Catering issue

Anything but #1

My caterer is coming from 50 miles away and it is only costing me an extra $30 for them to drive further. For a $2300 catering bill, another $30 is nothing

Agree with the others about food trucks or see if restaurant has a truck

I agree that since your guest are coming for out of town you need to serve them dinner! You can't say, here's some cake, see ya! Wth is your mom thinking?

Sound like a food truck could be a good idea.

Either change the venue or inquire about a caterer in the nearest city. If it were me I'd just change the venue. The food is kind of important.

I'm located in Utah and can try to help. What is your venue called?

Am3131- we're a bunch of country folk and would love to have a BBQ reception.

Wifeytobe- that's not bad at all!

KD- it was my dad and step-mom. When they got married it was super laid back and my step-mom's work had catered the wedding. They also only had like 50 people...we're guesstimating closer to 200.

I'm still dying a little at their suggestion. I think they're just worried budget wise and that's why they suggested it.

Mrs Richmond- now that I've been able to stop freaking out a bit, I'm starting to see that there's other options besides for the catering. I've messaged a couple local catering companies and I'm hoping they'll work out.

AyEmVee- the venue is in Sevier County. I don't want to jinx myself by saying the name of it until it's officially booked.

I would look into a food truck. If that's not an option, you need another caterer. I can't believe they're attached to a restaurant and don't cater!!

What do you have in your contract?!?!? We have in ours that only our cake can come from outside. All other food items come from them. They may have to supply you with something

I vote food truck or check the nearest city for catering. I'm sure you can find something.

And if I couldn't find any catering for that venue, I would find a new venue. That does not sound like a perfect venue if it is that damn hard to feed your guests. How does everyone else that has weddings there do it?

3,4,5 are the only options IMO

I don't know how you are considering self catering anyway (which is never a good idea). If your caterer can't use the kitchen for heating and storing then how do you plan on doing it? It's not feasible.

Well it sounds like you haven't booked it, so not as big a deal as originally thought. It also sounds like when you initially inquired they told you they did their own catering or allow outside catering. That tells me they likely have had outside catering before and can give you recs. My reception area also does not allow kitchen access and it's not a problem for professional caterers.

Ask the venue for their preferred vendors. I'm sure they have caterers that have worked there in the past. If you can work with someone who knows the venue that would be best. Caterers don't necessarily need a kitchen to serve a hot dinner. PPs have given a lot of great examples, they can most definitely prepare the food offsite, bring it there, and set up things to reheat/keep warm. You NEED a professional.

I would see what I could do with the restaurant on site. Can you have the meal part of the reception there?

We got married on a farm with no kitchen facility. Our caterer came from about an hour away. They brought everything they needed with them to finish the food and do a buffet, which was perfect and delicious. All they needed was electricity. Most caterers are familiar with working in all sorts of environments, just start reaching out to some and tell them there's no kitchen, etc. You'd be surprised by how that's not a problem for a pro. Start with the WW vendor tabs. Or, just find another venue.

Have you asked your venue what brides and grooms have done in the past? They should be able to give you some ideas and/or recommend caterers that have made it work in the past.

ETA: I'm thinking if they don't suggest anything, you could do a lunch time wedding and serve gourmet sandwiches and salads? You could even do shrimp cocktail. Keeping things cold for long periods of time is easier than keeping it hot or transporting it cold and then having to heat it. Although, as simple as this sound, do get it CATERED.

If catering was in your contract, (or you can afford to cut loose your deposit) I'd bail hard and fast from that venue because that's bullshit and you have plenty of time to choose something somewhere else.

Find a new venue. If the venue you've chosen, doesn't even allow you to use their kitchen, what's the point of sticking with them? Unless you find a caterer that can work without a kitchen. Our venue has a small kitchen but our caterer will need more room and she's bringing her entire set up, and said she doesn't necessarily need a kitchen. Having Food trucks are another option. Please do not self-cater.