I need ideas for wedding food!?

Question

My wedding reception will be a dinner and dance, but our budget is running out. I need to feed lots of people (like 250+) with something that we can make ourselves. I can probably get a lot of family members to help out. I just need to find something that will be filling and not too expensive that we can buy and make in bulk. Any ideas?

I don't think people expect a three course meal, I was thinking more in lines of a buffet. We have a big reception hall with a big kitchen that we have full use of. Maybe ideas of things that we can make ahead of time and put in the freezers at the hall?... and to clarify, we're not like completely out of money.. just want to find the most cost efficient way of having as nice a setup as we can...

Answer 1

250 plus people is a lot for family/friends to help with. They want to enjoy the day too. If you must, you have to go buffet and at a minimum hire a student or 2 to keep the buffet fully stocked. I totally disagree with the whole pasta and BBQ thing, people will be dressed up and that stuff can stain and be really messy with makeup, clothing, etc. This is a wedding -- I would do the cheese cube, veggie and fruit tray platters from Costcos, Sam's, even your local grocery store, Get large hams and roast beef, (the ham and beef can be served cold) sliced thin and placed on platters with condiments like horseradish, mustard, mayo in nice side bowls with plenty of spreaders, soft rolls as not everybody there wants to tear into hard rolls when at a somewhat formal event - I've been to some of these are they are horrible - and very large bowls of pasta salads, perhaps 2 different kinds, one with an italian dressing and one more filling with a more creamy dressing, like a tortellini salad, very easy to eat with fork or spoon. You can also have a large bowl of chips and pretzels for guests to continue to snack on. Have a nice bowl of gourmet mints with a spoon for serving on each table. Make sure you get a wedding cake large enough to cover all people, plus extra. Good luck on your day!

Answer 2

Ok, I'm a little bit stymied by the fact that you are having a huge wedding with dinner and dancing and that your budget is running out and that you haven't even begun to figure out what you're going to feed your guests! A crowd of this size expects at least a 3 course dinner, plus appetizers, and drinks! Which is going to run you a bunch, my dear! Having family running around trying to cook and feed people on your special day takes them away from the evening's festivities and isn't really very fair to them. So.....here are some thoughts:

1. Cut your guest list by a bunch.....like 100 people if possible
2. If you can't cut your list, then don't do dinner
3. If you insist on an evening dine and dance affair, have desserts and skip the dinner part.
4. If you must do dinner, then hit up your local Costco or Sam's to see what they can produce in bulk for you.
5. Hire someone to do the cooking and food prep. If you have a local college that offers a certificate in restaurant or culinary arts, then see if some of their student's would like to take your wedding reception on as a project where they can earn a grade and practice their skills.
6. If none of the above appeals to you and you insist on making the food yourself, then stick with pasta dishes:

Fettucini Alfredo With Chicken
Spaghetti with Marinara and Veges
Linguini with Pesto
Tossed Green Salad
Hot french rolls with butter
Antipasti platters with salami's, cheese, olives, pepperoncini, green onion etc.

The pasta can be made in bulk and refrigerated or frozen until you heat it. Green salad is a good mainstay and you can purchase large bags of the premixed kind. French rolls rather than french bread because its less expensive. Antipasti can be made from just about anything and allows your guests a nibble before they dine!

Answer 3

I'm a food & beverage director and heres a few ideas that I know are inexpensive and would fit in with a nice reception. Spinach dip- combine chopped frozen spinach w/ the tops of green onions and mayo. let chill over night serve with sliced french bread and or crackers. Using a large tray I recommend making a tray of veggies-cheese and fresh fruit. Pasta salads are also popular in spring and summer. Check stores for sales on whole porkloin we've feed 300 pp with 4 whole loins ave price here in Ohio is $30 to $40 per loin. If you have a Sams Club or GFS near by you can get alot of Restaurant quality supplies at cost. Hope this helps alittle and congradulations

Answer 4

I'd suggest some kind of roast. You would obviously need more than one, but those are good because one roast feeds a decent number of people.

Salads are also easy to make. Even just a basic salad would be good. Either sprinkle it with your favorite dressing or leave it naked and let the people choose.

Bread is also fairly easy to do. With a roast, it's probably best if it's just plain french bread as opposed to garlic bread. This is good too because all you have to do is cut it. There's no buttering or sprinkling garlic powder over 500+ slices of bread.

I'd also suggest vegetables. It'd be nice to do a vegetable salad. Have people cut up carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers and other similar vegetables and steam them all. Potatoes are good too, but I can't imagine peeling enough potatoes for 250+ people. Obviously that's up to you.

You could also go with some kind of pasta.

Answer 5

You're budget is running out? If you planned on feeding people that should have been a priority. Either hire a caterer or go to Sam's Club or GFS. I don't think you should put the burdon of preparing food for 250 people on anybody unless it's a caterer. Personally, i'd cut my list and make it nice for my guests. Nobody will remeber what your dress or flowers looked like, or what your favors were etc but they will remember if you went cheap on food and drink.

Answer 6

My wedding was on Cinco de Mayo and we had a mexican themed buffet. My parents went to Costco and got a bunch of mexican finger food items: mini quesadillas, taquitos, chips, salsa, etc. My mother in law made TONS of homemade tamales and we cooked it all just before the wedding started. (Fortunately, the facility I booked for the wedding was also the reception hall that had a kitchen... it was a tiny little chapel in the country.) So my suggestion is to come up with something that you can do easily, and someone who can assist in doing it for you. Be sure to check with the facility you are having your reception at to make sure that you do not have to use their services for catering.

Answer 7

My wife is Polish-American, so we had kielbasa, pierogies, plus some pasta for my Italian heritage. I think maybe stringbeans, too? Throw in cheese & crackers during happy hour, Italian cookies and a cake later, and everyone said it was the fullest they've been at a reception. Good for lining a stomach before drinking! Much better than tiny chicken, no hors d'oevres for the first couple rounds...

Answer 8

You can't go wrong with BBQ chicken and potatoes (whether they're mashed, potato salad, or roasted), and a veggie side. Serve it with rolls and a salad prior to the dinner and you're set! You can prepare everything beforehand, or assign certain entrees to family members to have them prepare and bring to the reception. Good luck!

Answer 9

Have a chili cook-off. Have each family member make several crockpots of different chili recipes and serve with tortilla chips and various toppings (grated cheese - sour cream, etc.). Let your guests vote for their favorite chili and the winner gets to have a special dance with the bride and groom.

Answer 10

Seriously, pasta is the cheapest way to go. It looks good, is a crowd pleaser and you can do variety.
Fettichini with cream sauce
Lasagna with meat sauce
vegetarian lasagna
Tri-coloured rotini with marinara
Just add tossed and Ceasar Salad
Variety of buns and rolls ( super cheap)
I've done alot of parties recently Guests are full and pleased.
And by far the easiest menu to work with.