Have a look at Fall and winter are the seasons that you want warm, comfort food, It also looks equally fancy. The whole concept for this wedding meal is that of a homey winter dinner shared among family and friends, with platters passed at the tables. Instead of a formal, sit-down dinner service, break out heavy apps during the cocktail hour and keep them flowing until toast time. Use artistic presentations and complex sauces and dressings to keep things interesting. Early in our wedding planning marathon, my now-wife made a rather novel menu suggestion. That includes: If you plan to use a catering service, ask for a youth discount. Creamy clam chowder or savory tomato bisque paired with airy crostini is far cheaper per serving than seafood ceviche or caprese salad. Assuming the owner doesnt have acres of lawn space for guests to spread out, hosting at a private home probably necessitates a smaller guest list too. Traditional cocktails, which may contain two or three 1-ounce liquor servings, are particularly pricey. Simply call the venues youre considering and ask whether they allow outside food. Compensate for the lack of choice by dressing up the drink by: Martha Stewart and Brides magazine have some tantalizing signature cocktail ideas, including low-alcohol options. If you plan to offer self-serve cocktails, be generous with nonalcoholic mixers. And retro foods are the fashion food in these economic times, just do MyRecipes has an article on less expensive beef substitutions, for example. have cold chicken or a poached salmon. Those who partake will probably eat less during the official appetizer round, keeping your weddings food costs in check. vegetarians) or Venison and red wine casserole if you can afford to push The signature mocktail is an alcohol-free twist on the featured cocktail idea. for about 300 people. Think of this as a creative alternative to heavy app-only dinners. Visually attractive appetizer ingredients are often cheaper than drab fancy alternatives. be able to bulk out the food by buying extras. 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. Additionally, forgoing alcohol ensures guests leave early, which is ideal for daytime weddings at venues booked for a night session. But the same guidelines apply. 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). them with a twist! fun and your wedding cake will also be a good dessert. For your meat option, opt for poultry instead of hoofed proteins. the budget slightly (Venison can be cheaper than Beef). Bulk discounts are especially common for wine 10% to 15% off orders of six bottles or more is standard. Get inspired with vegetarian wedding menu guides from Bon Appetit, The Knot, and WeddingWire. One wedding thats always stuck with me kept the apps going right up until they served a small single-course dinner that was far less memorable than the app round. Even after accounting for corkage fees, buying alcohol in bulk at your local liquor outlet dramatically reduces your bill. Most animal protein is expensive, particularly the fancy types and cuts wedding caterers push, such as filet mignon, prime rib, lamb, and sea bass. Popular ideas include: If you go the build-your-own route, set up at least two double-sided stations to allow up to four guests to serve themselves the same ingredient at once to reduce bottlenecks. Even after implementing every cost-cutting strategy that makes sense for your special day, food and drink costs are sure to account for a significant share of your wedding reception budget. knows that the men have to take control when it comes to the cooking of Guests who want to keep the party going can organize their own after-party. You may need to negotiate buybacks individually since retailers dont always advertise them. something to eat! 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. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. Make it worth their while by assuring them the venue more than suffices as their gift. You don't want to lose it. Once you find a caterer that charges less for kids, use that deal as leverage to elicit similar concessions from other providers youre considering. 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. 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. I always think that, by far, the most important aspect of throwing a big event is choosing the right venue. To get the idea to your guests it is a good to mention it to a few of 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? wedding and no one wants their guests to leave early looking for Guests who use up their tickets can still pay by the drink or use the tickets of nondrinkers. Use these dessert food ideas to cut the cost of after-dinner sweets and cake service at your wedding. The most important thing you can do to reduce the cost of your reception dinner doesnt require much effort. Well, its this weekend, and its fast approaching, so I finally nailed down the details. Theyre also needlessly expensive. 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. If you have a close friend or relative with enough space, ask them to host the reception (and possibly the ceremony, depending on your preferences). Limit the guest list to close friends and family members and keep the food simple think a barbecue potluck and coolers with canned drinks. tomatoes. You have it. (Image: My friend Michelle, from my own wedding). Faith is the Editor-in-Chief of Kitchn, and the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook. Of course, your reception doesnt have to be completely dry. cheaper cuts of meat and slow cooking them with onions, herbs and You dont need an encyclopedic knowledge of ingredient pricing or availability. In lieu of gifts, tap a few intrepid guests or acquaintances you might otherwise leave off your guest list to tend bar. For state-specific guidelines, contact your states alcohol control authority, which you can find on the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau website. Pound for pound, it was also one of the most cost-effective. The surest way to reduce your total food and drink bill is to cap your guest list, even if it means making some tough choices about who to leave out of your big day. 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. Make the most of cost-effective, colorful app options by: Follow these tips to cut the cost of your wedding receptions dinner service. dessert that could be all your guests will need. And for basic options like pizza, Tex-Mex, and sandwiches, your final cost should be well under $10 per person. No matter where you shop for wedding alcohol, look for advertised bulk discounts. Besides, when push comes to shove, how many guests are going to turn down free pizza? Forgo the kitchen altogether with a selection of relatively low-cost store-bought apps, like crudites trays, pita and hummus, and cheese plates sans exotic or fancy cheeses, which quickly add up. local caterers have and they can often be very inflexible, plus fairly If youre apprehensive about sending out an open call for dessert contributions, you can ask each member of your wedding party to supply a dessert. They can help you limit what you spend on food and drink for your guests with minimal impact on how you experience your big day. But smaller portion sizes and slower pacing may justify these drawbacks. Another option is to have a dessert and candy table for your guests, which doubles as your favors too. Skip pricey caterers, and bulk-order takeout from your favorite local restaurant. Traditional dinner service is boring. Remember to: Ive been to plenty of weddings with partial open bars. In your wedding invitations and on your wedding website, invite guests to sign up to contribute homemade or store-bought apps of their choice. Kids discounts are also a valuable negotiating point. The idea was to get guests full enough that they wouldnt care about the skimpy dinner (I certainly didnt). 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. start would be a picnic wedding celebration. 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. 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. Instead, put out nonalcoholic beverages between the ceremony and dinner. glamorous enough for a wedding remember it is all in the description! Examples include Gimme Some Ovens, Arrange apps in recyclable spirits or wine glasses or Champagne flutes rather than on disposable plates. Then the wedding party will go off to take pictures, family members will put up their feet for a couple hours at the hotel, and after that everyone will come back to the church for dinner. You pay for anything you drink after that. Type up cards to label dishes and origins, especially for unique or locally sourced ingredients, such as cheese. Cheap buffets emphasize filling, low-cost sides, such as: Limit protein choice to a few reasonably priced meat and vegetable protein options, such as: Elevate your buffet service by setting out straightforward themed serving stations with one or two offerings. I recently mentioned that Im catering my brothers wedding, a homey winter meal for about 120 people. Heres what Im planning. to let you know what they are able to bring and then that way you will They include practical changes to how you purchase and serve drinks as well as creative ideas that engage and entertain your guests without breaking the bank. Get our best recipes, grocery finds, and clever kitchen tips delivered to your inbox. If guests want to turn things up after your reception, they can always host an after-party and supply their own booze. My weddings total alcohol cost came in just shy of $1,000, about $7 per guest, the price of a single open bar drink. We strive to write accurate and genuine reviews and articles, and all views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors. Most full-service wedding venues require you to pay by the drink, not by the bottle or case. Theres no need to draw out cocktail hour if you can get wedding photos out of the way before guests arrive. In the meantime, provide dispensers filled with nonalcoholic beverages, like sweet and unsweet tea or water spiked with citrus, cucumbers, or berries. 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. Make your wedding Reach him on Twitter, Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an, 37 Best Ways to Make Money from Home (Legitimate), 25 Best New Bank Account Promotions & Offers - August 2022, 11 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards - August 2022, 17 Best New Brokerage Account Promotions & Bonus Offers August 2022, 8 Best Stocks to Buy Right Now (August 2022) - Investment Ideas, 11 Best Stock Picking Services of August 2022, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau website, Tips to Reduce Overall Wedding Reception Food and Drink Costs, Tips to Reduce Wedding Reception Cocktail Hour Costs, Tips to Reduce Wedding Reception Appetizer Costs, Tips to Reduce Wedding Reception Dinner Costs, Tips to Reduce Wedding Reception Bar Service Costs, How to Save Money on a Wedding - Top 10 Ways, California cuisine (think grilled cheese and avocado sandwiches, grilled fish or chicken, and green salads), Whole game (our weddings pit-roasted hog was insanely cheap per guest and gave us frozen leftovers for months), Compostable or recyclable cups and glasses, Tapping a keg from your favorite local brewery or cidery, Handing out recyclable Champagne flutes and breaking open the, Offering your venues house wine or purchasing your own lower-shelf red or white in bulk (see our, Premix a signature cocktail, such as your joint favorite or one that matches your weddings color scheme, Checking with the venue beforehand to confirm it allows outside food, Using a spreadsheet to organize contributions, Capping total contributions at a number youre comfortable managing (you may need to field questions from contributors in advance and accept their submissions on the day of the wedding), Specifying serving count in advance (most guests wont be able to cook for 150 or 200 guests, but 25 contributors making 25 servings each means more than enough to go around), Asking guests to disclose serious food allergies in advance, Specifying any universal dietary restrictions (for instance, if youre having an all-vegetarian wedding or hosting guests with life-threatening food allergies), Following applicable safe-serving regulations (in some jurisdictions, you may need to prep food on-site), Put colorful fresh veggies on skewers for maximum visual impact, and tap guests to help if you need extra labor. some flasks for tea. You might not have to pay to serve your own beer at all, though you should check with the venue to confirm. Warming hot desserts would be a perfect end to your cosy winter wedding! the foods that would be in season for when you are getting married. You may even need to purchase and prepare some menu elements yourself with the help of guests or the wedding party. Daytime wedding guests also tend to welcome lighter, simpler fare like tea or club sandwiches, basic grillables (hot dogs and burgers), or even snack foods (chips and salsa). So I have a substantial amount of time in the middle of the day to finish off the meal. Its a sensible, visually engaging way to split guests who prefer chicken or pulled pork and those seeking grilled tofu or eggplant, reducing congestion. But why spring for a fancy and costly three-tiered cake when most of your guests would be happy with sheet cake anyway? You can reduce labor costs for dinner prep, plating, and service by serving family-style meals. help. Swap these pricey proteins for hearty vegetables and plant-based proteins like tofu, seitan, portobello mushroom, eggplant, and cauliflower. If you can crowdsource elaborate appetizers, you can surely crowdsource desserts. 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. But ensure your arrangement complies with local regulations. Engage your guests and cut down on ingredient costs with a build-your-own meal bar thats heavy on low-cost sides. way to show these off than by making a beautiful in season vegetable Hit the superstore the morning of your wedding for an assortment of crowd-favorite sweets to lay out buffet-style. The more you know about the costs of ingredients and finished dishes, the better you can negotiate menu pricing or swap costly components for cheaper ones. 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. reception a retro chic celebration. You can even throw in your leftover Halloween candy. You want every guest to have easy access to every station and to avoid bottlenecks as much as possible. Many are likely to moderate their drinking as the reception goes on, anyway. Summer is the most popular time to get married and with a better guarantee on the weather it is not surprising. But dont pay menu prices without negotiating first. A pumpkin centerpiece can look classy for a fall wedding and they are a really cheap decoration. are the true traditional wedding reception. 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. Many restaurants are willing to charge less to move perishable product. meats and cheeses, summer fruits and don' t forget the wedding cake! When all else fails, exercise portion control. The latest styles at great prices. If you feel you would like to serve more food then lamb and chicken If you serve less food overall, you spend less on ingredients. 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. If its legal or the property owner is willing to assume liability, do away with bartenders and allow guests to help themselves. 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. Hopefully, whoevers giving the toast is saying something so interesting no one will notice the lack of bubbly. Meat is expensive so look at buying If your wedding is small enough and their love for you runs deep, they might help prepare and serve your food and drink too. bulk up your barbeque with burgers and also vegetable kebabs. Then set the stage for a respectable cocktail hour by doing any of the following: These are only examples. Traditional wedding cakes are overrated. You stretch your supply that way and encourage guests to nurse their drinks a significant consideration for outdoor weddings in hot weather. 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. Add a reasonably priced cake topper if youd like. The wedding ceremony is early in the day, and it will be followed immediately by a cake and punch reception (which I have nothing to do with, thank goodness!) The church is providing tables, chairs, table linens, dishes, flatware, and glassware. in your wedding colors and then have paper plates and paper napkins on a Compared with a take-it-or-leave-it main course, a six- or eight-course tasting menu means greater logistical complexity and higher prep costs. 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. The hosts had a veritable cornucopia of soft drink options without resorting to craft seltzers, sodas, or shrubs. A consistent theme boosts the appeal of an otherwise basic or boring menu. How will the food be cooked in such quantities, and be presented hot and on time? Do You Have Any Advice for Catering My Own Wedding. For instance, well-marinated flank steak or sirloin tips are nearly as tasty as your basic filet mignon at a fraction of the cost. The chicken and beans will come out on platters and bowls to about 15 tables, and people can pass and serve themselves. Id love to throw in a third pre-dinner snack ideally something with a different texture than the crackers and almonds. Learn how to keep it safe. All Rights Reserved. }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; }. One way to avoid these choices is to skip a reception on the day of your wedding. I have about $650 to spend on the food itself, not including the serving dishes, paper products, and other peripheral things. OK, ready for the menu? You can still have beer and wine for those uninterested in your mocktail. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Or print them in your wedding program to save the trouble of physically distributing them. Setting up a simple country buffet rather than a more elaborate meal was the linchpin of our relentless drive to reduce wedding costs. Asking a couple of guests to slice and plate your cake achieves the same result at a much lower cost. have everything ready before the reception then it would be better to And I wish I would have the time and space to do a second vegetable, something cooked. with fresh herbs would be prefect. These ideas include solutions you can apply at nearly any wedding along with a novel idea or two that could come in handy at yours. Tomorrow Ill share the plan for actually executing and getting it all done! where you won't need anyone to plate up the dishes, a downside is that Its likely servers must be at least 18 years of age and may need a food safety certification. Cold meat platters and salads - if you are catering your wedding you can pick up platters quite cheaply at places like Costco. High-end venues in big cities charge a pretty penny for corkage anywhere from $10 to $40. Sign up to this month's Cheap Wedding Newsletter, Copyright2007-2022 www.cheap-wedding-solutions.com, | Contact| About | Affiliate Disclosure| Privacy Policy | Site Map, Plan the perfect cheap wedding with 100s of articles, tips and ideas, Keep Up To Date With All The Latest Wedding Savings, Cheap Pumpkin Centerpiece Ideas For Your Fall Wedding, Bowls of olives (think dollar store), cheese and cold meats on a platter at each table, Many couples choose not to have appetizers and have bowls of pretzels, chips and nuts (be careful of allergies), Pasta with a variety of sauces for your guests to choose, plus salad and bread, Pizza - nearly everyone loves pizza served with salad. Its common for couples to commission a special wedding cake to cut in front of guests. So of course the next question is how will I get all this done? Your BYOB cocktail hour can look however you want it to look. Simple, mix-based desserts are cheaper than scratch-made, protein-rich appetizers too. Ive also never felt better leaving a wedding or the next morning. 1920s wedding dresses are glamorous, here is where to find original and vintage inspired gowns at affordale prices. Barbeques are also a great relaxed summer wedding reception, everyone