Is it less expensive to have buffet style serving rather than a sit-down serving at your wedding reception?

Question

I've been looking at prices for catering a wedding and prices are very high to me. Is it cheaper to serve your food buffet-style at your reception? Are there any other money-saving alternatives?

Answer 1

Usually, buffets are less expensive. Good luck and congratulations on your pending nuptials!

Answer 2

Sometimes. If you want the real variety than a Buffet is a good idea. However, price wise, a 3 course plated dinner comes in at a couple of dollars cheaper than a buffet for the most part. Caterers realize that the food cost is less manageable on a buffet so they charge a little bit more for it. However, if you are not hiring a caterer to provide the food, it might come in a bit more cheaper, especially if you're just ordering platters of food from the local supermarket. Depending on what time of day your ceremony and your reception are kind of dictates what kinds of food and amounts you would serve. If it is a dinner reception, have a couple of hot dishes, maybe a roast being carved, salads, veggie platters, cheese platters and then maybe desserts. If you have anyone in your family who is particularly talented in the kitchen, or in baking, then maybe ask them to help out with providing some food. If you have a talented baker, you might be able to do a dessert buffet at a reasonable price.

Answer 3

I've been noticing that buffet style is more expensive because the amount of food is not controlled as it would be w/ a sit-down style. Some of the money-saving ideas that I have found would be to get married on a Friday or Sunday. Some places offer discounts on days that are less popular. Or if the reception site will allow it, outside catering is usually less expensive.

Answer 4

OK food help!!!

Some buffets in the long run are cheaper than the traditional sit down dinner. You can save on meals like this:

Cut back the amount of meats you have. Such as it is cheaper to serve a baked chicken meal versus a baked chicken and roast beef. Also, it depends on the meats. It is obviously cheaper serving chicken than most anything else, and lobster or fancier type meals are more expensive. Rule of thumb is the longer it takes to make- the more expensive it is.

If you plan on having children attend, check on childrens pricing. There is no reason why a child should be paying an adult price for anything, including a buffet. If they say tey dont have it, ask them why, stand your ground and require they give you that pricing, or at least offer childrens courses (such as hamburger/cheeseburger plates). I did that and will be saving about 100 bucks!

Not sure how formal an event yours will be, but you can have a brunch menu if the wedding is earlier in the day. You can have a hors dourves (sp?) reception, BBQ reception, or anything. It really is up to you and just how formal you want your event. Talk to your caterer, see what they suggest in terms of what wouldbe a good cost saving menu.

Check on the possibility of you providing the caterer with food to cook- so you can run to the wholesaler and get the meats for cheaper, and you would only have to pay the caterer for time and prep.

Check on the possibility of gettig a plate cost reduction if you have over a certain amount of guests. Some caterers will drop the price of plates if you have a certain amount of guests. Like the place i am using (i will use a basic chicken meal as example) will charge $7.75 per plate for over 100 guests, 8.75 for 50-99 guests, 9.75 for under 50. So the savings can add up.

Time of day matters! Since many receptions have alcohol, the earlier in the day it is, the less chance of using majority of your budget on alcohol. No one really likes to be drunk during the day or even mid day.

Bring your own cake (use sheet cakes), cut it yourself. Check on corking fees if you bring your own alcohol.

Above all else- DOUBLE CHECK YOUR GUEST LIST at elast one week before hand to give to the caterer. If you are having a buffet- they will have more than enough food for guests, even if they want seconds.

Sit down dinners are more formal....

Answer 5

If you already have a reception location then catering buffet style should be cheaper because the caterer will be able to use less staff.

If you don't have a reception location you might be able to save money by having the reception at a location that caters. I used to work at a hotel that had banquet rooms and a restaurant and if you did the full package deal you got the best price.

Answer 6

If you do buffet you could do your own food and save money all the way around and have more for the wedding or the honeymoon. Depending on where and when you could do a big BBQ and just have a party like reception. my friends wedding reception we did the food and still had like a sit down type of dinner. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

I believe that buffet is cheaper - less staff is needed for serving etc.

I've been to a reception the was kinda a pot luck - all home cooked foods by the family - I really enjoyed it. But of course we are not fancy people and were not looking to impress anyone.

Answer 8

If you are on a budget the best way to go is buffet! I had it for my wedding and my guests loved it! Didn't have one complaint. The sit down dinners are nice but with the buffet you have so many other choices and I think guests like that. We did ordure's and then the dinner selections and then deserts and it was very inexpensive. Check out the catering prices in your area and the food is usually delicious.

Answer 9

This is what I did. I had a buffet of spaghetti and meat balls along with little side dishes. I think it is cheaper to have a buffet because the food is in bulk and people are more likely to find something they like to eat. Also, if you are really scrapped for cash, try a pot luck reception. It's really neat and I've seen people do it before.

Answer 10

Yes, it can be cheaper to do the buffet thing. If you do a sit down, you will need lots of waiters and waitresses (or servers) to get the food to the tables. Though, the buffet can get expensive depending on how many dishes you want to serve.

Answer 11

It depends where you are having your reception-some caterers charge per person/per plate-best thing to do is have an evening wedding like 6 pm so people can eat before they come and just serve finger foods after the ceremony-or do everything at your house and save a ton of money!! Good luck.