DIY Bride- Atomic Love Challenge: Still Talking Food

Exploring DIY Dinner Options & Expanding Our Grocery Store Search

If you’ve been following the Atomic Love Challenge, you know we don’t skip steps — we document them.

And yes, before anyone asks: we did look at caterers.
Budget-friendly ones. Pick-up options. Limited-service menus. All the “this might work” contenders.

What we found was this:
Even reasonable catering eats up a huge portion of a $5,000 total wedding budget — and leaves very little room for flexibility, abundance, or creativity.

So instead of forcing one solution, we decided to explore another very real option couples turn to every day:

👉 DIY dinner using strategic grocery sourcing.

This isn’t about cutting corners — it’s about creating more options.

Why DIY Dinner Earned a Seat at the Table

When couples choose DIY food, it’s rarely because they don’t care.
It’s because they do — about guest experience, stress levels, and staying within budget.

Exploring grocery-based meals allows us to:

Stretch dollars further
Offer menu variety
Reduce staffing costs
Adjust quantities in real time
Design food that supports the overall vibe

✨ Atomic Love Reminder: Budget doesn’t mean boring — it means intentional.

👉 If you’re planning a wedding on a real-world budget, follow along — this research is for you.

Two Menu Directions Guiding Our Store Search

Rather than wandering grocery aisles aimlessly, we’re using sample menus to guide what we’re looking for, what scales well, and what feels wedding-worthy.

Right now, we’re testing two directions.

1. 🍍 Sample Vintage Luau Menu (DIY-Friendly)

This concept grew naturally as we explored foods that:

Are meant for sharing
Hold well over time
Feel celebratory without heavy service needs

Sample Menu:

Hawaiian-style teriyaki chicken or pork
Kalua-inspired shredded pork (oven or slow cooker)
Coconut rice or jasmine rice
Macaroni salad
Pineapple slaw
Fresh fruit platters
Sweet rolls or Hawaiian rolls

Why it works:

Familiar flavors for most guests
Easy bulk prep
Strong presence on a buffet
Perfect for a relaxed, vintage luau vibe 🌺

👉 This is why we’re expanding our search to Pacific Island–style grocers near Covina.

2. 🍖 Sample Southern Barbecue Menu (Rockabilly Drive-In Friendly)

Our original rockabilly drive-in concept is still very much on the table — and BBQ is a natural match for DIY execution.

Sample Menu:

Pulled pork or BBQ chicken
Baked beans
Coleslaw
Cornbread or rolls
Potato salad or mac & cheese
Pickles and classic fixings

Why it works:

Crowd-pleasing comfort food
Easy to scale
Can be prepped or picked up hot
Fits a casual, nostalgic aesthetic

👉 Seeing the menu first helps us evaluate stores realistically — not emotionally.

Grocery Store Review: Round One (Covina Area)

All stores below are being evaluated for cost per guest, ease of execution, and menu compatibility.

🛒 Costco

Best for core menu items

Costco continues to be a powerhouse for DIY weddings.

What it’s great for:

Proteins
Rice, rolls, sides
Drinks and desserts

Limitations:

Limited flavor profiles
Styling and seasoning matter

👉 Costco works best when paired with intention — not when used alone.

🛒 Smart & Final

The logistics MVP

Smart & Final shines when it comes to execution.

Best uses:

Serving supplies
Bulk staples
Supplementing Costco purchases

👉 This is where weddings quietly succeed behind the scenes.

🛒 Food 4 Less

Strong support player

Food 4 Less can be useful — with discernment.

Best for:

Produce
Pantry staples
Filling quantity gaps affordably

👉 Not glamorous — but strategic when used correctly.

Expanding the Search: Pacific Island–Style Grocers 🌴

With the possible shift toward a vintage luau, we’re actively scouting Pacific Island and Asian markets in and around Covina.

Why this matters:

Better access to marinated proteins
Culturally appropriate flavors
Foods designed for large-group dining

Upcoming visits will focus on:

Pricing per tray
Portion yields
Prep requirements
Guest familiarity vs. novelty balance

👉 This is how theme, menu, and budget start working together.

Stores We’re Intentionally Skipping

For transparency:

I personally avoid:

Sam’s Club
Walmart

That’s a values and experience choice — not a judgment. Budget planning should still feel aligned with who you are.

What Comes Next for Atomic Love Food Planning

Next steps include:

Pacific Island grocery store visits
Per-guest cost comparisons
Labor and timing analysis
Side-by-side DIY vs caterer breakdowns

Nothing is locked in yet — and that’s exactly how responsible planning looks.

👉 If you want a wedding that feels abundant and sane, Cherry Pop Events shows you how.

🎙️ Pin-Up Planner Podcast — No BS, Just Brilliance

If this article made you think,
“Finally — someone’s being honest about wedding planning,”
then you’ll love The Pin-Up Planner Podcast.

Each episode delivers:

Real budget talk
Practical planning strategies
Industry truths no one puts on Pinterest

🎧 Listen wherever you stream podcasts (OR RIGHT HERE) and join couples who want clarity, confidence, and calm — not chaos.

Cherry Pop Events