. We are open to input and suggestions.
The more creative, the better.

Are you our caterer?

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Puzzling Responses

I have had some great success at putting out ads on classified listings but I've had some interesting responses as well.
One of them today, floored me.
This is a very small company that creates favors for weddings. They contacted me from one of the ads and said they would love to do it and what did I want? I told them what I wanted and was assured they would work on putting samples together and we would go from there.

Then, I get an email from this company saying there was a death in the family so they can not do the wedding (which is next year).

Okay, fair enough.

But...this morning, I get an email, in replying to the original ad from the same company!!!! Obviously they didn't realize they were replying to the same ad.

I'm happy I found this out now, because why would you want to do business with someone who is going to lie to you?

I definitely do not.

New responses from a few catering companies seems very promising. Perhaps there is hope for this bartering bride!

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Looking for A Wedding Gown Creator

The Bartering Bride is searching for a wedding dressmaker.

Like her entire wedding, her ideal bridal dress is something unique. Something that is creative and is not your standard cake inspired gown that you would find in most bridal dress salons.

The ideal dressmaker for this task should be able to think outside the box, be creative and open to new ideas. Bringing talent and a love of what you do to the table would also be helpful.

Are you for me?

Maybe you are tired of making the same old wedding dress. Maybe you need a stand out amazing portfolio piece. Maybe you are a dressmaker or bridal designer who is just starting out.

What Can I Offer You?

Perhaps I can offer you the creation of a blog that will attract more customers to you. Perhaps you are on the search for new suppliers or maybe you could benefit from an Intuitive Consulting Session to gain valuable information that will help your business develop.

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Its My Day Let's Put It Into The Hands of Strangers

Number One Reason Why To Barter For Wedding Services

As everyone and their brother has told you, your wedding is supposed to be your day. A day where you can have whatever kind of frills you desire and whatever you may wish.

I want my wedding to be festive, a friendly, joyful environment.

So why would I put my wedding into the hands of complete strangers?

By bartering professional services I have to offer with service providers I am creating a business relationship with them.
This way allows me to really know if what they are offering is as good as their ads claim and how they work and how they are as a person.

One of the first caterers we looked at, after the meeting to determine the menu, we thought they were great. They listened to what we wanted, took in our details and customized the menu.

Then, we got the contract in the mail.

The contract that had our names wrong, the date wrong and the menu wrong. They were trying to pigeon-hole us (which is so often the case when it comes to the wedding industry).

Our wedding is not standard or typical and we want that reflected in everything we choose.

It doesn't mean we are asking for pots of gold on the tables as centerpieces, we're asking for a little creativity, some flexibility and not just being bride and groom #45,560.

When I meet with a client, I listen to what that client needs, what they want. I ask them questions that will give me insight into their overall business and where they want to go in the future.
If I can offer my time, my services and my attention to the intricate details, I expect when I go and request a service that this courtesy is extended to me.
So far, in dealing with wedding vendors/services, it hasn't been.

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Barters Available

The following is a list of barters available in exchange for services listed:

Blog Set-up And Maintenance

Internet Marketing

Internet Researching

Writing and Editing Services

Intuitive Consultant Services

Able to arrange Graphic Design/Designs/Illustrations And Custom Artwork

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Services Needed

The following are a list of services needed for The Bartering Bride's Wedding in 2010, in the Niagara Region of Ontario:

Bridal Dress Maker

Caterer (Buffet style dinner)


Florists, floral arrangements

Decorator

Make-up Artist/Hairstylist (who can come onsite)

Bar Services

Flaming Bartender

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Why?

The Bartering Bride came about when the bride became frustrated over the high, insane costs that are associated with weddings often for little value.
She met service providers and vendors who wanted to take her cash but not the time to listen to what she wanted.
But somehow, they all said, "This is your day"

The Bartering Bride feels her wedding should be joyous, celebratory and blissful, not stressful and penny-pinching.

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