budget for catering?

Question

We are having a night reception for our daughter's wedding and want to serve appetizers for approximately 175 people what can i expect to spend on this? I've received quotes from $9 - $14 per person and it just seems very expensive. Am I being to cheap? Help.

Answer 1

Catering costs vary greatly from town to town and city to city. I don't know how many appetizers you are serving or how fancy they are or if they are being served, but $9 to $14 per person sounds quite reasonable to me. Often you can stretch your budget by putting out cheese, fruit or antipasto platters.

Are you only serving appetizers or will there be a dinner afterwards? If this is appetizers only, people will be expecting "heavy" hors d'oeuvres. If the appetizers will be followed by dinner, you can have fewer choices.

I once studied cooking with a well known chef who told me that in this day and age a host is under no obligation to "stuff" her guests.

That said, it is your daughter's wedding and you want it to be nice.

By the way, there is nothing wrong with being concerned about your budget and finances. Just do the best you can for your child within your means and be happy in the process.

Answer 2

Their are all kinds of caterers. There are the expensive kind, independent, that cook it prepare it serve it clean it up. And charge much money. Some are on staff at a particular venue, and you have no choice when you choose that venue. Then there is the restaurant affiliated kind. Several of our local restaurants advertise that they will deliver the food at the temp it is supposed to be served at, and contained in foil pan suitable to set into a warmer for a buffet. They are renowned for their chicken and their house salad. Some are full service restaurants, one is a chicken place. The one says it will provide a one entree two side dishes and a roll for $10 per person, delivered. The chicken place does chicken and two sides for $8 per person. Beef can be had for extra, and it is really good, and worth the extra. One can also go pick it up. And all of them include a plastic serving spoon for each dish. Gee for that kind of money, you could hire a neighbor to serve it for you. And still come out ahead. You would only have to provide the drink[s]. And the tableware.Which brings it, serving only soft drinks[and providing 3 drinks per person] , to around $14, each, depending on the brands/kinds of tableware and drinks you have. Times 80, you get $1120, way better than your $4000. And also gee, you could have a second entree and still not have spent half of your $4000. Some venues, like private organizations, might have some members that cater, one group here cooks for all their organization's dinners[they do not have a contract with the organization, they are just good and cheap], and caterers at that venue only to the outsiders renting the hall. It has been awhile back, but they served a nice buffet, with ice tea and coffee for $8. That is pre-recession pricing, it would cost more now. And there is always the family or the neighbors. Pay them to set it up, serve it, and clean it up. Bet you could find somebody to cook it for you. My neighbor would probably do anything for money, [she's a spry 70, so quit thinking what you are thinking], and as long as the venue was well air conditioned, she would be great at serving. She is a nice person. And there is the do it yourself. Pick food items all of which you can cook the day before. Ham is a good one, slice it up into the pan you plan to heat it up in. Some salads actually benefit from being in the refrig overnight, like River's 7 layer salad. Or make something, and dress it and add anything crispy just before the event.

Answer 3

Actually, it does sound reasonable. That's probably they assume 3 appetizers per person. So there's food cost, the labor cost to make them, time, and a margin for a little profit. Now if you were looking at new potatoes with caviar, then it would be a steal for that price!

I live in Napa Valley, the prices only go up here.

Answer 4

those prices seem reasonable depending on where you are getting your catering. with that many guests, you have to expect that if is all going to come to a high price.

Answer 5

You should go with this http://traiteur-lorenzo.com/

Answer 6

you really cant do any better unless you do it yourself