Affordable Wedding Catering Ideas to Feed Your Guests on a Budget
Looking for ways to cut costs for your big day? Don’t miss these affordable wedding catering ideas to feed your guests on a budget!
If your goal is to host a low-budget wedding, three areas you will want to keep a close eye on while you plan are your guest list, your venue, and your food. The number of guests invited and ultimately attending your wedding will drive where you need to host your celebration and how much food you will need to serve. All three are very much intertwined! But, there are definitely things you can do to find a happy medium– including finding an affordable wedding catering option.
You can find much more detail about guest lists and venue options in other posts on the site, but for this, we thought we would dive into the food. Below are seven things you can do to stay within budget while serving a great menu your guests will enjoy!
Understanding Wedding Catering Costs
Understanding wedding catering costs is crucial for planning a successful and budget-friendly wedding. The cost of wedding catering can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the number of guests, menu options, service style, and location. On average, wedding catering costs can range from $15 to $150 per person, with the national average being around $70 per person. It’s essential to consider the costs of food, beverages, labor, and equipment when planning your wedding catering.
When reviewing your wedding catering costs, make sure to ask about any additional fees, such as service charges, taxes, and gratuities. Some caterers may also charge extra for things like linens, china, and glassware. Be sure to factor these costs into your overall budget to avoid any surprises.
Choosing the Right Wedding Caterer
Choosing the right wedding caterer can make all the difference in the success of your wedding. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide on the perfect caterer for your special day. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right wedding caterer:
- Research, research, research: Look for caterers in your area and read reviews from past clients. Check their websites, social media, and ask for referrals from friends and family.
- Check their experience: Make sure the caterer has experience with weddings and can handle the size of your event.
- Ask about their menu options: Make sure they offer a variety of options that fit your taste and budget.
- Check their credentials: Make sure they have the necessary licenses and certifications to operate in your state.
- Schedule a tasting: Many caterers offer tastings to help you decide on the perfect menu for your wedding.
8 Low-budget Food Ideas for Affordable Wedding Catering
Serve Appetizers
After the ceremony, guests are eager for cocktail hour to begin because drinks and appetizers are readily available. So, why not turn appetizers into a complete meal? In wedding speak, fancier affairs might call this passed hors d’oeuvres if they are served by a full service catering staff, but you can easily pull this off on a budget. Finger foods, especially those you can purchase in bulk from stores like BJ’s Wholesale, Sam’s Club, and Costco, are less expensive than serving a traditional meal.
Plus, if you display them buffet-style and skip having them passed by a wait staff, your budget will remain even further intact. You can offer a variety of snacks and cocktails that can accommodate different dietary restrictions so no one goes hungry. Lastly, by serving appetizers you also won’t need to be concerned about guests becoming too full after cocktail hour to enjoy their meals during dinner. Sadly, it’s common! And who wants to waste food, or money on food?! Consider food stations as a flexible and cost-effective catering option, allowing guests to serve themselves specialized dishes while mingling and exploring different cuisines.
Host a Brunch Wedding
Think about breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus for a moment. Then consider which meal is the least expensive to enjoy out at a restaurant. Your mind has likely landed on breakfast. The first meal of the day is typically less costly because of the ingredients required: lots of eggs and potatoes and lower amounts of meat.
So, host a daytime wedding and serve a brunch menu! Quiche, French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, omelets, fruit, pastries, and salad can go a long way. Plus, it’s different, which will make your menu memorable for your guests. This is one of many affordable wedding catering options that can help you provide a unique and enjoyable dining experience without exceeding your budget.
Order Takeout
Where do you and your family like to order when you’re hosting a birthday, graduation, holiday, or “just because” party? You likely have a favorite restaurant, and it’s clear they cater. So, contact the establishment and order a restaurant-catered meal for your wedding! Then serve your meal family or buffet-style, bypassing a traditional caterer’s services or full-service setup and cleanup.
If you want to make your setup a little fancier, invest in a few serving platters or trays. You’ll likely use them again at future get-togethers! Restaurant catering food delivery can be one of the most affordable wedding catering ideas. You still get the benefit of professionally prepared food by the catering company, but don’t have to utilize their full service staffing. Just keep in mind that you will need to assign some helpers to keep dishes stocked or cleared when they are emptied.
Boxed Lunches
Boxed sandwiches, snacks, and sides is a unique way to feed your guests for an afternoon wedding. You can serve delicious, casual fare to your guests for incredibly affordable prices. Whether you opt for chicken sandwiches, cheese plates, or other sandwich specialties, you can feed your guests well without a great expense by serving pre-boxed meals.
Skip Plated Meals
If you’re hosting your wedding at a traditional venue, the biggest thing you can do to make sure your budget remains intact is to skip a traditional plated dinner. This serving style is the most expensive because of the number of staff members needed to make it happen.
In the kitchen, help is needed to plate all of the meals before they are presented to guests. In the dining room, help is needed to serve plates to everyone. Later in the night, help is needed to clean all of the plates. On the flip side, buffet and family-style meals involve guests serving themselves. Opting for either is a great way to save!
Consider Family-Style Meals
When it comes to highlighting the most affordable catering options, serving your wedding menu buffet or family-style is one of the best solutions. But, when we say family-style here, we mean choosing to serve items that naturally yield large quantities!
Menu items like hamburgers and hotdogs, pizza, quiche, barbecue, tacos, and pasta all make a lot, and they’re also items that work well for “create your own” stations that will add to your menu experience. Big heaping bowls of various types of pasta is the ultimate affordable wedding catering idea! Selecting the right wedding food that aligns with both your vision and financial parameters is crucial to ensure quality while also making your guests happy.
Opt for a Potluck
Often when guests are invited to a party, one of their first questions is, “What can I bring?” When you’re hosting any other type of party, you’re likely quick to make a request or offer a suggestion. Your wedding should not feel any different! With that being said, the key difference between a birthday party, for example, and a wedding is guests may be less likely to chime in with that all-important question.
So, make it known that you’re hosting a potluck wedding and would love everyone to contribute. To ensure you have your entire menu covered and aren’t hosting a party with one too many drinks or desserts, create an online spreadsheet that notes what you hope to have on hand for everyone to enjoy. Then ask guests to sign up! It’s great for a casual bbq style reception, and all you’ll have to worry about supplying is plates, bowls, utensils, napkins, and cups!
Hire a Food Truck
Everyone loves food trucks! Their menus are often different from what you might find in a restaurant, their food is delicious, they can cook on the go, and many love to cater weddings. If you would like to hire a food truck, consider working with them to cull down the menu to only a few items rather than the full list. You could go for casual fare like burgers or wings, or more upscale food trucks like lobster rolls or gourmet mac and cheese.
That can help with the cost, but more importantly a smaller menu will help the staff to keep up their speed when preparing meals. Cost-wise, keep in mind that many food trucks charge a flat fee, and that fee typically starts around $500 (though it can be more or less!).
Tips for Working with a Wedding Caterer
Working with a wedding caterer can be a breeze if you know what to expect. Here are a few tips to help you work with your caterer:
- Be clear about your budget: Make sure your caterer knows your budget and can work within it.
- Communicate your vision: Make sure your caterer understands your vision for the wedding and can help you bring it to life.
- Ask about their process: Make sure you understand how the caterer will handle the logistics of the wedding, including setup, service, and cleanup.
- Check their references: Make sure the caterer has good references and can provide you with contact information for past clients.
- Review the contract: Make sure you understand the contract and what is included in the price.
Final Tips for Planning Affordable Wedding Catering
Planning affordable wedding catering requires some creativity and flexibility. Here are a few final tips to help you plan a delicious and budget-friendly wedding:
- Consider a buffet-style meal: Buffet-style meals can be a cost-effective option and offer a variety of options for your guests.
- Choose seasonal foods: Choosing seasonal foods can help reduce costs and ensure that your menu is fresh and delicious.
- Limit your bar options: Limiting your bar options can help reduce costs and keep your guests happy.
- Don’t forget about dessert: Consider a dessert bar or a simple wedding cake to save on costs.
By following these tips, you can plan a delicious and affordable wedding that your guests will remember for years to come.
How are you saving money on your wedding menu? Share your affordable wedding catering ideas in our community!
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