Ideas for a buffet style reception dinner?

Question

My Husband and I are having our wedding reception in 6 weeks and we need to make a buffet style dinner for about 150. My mom has given us a 500 dollar budget that has to cover food, drink, and dinnerware. We are fine with cooking the food ourselves but are looking for cheap and elegant ideas for the menu. Please let us know what you think.

Answer 1

THere is a book called "Cater you're own wedding" by Michael Flowers and Donna B.. I used it for my parents 40th wedding reception. It has awsome ideas on buffet setups and menues. Tells you how much you need of each item depending on the attendance. Do a google seach. I beleive the guy has a website. We made the chicken salad swans that he raves about and they were not bad. (They are not simple- but I wouldn't jump right to difficult.) But VERY ELEGANT!!!!
You can easily stay within $500 even w/o the book. Have food "stations" have a sandwich station with mini ham/turkey/roast beef sandwiches. Have a pasta salad station.Have a big bowl of pasta coated well with zesty italian dresing. Several bowls around it to make the salad perfect for your guests: black olives, ham chunks, bacon, chick peas, shredded cheese, raw veggies. Have a snack station: peanuts, m&ms, trailmix, mini marshmellows, etc.
You could have a "HOT" station with: mini wieners in bbq sause, meatballs, wings, etc. Final a "CAKE" station. Have a bakery make an incredible pretty and small wedding cake for show. THen have cupcakes with fun toppings to sprinkle: sprinkles, coconut, candies, etc. Drinks: just make a ton and a half of the classic punch mix: 1 bottle cranrasberry and 1 bottle white grape juice. Save your milk jugs and then fill them up with the punch and put them in the freezer. It's really yummy with some slushy to it.

Good luck and congrats.

Answer 2

I have a suggestion. I've catered many occasions and these dishes seems to go over the best and is the most cost effective. Hope it's to your liking:
Since you're doing buffet style - then maybe you should consider a themed buffet - either Mexican or Italian would work well. If you did Italian you could offer several different salads (all done in advance) - a couple of different pastas, and a few sauces such as marina, meat sauce, and a creme sauce (also all done in advance and just reheated) Add meatballs and maybe even a lasagna that was done in advance and just heated last minute - add some garlic bread or rolls and you're done. Pasta is also very cost effective for a crowd. For Mexican, rice and beans go along way, are incredibly tasty and inexpensive. Pulled pork is inexpensive and easy to make as well. Again, both can be made in advance and re-heated and salad and rolls will be great accompaniments.
Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I would do those snadwich platters that they have at the sandwich shops or some place like Costco. A lot of grocery stores have them too and have a big thing of rolls on the side. Have several different kinds of salads. Pasta salad, green salad of some sort, Chinese salad, coleslaw, or taco salad. Then I would have some veggies, dip, chips. You can also do cupcakes that have the same theme on the top as the Wedding Cake. Also chocolate dipped strawberries are good. If you knew people would like it you could do a huge pot of chili and make a Starw hat salad with all the fixins and then just have dessert and punch on the side. I love the red punch with 7up because it is cheap and yummy.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Try out kraftfoods.com they have some great recipes for crowds and melt in your mouth appetizers that are inexpensive and easy to make. If you can't find ones you like you should be able to email me and I can send you some really good ones.
Considering it is so close to the holidays I think I'd do something like brisket or pulled pork. It won't cost you a fortune and their not something you have to stay on top of, plus they go a long way.
Good luck and Congratulations

Answer 6

One word of advise...have a few meatless vegetarian friendly dishes like Baked Ziti, Green beans with almonds, carrots marsala etc. Stick to just wine and beer for alcohol.

Answer 7

ya know i did that on our wedding to
We had Roast Beef, Ham sandwiches
Pepedecini salad, Ham salad, Tuna Salad, Fruit Salad, Jello salad ,mints and peanuts
Fruit punch, and wedding cake
Every one loved it. It filled everyone up.
If you need recipes email me and i can get you the recipes for the food.....

Answer 8

penne a la vodka; seafood dishes, especially shrimp and/or salmon

Answer 9

Banana Pudding. I know how 2 make it i a great chef.

Answer 10

punch cake mint