Reception food on a low budget?

Question

My friend is getting married in october and wants to have a nice reception but money is tight.Any menu ideas or good recipes we could use?

Answer 1

Make your own sandwiches. Fancy bread(better than just old sandwhich bread), meats, cheese, lettuce, mustard.....

Add for sides:
-pasta salad
-veggie tray
-rolls
-chips

Answer 2

What time of day?

If it's at a non-meal time, either do heavy appetizers from Costco/Sam's (those can also be served as dinner on a budget since they are very hearty) or do a dessert reception with their favorite fall (and non-fall) desserts.

If it's during a meal time, you can do one of two things. If someone is up to cooking and doesn't mind not being able to enjoy the wedding as a regular guest would, do a pasta bar. They're ridiculously cheap and easy to fix and they're very filling. Nearly everyone loves pasta. Just add Caesar salad and garlic bread and you're set to go.

The other option is to have their favorite local restaurant cater. Most places are more than happy to do this and will only cost a fraction of the price as a regular caterer and you get just as much if not more stuff. Boston Market if there's one in the area is great for this as well and they serve homecooking.

Answer 3

I wouldn't go as far as to do a potluck or cold cuts (but then again, it is her affair). Instead of a sit down dinner, try an h'ors doeurve or tapas reception. Hire family/friends to pass the trays, or set up a display table, possibly with a vegetable crudite or fruit plates, too. That will be a nice reception.

Answer 4

Well as a matter of fact, I'm planning a low budget wedding and I came up with a taco bar. It's not that expensive and everyone like taco's. Also go to a Gordon's or a store that supplies to restaurants and you'll save money than going to a regular grocery store. I have about 150+ people attending my wedding and I figured out about $350 for all of the food.

Answer 5

Get takeout from a local restaurant. You can get pans of ziti or lasagna from the local restaurant for really cheap. Otherwise, you can save a ton of money by having a cake and punch reception or just a light lunch. My roommate had tea sandwiches that her aunt made, cheese and crackers, and fruit.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Make it a buffet. Asl close friends and relative to help. You can set up a long table at your reception and have it filled with appetizers and meals. Ideas include meatballs, hamburgers, tacos, mac n cheese, finger sandwiches, chips n dip, veggie trays are always a parrty hit!

Answer 7

What time of day?

If the ceremony and reception is at a non-meal time of day, it is pefectly legit to have a non-meal reception (of course, your invitations will have to mention this so people know to expect light refreshments instead of a meal). Just cake and punch, or just cheese and crackers, or just dessert and champagne, or just a fruit salad topped with sherbet, or just cocoa and cookies...

Answer 8

First of all, you want to present food that guests will actually eat. Select a group of friends and family that might be willing to make dishes for the reception.
Sally brings this...
John brings this...
Mary brings this....

You have a table of food that's really bbq style, but the stuff gets EATEN!! Who wants to look at a table of food that is unknown to them?
Beans, hot dogs, steaks, roast beef, tacos, puddings, jellos, salads, etc....and these are dishes that anyone can make.

Answer 9

Who says you have to provide a meal? You could do a dessert reception. I have been to 2 weddings that did this. They had wedding cake, fruit salad/fruit platters and cookie trays. One had slices of fruit breads (date , cranberry) with cream cheese spreads. Both were very well received. they were afternoon weddings.

Answer 10

One thing alot of people don't remember is that not all receptions need to have a fancy dinner. You can just have appetizers, or just desserts... Keeping it simple lets you keep quality high and costs low.

Answer 11

Consomme to start, marinaded beef casserole with puree potatoes, matchstick carrots, mange tout and runner beans for the main course then Lemon and lime cheesecake for dessert.