Catering & Flowers

Good luck with that catering budget.

I don't see that happening.

That's only $16.00 a person. As PP SAID, are you wanting that to include the alcohol too?

ETA: you're also looking a rental charges for China, utensils, etc.

Ask your venue for recommendations. My plates are only $13 since we are using the venues cooking staff.

Try places that aren't part of a chain or major company and that are close to your venue to cut out travel charges.

FWIW, my venue offers a BBQ buffet for $16pp, so it COULD be doable.

Sams club has bulk flowers. We're ordering hydrangeas for our wedding, but I am arranging them myself. I have no recommendations on someone to arrange them for you.

$16 a person is very cheap, and you might have a hard time feeding that many people for so little. I'd say to cut your guest list to be able to provide a quality meal and drinks to your guests. Even if you keep the food really simple (no cocktail hour with hors D'Oeuvres), I don't know any nice restaurant where I could get a salad, entree, dessert, and at least one drink for $16.

I'm not sure how you'd find someone other than a florist to put flowers together. If you really want fresh flowers, keep it simple and maybe only have personal flowers (bouquets). Skip the boutonnières (use pocket squares, unless you can get bouts for the same cost), and use non-floral centerpieces. Or you could do half of your tables with floral and half non-floral. Candles (if your venue allows real ones) are really pretty and add to the ambiance.

We have a few local catering companies for about $12/pp for their cheapest meal, idk the quality of food/service n you still have to add tax n tip.

You would probably have to come down to Texas way down in the RGV. Based on what I've read Wow super expensive compared to where I live. I will pay $1,700.00 for venue, catering food and drinks for 200 people, tables, chairs, and security for the last 2 hours of the party since I'm renting the place till 2am.

Im in shock with the prices some of you will be paying.

I would try BBQ or Italian. Our caterer will be charging $10.99/pp for 80 guests (local BBQ restaurant).

As for the flowers I would try Sams and maybe think about doing centerpieces yourself if that's an option.

Skip the flowers and put that money toward food. You can't even get Applebees bullshit for $16 per person.

Try HEB Blooms for florals...depending on where you are. Not sure if Orlando has HEB or not but I hope this helps!

It depends on your area. We are having a catered buffet dinner, with beef brisket, chicken cordon blue, twice baked mashed potatoes, pasta in Alfredo sauce, green beans, rolls, and salad...for $10.50pp. The food is amazing, and the caterers are highly recommended. Our hall rental is $450 for 5 hours and includes round tables, white linens, a cake table, and a bartender. Our alcohol is $7pp, over the age of 21, and includes beer, wine, and soda. I am in the midwest. I cannot imagine what this would cost us in other areas of the country!

Hi! What venue have you booked? What are your wedding colors? I may be able to help.

If I remember correctly, your venue/ catering/ alcohol should be about half of your entire budget. I feel like you (and your guests) might be better served by cutting 50 people from your list. Sounds harsh, but it's better than having a ton of guests, mediocre food and not the "vision" you really want for your day.

To answer your questions, I hear that Sam's and Costco do flowers for great prices. Maybe you could hire someone (not family or friend) to arrange them? (Is there such a thing as an apprentice florist??)

Try the Vendor tab on Wedding Wire, The Knot has vendors, and you might get some hits on Thumbtack worth talking to. ETA: We moved our wedding date out 9 months to allow for saving money = bigger budget. Is that an option??

Good luck!!

Because it's Orlando, this is actually doable with Sonny's BBQ. For $12/pp, you can get a meat (I recommend the pulled chicken), three pretty hardy sides (includes things like mac and cheese, beans, salad, etc), bread and butter, all utensils and plates, lemonade, iced tea and sauces. They also set up, take down and serve it for you. You'll need to work out tax and tips, but it should be pretty close to your budget.

https://www.sonnysbbq.com/catering

I have a buffet catered by the local Knights of Columbus for less than $15 pp. That includes kettle beef, chicken and dumplins, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread/butter, and non-alcoholic drinks, plates, utensils, etc.

I will buy fruit/cheese trays for cocktail hour, alcohol, and dessert separately.

I'm also getting married in middle of nowhere Missouri.

Delfina to the rescue!!

Yeah. Wont happen.

Fwiw - we've decided not to do boutineerrs or corsages. It's going to save $100 & I don't think anyone will miss them

Not sure what your flower budget is, but I have a florist where they are ordering the flowers we discussed and then we have a little "diy" party right bedtime he wedding where we make the bouquets and everything ourselves! It's less than $1000 for my bouquet, 7 bridesmaids bouquets, 12 boutonnières, 4 corsages, flower girl flowers, and simple aisle decor.

As for centerpieces, there are a lot of options you can do for relatively cheaper that do not involve flowers! Does your venue have a stock centerpiece you can use and add to? We are using our venues hurricane case and candles and just adding greenery and vines around them to along with petals to make it look more interesting.

@Sylvia, we are at Holy Trinity. The colors are marsala (wine), dusty rose, and moss green with an accent of gold.

Thanks everyone, going to take a good look at guest count and non floral centerpieces.