How to cater a large gathering

Cutting the cost of a catered wedding cake can be significant, and with a bit of practice and time, making your own wedding cake is easily achievable. We have a wealth of step-by-step wedding cake recipes from the simple elegance cake to the orange berry wedding cake.

Not up for the challenge? Cut out the three tiers altogether and lay on a teatime spread of a variety of traditional cakes and scones. Or even better ask someone else to make if for you...

Wedding favours

Making your own wedding favours is a lovely way to add a personal touch to your gift and can be money-saving too. Sugar-dusted wedding cookies, homemade chocolate drops and peppermint lollipops will all look beautiful on the big day.

For more inspiration check out all of our wedding favour recipes.

The christening

A cold buffet spread is ideal for a christening, as guests are likely to arrive in drabs after the ceremony. Keep things simple with a selection of summer sandwiches, creamy tarts and savoury bites. Or surround a showstopper like foil-poached salmon with a variety of colourful salads and breads. Jugs of pink lemonade, pretty raspberry cupcakes and sausage rolls are bound to keep the kids happy too, and that's without mentioning a slice of this beautiful teddy christening cake.

Kids' party

Keeping a roomful of kids occupied as well as catering for a big birthday bash can be stressful to say the least. But with a bit of forward planning, you can put on a homemade feast to keep the children happy for hours, from healthy smoothie jellies to fiendish monster cupcakes. Take a look at our guide on how to throw a kids' party.

Have you thrown a DIY bash? Or are you an expert at catering for a crowd? From DIY weddings to big birthday bashes we'd love to hear your tips...