Any unique ideas on how to save money on food at a wedding reception?

Question

We need to save as much as posible.
We found the most perfect place. They are willing to work with us, since are wedding is on a Friday and because the guest list is huge (you spend the same amout of money when you pay $20 a person and there is 300, as you would paying $60/person when there is 100).

I would like ideas that are:
Fun
Unique
Retalitivly Formal

and will cost at the most $30/person... (open bar required)

Are sites typical reception is $59/person
it has: 2 entrees, 3 sides, salad or soup, bread, and 3 hours open bar.

We will not be doing outside catering.
That place is where we want it.
Since they make all their money off food, bringing our own in is not an option.

What I am asking is for ideas, that do not involve a full dinner.

For example, someone suggested Cocktail Hour. I like it but I wasnted something more unique.

Answer 1

Instead of doing dinner why don't you make it a cocktail wedding. Do heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Have a chocolate fountain, with an array of fruit, some fondue areas with veggies and so forth. It could be a fun way to get people to mingle at your wedding instead of sitting in there appointed seats.

Answer 2

There are plenty of places that will cater $25-$30/ head. Good call for hosting it on a friday too. Try some restaurants, and clubs in your area. Go with the chicken, its cheaper anyway. Or you could have someone do hors de vours for you, which wont be a sit down meal, but there would be food there.

not sure where you live - Im in Oklahoma, and I had a fabulous sit down (with chicken) for about $25/ head at a very nice establishment.

Answer 3

Ways to save without switching your venue (since you indicated that they do not allow outside catering) would be to talk with them and find out the prices for their items... find out if you can cut out items for a lesser price or limit the open bar to 2 hrs instead of 3 to reduce your costs (the average reception runs about 4 hrs.... do you really want an open bar for 3/4 of the time anyway?)

Generally, cutting costs is as easy as being choosy about the food. Choose chicken, over beef or seafood. Have a vegetarian main dish for the 2nd option (it is respectful for the guests that may be vegan as well as cutting costs). See if they will serve 2 sides instead of 3. If you have to choose between soup OR salad rather than getting both, go salad... it is more filling.

Talk with them about how to cut costs to meet your budget, if they are willing to work with you as you said then they should be able to help you with ideas.

Good Luck, If you have any more questions feel free to email me and I will do my best to assist you.

Answer 4

A lot of couples are opting for hors d'ouvres receptions, instead of full sit down dinners...that way you can pick a wide range of apps that can be passed and also have stations, like a sushi station or baked potato station, that show off your creativity. Most sites are willing to work within these contraints and can offer more creative options, since they don't have to prepare and serve a full dinner.

Answer 5

Entrees - Chicken Picata or
Filet

Sides- Rigatoni and Red Sauce or
Rice Pilaf

Salad and Garlic Bread

Answer 6

Find out if you favorite resturant caters. We used a local Italian one that we really like. http://www.bucadibeppo.com/ not sure where you are, but this is in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. I believe it was under $30 a head. They served us buffet style. We had an appetizer plate, a salad, one main course, two side dishes, bread, beverages, and waitress service. They did an excellent job. The sides we chose were sausage and a noodle casarole thing with chicken and egg plant and other good things. I heard lots of good comments. One friend said that the food was "too spicy," but then again, if you put pepperoni on her pizza, it's too spicy.

Answer 7

There are plenty of places that you can pay that for the food,but for the open bar you are going to gave to pay like $10 per head reguardless of whether they drink or not(over 21's only)

Answer 8

get the family to help make the food...or get a buffet....open bars are stupid...peaple get way to drunk...it costs to much...i saw at least 70 to 100 weddings and the best ones ...funist weddings are always the most simple weddings....i was a disc jockey ....outside at a camp ground ....very cool...i played for up to 500 people ....i played in hockey rinks...curling clubs...pot luck weddings ..imagine that 200 people....so i know what i see and the people want fun...the food is 2nd to the big party ...get good music for all ages...start with the old and end with the new...good luck...fridays are the best ...the party lasts longer....have fun thats all...

Answer 9

there is an eBook I loved called Dream Weddings On A budget (and not just because the name is the same as my blog) - the couple who wrote it planned their own wedding under $2000, and it is full of unique, affordable ideas for a amazing wedding. I just reviewed it on my blog - check it out:) Hope it helps:)

Answer 10

if your wedding is late enough say around 7pm you can have cocktail & dessert hours ... or maybe some sort of light fare since it is at night, no one wants to eat heavy ... but if theres an open bar there needs to be food ... or change the bar to a cash bar to limit peoples consumption of alcohol.