Catering Help!

Okay - I found something else! DEFINITELY in Orlando this time!

"BRONZE MENU

($14.00 per person)

Comes with your choice of (two) meats and (two) sides

(MEATS)

Chicken-Baked or Fried

Pork Loin – Grilled

Baked Ham, Honey Glaze

(SIDES)

String Beans

Yellow Rice

Mac & Cheese

Mash Potatoes w/Gravy

(BREAD)

Dinner Rolls"

It includes prep, delivery set up and service and they have a really good deal on soft drinks as well.

http://chefeddies.com/catering/event-packages/bronze-menu/

@Enchanted - jinx!

Where do you live? Our guest list is similar size and we haven't received a quote for less than $11K, ONLY including food, not alcohol or staffing.

Choice of meat lasagne for $12.49 or veggie pasta for $11.29? Served Buffet style with salad and bread. Lots of other affordable options as well, like a roast chekn for under $14/pp.

http://www.toojays.com/catering-menu/hot-entrees/

I damn well WILL crack this one! I'm obsessed now.

@Enchanted, hey, you wanna just plan this wedding with me? It's not like I have anything happening in the next couple of weeks or anything, as far as I recall

Pasta bar or taco bar for under $9 each, plus hot entrees at the same price

https://www.applespice.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/orlando-catering.pdf

@Enchanted - FH said to me yesterday, "Hey, we're leaving for the wedding in less than two weeks!" Um... yeah. No shit, Sherlock!

Maybe was wrong the description on the buffet and servers but was one option to ensure all the guests have their meal service and also they enjoy the event .Sorry if this was taken in the wrong way.

This is probably an unpopular opinion but we're doing fried chicken and it's only going to be $4.50 per person (2 pieces of chicken each and 2 sides) and it's from a restaurant that's very well known in my area. That was the cheapest option we found other than BBQ. You might consider Mexican food too. A taco bar would probably be pretty cheap. If you're going for like a super formal meal though that's probably going to be pretty expensive no matter what.

If you have Golden Corral near you, they're super cheap and they have great food. That's who I'm using and it's $15/person. You get a ton of food for that price and drinks and dessert. The only thing is you have to have someone pick it up because they don't deliver.

@Rebekah: If you have to pick it up then they probably aren't a licensed caterer. That's just take out and still leaves the problem of how to make sure the food is kept at a safe temperature to serve.

@OP it all depends on your locality. Did you try to keep the menu at chicken and beef with one vegetable, one starch, a garden salad, water and ice tea?

@Del & @Enchanted, you two are awesome. Thank you so much for your research! I am going to be looking at those places!

I guess I really should have clarified that 175 was going to be our absolute MAX. But we have cut our list down quite a bit thanks to everyone and their mom saying we should.

I wrote back to our original caterer and we were able to cut and change a few things as well as update the guest count and we have knocked it down to $5,400. Much more attainable. This includes servers and a bartender, but not alcohol.

Now to save all the money.

Distraction instead of food? For real?

"Meal service"? "Here's your slice of ham and your ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes. "

That is not advice that anyone should be paying for.

Food truck. Then you can hire people to plate and serve, or do it buffet style.

Brunch

You could look into heavy passed apps (I'm not talking a meatball on a stick or cheese and crackers) in addition to a few stations if you want a different vibe.

What about a catering truck? I have no idea what their prices are but just an idea.

You can do semi catered hire server or two and 1 food prep person. Buy one whole pig roast and 10 roasted chickens (from grocery store) and buy or make sides. Then day of you food person warms it up and sticks it in (rented) electric hot box, and servers lay it out and keep it filled as guest get it buffet style. I'm having 100 guest and my FIL are buying the pig and our price is 1500( not including pig but including hot box rental and disposable plates and napkins) so it can be done think outside the box

That sounds,,,,,,,,dangerous.

Sounds like appetizers and drinks and wedding cake, coffee , tea and soft drinks. A full meal would be really hard. Why don't you do a very late night or an early afternoon event like around lunch time. You still would have to cut your guests, but you could get some fabulous appetizers and perhaps bring in a dessert station with cookies, cupcakes and fruit. Simply by virtue that you are having a wedding, caterers charge more as it's a lot of work for them and they need a staff for that many people. Wish I had better news!