Alternatives to dinner????

Either cut down the guest list or change your wedding to a non meal time. Our wedding isn’t a meal time so we are providing a pasta bar/ salad bar, drinks and cake.

Thank you for the advice everyone! I’m cutting my guest list down and we’ll probably do a small little pasta bar!

View Quoted Comment

Good for you! Thank you for taking our advice. I know there will be some people who say a dessert bar is okay or cake and punch is okay or no meal is okay but really, people expect a meal, they just do. Look into restaurants or KC/VFW halls (don't laugh, some are really pretty!) as their catering is yummy. Their halls are not too expensive to rent, either. People remember the food and drink and a comfy chair - the rest is just extras! Best wishes to you and your groom!!

What Gretchen said.

It is literally impossible to host a wedding for 250 for hundreds. And cake and punch for 250 seems really gift grabby.

Even if you spent $900 for food for 250 that is $3.60 a person. Yikes. Gotta slash that guest list, girl!

View Quoted Comment I agree with not self catering your wedding 100%. but you never cooked for 10 people?

The easy answer? Cut your guest list.

make 250 to 100 and PROPERLY host them with an actual meal, an open bar, and dessert. In my
opinion you can’t have a wedding with 250 people without providing a meal. Changing it to a cake and punch reception for 250 people is insanely large. You’re looking at like 25-30 tables, centerpieces, all that kind of stuff. Cut. The. Guest. List.

Our family is cooking for us...a few people doing one thing each. They offered to do it, and we are very excited about it! Our reception is about 150 guests. It's not a popular opinion around these forums, but in our family and where we are from, that's how it's done.

Cut your guest list to a number that you can afford to feed.

You can also do apps and finger foods during a non-meal time but you should still have that catered.

Try a Sunday brunch style wedding... a sunrise ceremony, and brunch menu, mimosas and you're good to go.

A brunch reception may also cut the guest list because people may not want to go to an early morning party..

View Quoted Comment It’s not literally impossible to host 250. It’s just not going to be cheap.

View Quoted Comment No, I said it’s impossible for hundreds. It’s thousands.
The OP said hundreds and I don’t think she’s even playing in the right ballpark for budgeting appropriate food for this many guests.

View Quoted Comment

Wow. A bit judgemental, aren't we. Sheesh. Brides shouldn't have to go into debt just because WW says so I say just do what's right for you and don't worry about what others think.

If you are looking to keep your large guest list consider doing a dessert reception. They can be much less expensive than a full on meal; and just as much fun (if not more so)! Just be sure to host during a non-meal time after dinner is usually typical. Hope this helps and good luck with your planning!

Keep looking for other food options. My guest list is up to 250 and i thought it was impossible to pay less than 10$ pp....NOT impossible. And the food is good. Ask people, random people of who they know and you might be surprised. Unless...you are "picky" on your food choice

We were running into the same issue! We are having a fairly large wedding (~200) and couldn’t afford the $5000+ to have a formal dinner. We’re actually doing a pizza and pasta buffet. I found tons of cute pins on pinterest for it. It’s about $15 for a large pizza that feeds 3-5 and at our pizza place they have pasta trays for about $50 that feed 75. So much cheaper, we’re spending about $2000 and have room in our budget for other things. I wouldn’t do like papa john’s or dominoes, try to find a family owned restaurant (we did) and they will be very happy and appreciative for your business.

I’m glad you’re cutting the list. And you’re right, a pasta bar is probably one of the less expensive ways to cater.

My husband and I decided to keep the guest list small when we realized that speaking to each of 125 guests for one minute each would take over two hours! We decided we’d rather have fewer guests and actually get to spend some time with them. And it’s much easier on the wallet, too.

You can pull this off however you will be dead after your party lol

It takes a lot of work for even appetizers for 250 guesses, cake and punch sounds much reasonable if you want to serve yourself.

View Quoted Comment

NinjaBride - Yes I have cooked for ten people - lol! What I was trying to say is it can be trying enough for ten people, let alone 250. This past June I hosted an open house for my graduating senior. That was around 75 people. That was A LOT of work - we did a pasta bar, salad, bread and it wasn't like everyone was sitting down eating at the same time. Five of us were on a constant loop with the food.

Ms. Queenie - no one is judgmental. No one needs to go into debt. But to invite 250 people with the unwritten/unspoken rule of bringing a gift then only offer up cake and punch, that can be seen as rude and gift grabby.

OP - please no sunrise ceremony. And please no sunrise ceremony as a way to deter guests. 10am, 11am ceremony followed by lunch or brunch is good.