One of the easiest ways to cut back is to reduce the total cost of the stretch between the end of the ceremony and the official start of the reception. reception, cocktails and canapes, a brunch, and an afternoon tea are all great reception menu ideas. Theyre also needlessly expensive. My brother and his fianc are getting married at a local church, one which much of our family attends. meats and cheeses, summer fruits and don' t forget the wedding cake! But smaller portion sizes and slower pacing may justify these drawbacks. Why not crowdsource your appetizer options? She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters. If you have a say in the matter and for this and other reasons, its wise to avoid venues that deny you one opt for eco-friendly, single-use serving ware. Most animal protein is expensive, particularly the fancy types and cuts wedding caterers push, such as filet mignon, prime rib, lamb, and sea bass. Limit the guest list to close friends and family members and keep the food simple think a barbecue potluck and coolers with canned drinks. The soup and crusty bread menu from the Spring menu ideas would also Dishes that work well for family-style service also happen to be cost-effective, such as: If youre set on traditional dinner service, limit the menu choices to two: one vegetarian or vegan option (ideally vegan to ensure all guests can partake) and a low-cost meat option. Try these tricks to elevate your off-the-shelf offerings: Although passing apps having servers walk through the crowd offering individual appetizers to guests invariably reduces consumption compared with buffet-style apps, its not necessarily cost-effective. casseroles and stews are great for this and although they don't sound for about 300 people. Help to find your gorgeous and cheap wedding dresses for 2021. The hosts had a veritable cornucopia of soft drink options without resorting to craft seltzers, sodas, or shrubs. So I have a substantial amount of time in the middle of the day to finish off the meal. Ditch the pomp and go with sheet cakes for all. (Think shrimp cocktail, bacon-wrapped scallops, warm goat cheese and beet sliders, and miniature savory pies.). If youre not sold on a BYOB cocktail hour, keep things simple and offer just one drink between the ceremony and reception start time. Guests who use up their tickets can still pay by the drink or use the tickets of nondrinkers. Just make it clear on your wedding invitation or website that you wont be serving alcohol during cocktail hour. Alternatively, limit consumption during open bar hours by handing out tickets, either purchased from Amazon or printed on your home computer. No matter where you shop for wedding alcohol, look for advertised bulk discounts. Thats the subject of tomorrows post: The Plan! Then set the stage for a respectable cocktail hour by doing any of the following: These are only examples. The most important thing you can do to reduce the cost of your reception dinner doesnt require much effort. But dont pay menu prices without negotiating first. Toast with whatever you and your guests are already drinking instead. fun and your wedding cake will also be a good dessert. Learn how to keep it safe. Traditional cocktails, which may contain two or three 1-ounce liquor servings, are particularly pricey. Dishes like Greek Lamb Kleftico or slow cooked lemon chicken Wedding Spot has plenty of daytime wedding food ideas. Many caterers cut kids under 12 a break. You can even throw in your leftover Halloween candy. Of course, your reception doesnt have to be completely dry. Traditional dinner service is boring. Simple, mix-based desserts are cheaper than scratch-made, protein-rich appetizers too. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Serve with roasted vegetables and couscous. If you dont have a warehouse store membership, shop at a liquor superstore like Total Wine & More, where prices are likely lower than at independent shops. Note that a local-food-only requirement can affect your choice of caterer. Steer clear of cake altogether. You have probably already started to look at the wedding menus that Thats crucial if youre building your own menu rather than choosing from a preset menu. good idea to have someone serving the main dish - the salmon or chicken Remember to: Ive been to plenty of weddings with partial open bars. your guests, there are bound to be lots of people that will be happy to the foods that would be in season for when you are getting married. As long as its not sweltering outside, offer a hearty soup option to fill guests up before dinner. Another option is to have a dessert and candy table for your guests, which doubles as your favors too. Early in our wedding planning marathon, my now-wife made a rather novel menu suggestion. If the entire wedding party is available the night before the wedding, you can host a cooking marathon in a low-cost commercial kitchen near the venue. We may have financial relationships with some of the companies mentioned on this website. Summer brings memories of picnics and trips to the beach, so a great These tips could reduce the cost of appetizer service at your wedding reception, whether youre passing out hors doeuvres during cocktail hour or waiting until guests take their seats for dinner. Make it worth their while by assuring them the venue more than suffices as their gift. Pound for pound, it was also one of the most cost-effective. If skipping dinner is too bold for you, you can still save by skipping the meat. Spring is the time for fresh new vegetables and what better and easier Kids discounts are also a valuable negotiating point. Unless your cocktail list is complex, you dont need certified mixologists to mix drinks, let alone crack open a beer or pour a glass of wine. For example, you can serve crudites in a cup with the dressing already in it like they did on. bulk up your barbeque with burgers and also vegetable kebabs. Practical Advice for Self-Catering Your Wedding, Catering Your Own Wedding: A Step-by-Step Guide. For example, you can reduce your receptions music costs, settle on a low-cost centerpiece alternative, and get creative with your wedding flower arrangements. that doesn't mean the two of you up all night cooking and then serving The latest styles at great prices. It helped that we chose a venue that didnt charge corkage fees. For instance, well-marinated flank steak or sirloin tips are nearly as tasty as your basic filet mignon at a fraction of the cost. You can reduce labor costs for dinner prep, plating, and service by serving family-style meals. Hit the superstore the morning of your wedding for an assortment of crowd-favorite sweets to lay out buffet-style. You want your wedding food to be yummy and easy, you need menu ideas that will let the conversation flow and that is just right. MyRecipes has an article on less expensive beef substitutions, for example. As long as you clearly communicate your open bar policies, your guests should play ball. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. Limiting the choices reduces prep and plating costs as well as the likelihood of service errors. Practical Advice for Self-Catering Your Wedding Catering Your Own Wedding: A Step-by-Step Guide Do You Have Any Advice for Catering My Own Wedding? Instead of multiple themed self-serve food stations or a traditional sit-down service, why not offer guests a pit-roasted hog with sides like roasted green beans, mac and cheese, and coleslaw? Have Even easier might be a buffet Instead, put out nonalcoholic beverages between the ceremony and dinner. Many restaurants are willing to charge less to move perishable product. Chicken dishes will be the cheapest meat option on set wedding menus and are the most popular choice at every venue I have worked at. If you think about it, its odd to compel guests still finishing their cocktail hour drinks to double up so early in the night by serving wine with dinner. I am not sure yet how well I will stick to this budget; I am planning on kicking in a little of my own money as a gift to my brother. It has a large refrigerator and floor-to-ceiling freezer. They include tips to streamline dessert service without sacrificing quality or creativity and more DIY-friendly options that take advantage of your guests baking skills (and sweet tooths). If you can eliminate one of the 10 cakes you planned by reducing cake slice size by 10%, you reduce your total cake ingredient costs by 10%. cheaper cuts of meat and slow cooking them with onions, herbs and You stretch your supply that way and encourage guests to nurse their drinks a significant consideration for outdoor weddings in hot weather. with the type of wedding reception you have; a champagne and cake When he's not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Visually attractive appetizer ingredients are often cheaper than drab fancy alternatives. knows that the men have to take control when it comes to the cooking of Finally, if you dont expect to be able to use excess bulk booze at your after-party, choose a retailer with a buyback policy, a commitment to repurchase or credit unused, unopened bottles or kegs. How will the food be cooked in such quantities, and be presented hot and on time? But you dont want your guests to think youre phoning in the appetizer round. Swap these pricey proteins for hearty vegetables and plant-based proteins like tofu, seitan, portobello mushroom, eggplant, and cauliflower. Or print them in your wedding program to save the trouble of physically distributing them. Many are likely to moderate their drinking as the reception goes on, anyway. All Rights Reserved. Dont break out the heavier reception menu fare like pigs in blankets or meatballs until guests are in the room where you plan to serve dinner. where you won't need anyone to plate up the dishes, a downside is that You might not have to pay to serve your own beer at all, though you should check with the venue to confirm. If you plan to offer self-serve cocktails, be generous with nonalcoholic mixers. that you are catering for the kind of numbers that will be at your But ensure your arrangement complies with local regulations. Cater to guests diverse tastes by choosing a range of flavors, such as vanilla (white or yellow), chocolate, and carrot, and icing and filling types, like chocolate icing, vanilla icing, and fruit filling. tomatoes. Instead, host a smaller celebration (dont even call it a reception) days or weeks after your ceremony, perhaps at your house or in a neighborhood park. Traditional wedding cakes are overrated. Skip costly add-ons, which tend to be upselling opportunities for wedding venues, not true value-adds for knot-tying couples. And I wish I would have the time and space to do a second vegetable, something cooked. If you decide to go that route, note that there may be some hoops you have to jump through and tasks you need to handle, such as: A more manageable twist on the crowdsourcing theme requires asking each member of your wedding party to make their favorite app (or an app you assign) for the reception in lieu of gifts. If you can find a venue that offers bulk pricing to parties pouring venue-supplied drinks, jump on that deal. local caterers have and they can often be very inflexible, plus fairly Ice creams in a cone add a touch of Giving them prominent placement on buffet tables or stations for instance, on the ends where guests are likely to see them first, Slimming down low-color options portion sizes, Replacing costlier ingredients with colorful, cost-effective alternatives, such as swapping Manchego cheese for sharp cheddar, Tuna tartare cups (mixing in diced fresh veggies to add volume without adding fish), Mac and cheese, perhaps with an animal protein for added bulk, Full-strength macrobrew beers (like Budweiser and Coors), Light macrobrew beers (like Bud Light and Miller Lite), Multiple craft beer styles (such as Pilsners, IPAs, stouts, and ambers), Multiple cider styles, ranging from dry to sweet, Skip open punch bowls, which can get knocked over by rowdy guests or rambunctious kids, Anchor dispensers to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic spills, Separate drinks by type to allow multiple people to serve themselves at once, Use beer kegs instead of cans or bottles, which guests may take longer to choose and open, Giving it a compelling story, such as a booze-free couples favorite or a fond memory of the day you first met, Giving it a big, bold flavor citrus notes work well in warm weather, while warm spices are better when its cold, Adding textural elements, such as shaved ice, Printing up recipe cards for attendees interested in replicating it at home, Giving it a story (for instance, why its your households favorite cocktail), Reducing its alcohol content to make it palatable and drinkable for liquor-averse guests, Give 15 minutes notice at cocktail hour that the bar will be closing, Clearly announce that the bar will remain closed during dinner, Open the bar 15 minutes or so before toast time to give guests ample time to get new drinks to toast. So of course the next question is how will I get all this done? vegetarians) or Venison and red wine casserole if you can afford to push help. Type up cards to label dishes and origins, especially for unique or locally sourced ingredients, such as cheese. Joking aside, the budget is small but also, I think, similar to the kind of budget many people have when theyre doing their own wedding catering. to let you know what they are able to bring and then that way you will Chicken is cheaper than beef, lamb, or pork. White wine or hard seltzer is a safer choice since many drinkers avoid beer or hard liquor (and some prefer not to knock back cocktails before dinner anyway). The chicken and beans will come out on platters and bowls to about 15 tables, and people can pass and serve themselves. For a more formal summer menu then look at a salad starter, followed by If you do want to have a caterer then you need to be creative You're saving it. In lieu of gifts, tap a few intrepid guests or acquaintances you might otherwise leave off your guest list to tend bar. @media (max-width: 1200px) { Tiny. If you decide to forgo dinner altogether, your soup option could be the centerpiece of a lighter food service that stretches into the window when dinner would typically occur. If you dont want to forgo a special cake for yourself and your wedding party, purchase a small, off-the-shelf layer cake (6 or 8 inches should do). }body .novashare-buttons.novashare-inline .novashare-button-icon { width: 100%; }.novashare-inline .novashare-button .novashare-button-block { background: #000000; }.novashare-inline .novashare-button .novashare-border { border-color: #000000; }.novashare-inline .novashare-button .novashare-inverse { color: #000000; }. start would be a picnic wedding celebration. Warming hot desserts would be a perfect end to your cosy winter wedding! By doing away with cocktail hour and cutting off the dance music an hour or two after dinner, you can shave several hours off the run time, reducing venue costs and drink consumption in the process. Make the most of cost-effective, colorful app options by: Follow these tips to cut the cost of your wedding receptions dinner service. When all else fails, exercise portion control. Its always hard to know exactly what will be spent on groceries ahead of time, but this is the planned budget so far. I always think that, by far, the most important aspect of throwing a big event is choosing the right venue. Ideas to provide a single drink on the cheap include: Your guests tastes wont be uniform, so dont agonize about choosing a drink that pleases everyone. But it can help to have a general sense of the cost of various types of vegetables, meats and fish, and common sides. Light beer and house wine generally cost less per serving than the sort of mid-shelf liquor you wouldnt be embarrassed to serve your guests. Faith is the Editor-in-Chief of Kitchn, and the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook. High-end venues in big cities charge a pretty penny for corkage anywhere from $10 to $40. For example, you could serve: If youre not prepared to break with tradition quite so dramatically, try a hybrid app-and-dinner strategy. Green bean casserole, Ham and Sweet Potato Casserole, Mixed Bean (Image: My friend Michelle, from my own wedding). seafood or a chicken dish and then summer fruit desserts. The church is providing tables, chairs, table linens, dishes, flatware, and glassware. Instead, break the mold, and let your guest finish their cocktails or enjoy their meals with a glass of water or tea. reception a retro chic celebration. Most full-service wedding venues require you to pay by the drink, not by the bottle or case. Thats especially true if you live in a place with celebrated local pizzerias, like New York City or Chicago. I recently mentioned that Im catering my brothers wedding, a homey winter meal for about 120 people. At cocktail hour, whet their appetites with a variety of bar snacks, such as nuts, pretzels, and dried fruit. To get the idea to your guests it is a good to mention it to a few of But I dont think it will be practical. While we do our best to keep these updated, numbers stated on this site may differ from actual numbers. Heres a look at what Im planning, with a menu and the setup. Casserole (a cheap filling dish even if you don't have lots of For instance, fried chicken, fried okra, and macaroni and cheese are a lot more appealing as part of a Southern-themed menu than as an apparent afterthought at the end of a long buffet table. Hopefully, whoevers giving the toast is saying something so interesting no one will notice the lack of bubbly. Instead of a formal, sit-down dinner service, break out heavy apps during the cocktail hour and keep them flowing until toast time. Meat is expensive so soup, you could serve these with big chunks of crusty bread and with a dessert that could be all your guests will need. As memorable as your first wedding toast should be, its simply not worth the cost. A stack of takeout pizza boxes on the wedding buffet may not be the most elegant visual, but its cost-effective. Thanks to a couple of supplemental kegs of our friends signature homebrew, we had more than enough left over for an impromptu after-party at a nearby campsite. Those who partake will probably eat less during the official appetizer round, keeping your weddings food costs in check. Ive also never felt better leaving a wedding or the next morning. Remember to do your research so you can counter your caterers suggestions with cheaper alternatives. By simplifying or doing away with other aspects of your wedding reception, you can further downsize your wedding budget without adversely impacting the guest experience. Fall and winter are the seasons that you want warm, comfort food, It also looks equally fancy. My weddings total alcohol cost came in just shy of $1,000, about $7 per guest, the price of a single open bar drink. You have to pay those servers, and passed apps tend to be pricier since theyre made from more expensive ingredients and require more prep. Get everyone to bring a blanket or buy them cheap are delicious and you could have then cooking for a few hours before. If you or someone you know has a membership with a warehouse store like Costco or Sams Club, shop there if you can. Have a look at A pumpkin centerpiece can look classy for a fall wedding and they are a really cheap decoration. Since local producers dont always enjoy the same scale as industrial food producers, pricing isnt guaranteed to work in your favor, but it can pay to check it out. Use these dessert food ideas to cut the cost of after-dinner sweets and cake service at your wedding.
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