Catering: How much are you paying per person?

We're paying $49 for a Friday, plus 6% sales tax and 18% gratuity, so about $60 per person. That includes the buffet, open bar, chairs, table, white linens, my choice of napkin color, plates, the reception hall, etc. The only thing I have to provide is centerpieces, table numbers, chair covers (which we're not doing) or linens if I wanted non-white, and other decorations as far as seating and eating goes.

Oh and the presidential suite. Assuming that it's not "free" as they tell me (nothing is free) and rolled into cost.

$29.99 pp with a minimum of 75. This includes passed hor d'oeuvres, 3 proteins and assorted desserts (cake not included). Add 22% gratuity, 7% sales tax and the little extras we'll probably want (coffee station, shrimp cocktail etc., possible set-up fees etc.) it'll be more more. But in NJ $29.99 pp is a steal!!

edit: This is JUST for food. We're bringing in our own alcohol and need to rent chairs/tables etc. but for food alone $29.99 pp before extras.

$56 PP including cocktail hour with apps and open standard bar for the entirely of the event.

Ours is $55pp which includes everything, food, alcohol, centerpieces, tables & chairs. Our ceremony is outside at the same place so we have a $3 per chair rental for the ceremony.

$49 a person. With open bar: $55

It really depends on where you live, the venue, and what kind of food you have. Ours isn't per person, but if I divide it out, it's about $75 per head. It doesn't include alcohol (we have to buy beer and wine ourselves), but they do provide a bartender. This is in the DC area.

Many of the places we looked near us had starting prices of over $100 per person. We found a caterer for around $80 person and we are happy because it was less than so many others. And that doesn't include the venue that is a separate cost.

$48 pp includes 2 entrees, soup or salad, 2 sides, 5 passed appetizers at cocktail hour. Our alcohol adds on I think another $12 pp and $5 pp for champagne toast.

ETA: oh and cake

$10/pp. 2 entrees, 1 potato, 1 veggie, one salad.

Another option they gave us was to have a cocktail style reception which would be about $12pp without alcohol. Since our group would be so small, maybe we could just go have dinner at a restaurant in town after the cocktail reception. But I do love the thought of providing an awesome meal for all the guests that travelled for the wedding. Decisions, decisions!

Ours is around $45/pp for appetizers, drinks and dinner

Our is $75 per adult with alcohol included.

Jenn - Damn where is that at?

Man I'm loving my area right now and being in the middle of no where. I'm paying about $12pp for 2 meats and 5 sides served buffet style.

$45 a person without alcohol but my venue also includes the cake and centerpieces. The top choice at my venue is about $75pp. I'm in central PA- not super cheap but not super expensive.

$135/pp but that includes 5 hours open bar and wine table service and

COCKTAIL HOUR

Displays of: Vegetable Crudites & New York Artisan Cheeses (Twin Maple

Farms Hudson Red, Old Chatam Ewes Bleu, Harpersfield Gouda, Nettle

Meadow Fromage Blanc, Adirondack Wax Cheddar)

Hors d'oeuvres: Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Pork Potstickers, and Grilled Lamb Pops.

APPETIZER

Waldorf Salad (Lettuce, Diced Apples, Celery, Grapes, Walnuts, Truffle

Dressing)

ENTREE CHOICES

Organic Chicken Parmesan with Pasta, Pan Seared Salmon with Gratin

Dauphinoise (Scalloped Potatoes), or Broiled New Zealand Rack of Lamb

with Gratin Dauphinoise (Scalloped Potatoes).

Italian dessert display: cannoli, tiramisu, napoleons, cordials, etc.

There are a ton of things that can be in your quote for catering. Does it include equipment? This could mean a basic set up (plate, fork, knife spoon, water glass, napkin and linen). Does it include extras like charger plates, champagne flutes, wine glasses, nicer quality anything? Is it buffet, did they include chafers? What kind of chafer? Is the staff included in the price you are quoted? How many? Is there bar tending because that likely means you are automatically getting liability insurance. Are you getting a coat check person? That's not something everyone gets but maybe your quote has it.

Finally, what kind of food are you having and how is it being served? Passed hors d'oeuvres? You might need more staff. Action stations? You need more staff and often more experienced staff if they are cooking things. Are you having a basic buffet with chicken or are you having sea bass?

I know everyone want to think the answer is easy, but there are to many factors to give yourself a comparison without knowing a lot of details.

Gulp... My caterer is $168/pp. BUT, this includes:

Ceremony/Reception set up and next day tear down

Tent

Bistro Lighting

Bar boat thingy

linens/silverware/glasses

Tables and chairs

Appetizers

Dinner

Wedding cake

All taxes and gratuities

Alcohol

Bartenders

and additional waitstaff.

The actual dinner (and only the dinner) was 45/pp, apps were $8pp, cake is $400, etc. I ended up adding everything my caterer includes in my per person figure and then divided it by the number of guests because it's the reality of what it's really costing. So if you are getting it for $80/pp and that's really what it will be when you factor in taxes and gratuity and all the other bells and whistles, then that's a great deal.

My advice if you are trying to stay on a strict budget: Make sure you factor in the "other" stuff that would apply to you in that per person number. It will help you get to a realistic number. When I first set out on this journey, I saw the $45 per person price and thought it was too good to be true. When I finally added it all up, I was shocked to see how much more on top of that it would cost JUST for the caterer.

$25 a person

$10pp 4 entrees, 2 sides, salad, rolls buffet style. Caterer will set up, help serve, package leftovers, provide plates, forks, napkins. I feel like I'm getting off super cheap! Huge hall with a bar area where we can serve alcohol and pop. Only $250 for the whole day. Beautiful church for the ceremony for only $75! I didn't realize how good I had it until I read $80pp and more just for food!