Catering numbers- do you reduce if children

Honestly, I would go with the 90 regular portions - because I would rather have too much than not enough. I've been to weddings where they ran out of food and it was not lovely.

My cost differed for children and adults ($130 per adult and $35 per child). So if they are reducing, are they reducing the cost? Also, I think child is a broad term. A 16 year old will still eat as much (if not more) as an adult, while a 6 year old will most likely eat less.

For our wedding, the venue who provided the catering charged so much for children under 12, another price for anyone 12-20 and then anyone 21+ was another price so we just told them we would have x number of children under 12, x number 11-20, and x number 21+.

Every guest who will be eating and occupying a chair needs to be counted. Some caterers offer children’s menus/pricing and they are a separate number from the adults, but they are still part of your final catering headcount.


Check with your caterer because some will have separate pricing for 12 and under. Many online say that their caterer charges the same whether it is a 5 year old or a 35 year old, but we never came across any caterer who did that, even among any of the upscale companies in a very high cost of living area. Dinner for those who are 13-20 is often charged the same as adults 21+ even though they don’t have access to alcohol but they will consume non alcoholic beverages that are part of the open bar. Again, consult your caterer regarding their pricing format.

We are doing a buffet and our caterer supplies an adult caterer (Im paying $12.50/adult) and a seperate off to the side childrens buffet (corn dogs, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, tater tots for $4.50/kid minimum 20). I opted to add the kids buffet since I didnt want to pay a full adult meal for a kid who might not even touch it. Some adults (especially wedding party) have said they would rather have the kids buffet than the adult lol.

I think it's normal to have children's portions however they should not cost the same! I'd tell your caterer to either go with full portions of provide a discount.