Catering on a Budget

I’m not sure how possible $5 pp is, but BBQ, Italian, and Mexican are typically the cheapest options. If your catering budget is only $1,000, your best bet is cutting your guest list.

Oh man that sounds hard.
Maybe you can opt for appetizers rather than a full meal

View Quoted Comment

I might actually look into that. Thanks!

View Quoted Comment I’d recommend the same as she did. You’d have to make sure your reception doesn’t fall during a standard meal time

Thank you, everyone! I really appreciate it.

I don't think it is physically possible for someone to cater a meal for 200 for only $1,000. Like Caytlyn said that is only $5 per person. Only doing appetizers really depends on the time your wedding is, but most people go to weddings expecting to be feed a full meal. Food is definitely not something you want to skimp on. If you want to properly host 200 people then you're budget of $1,000 is unrealistic especially if you plan on having alcohol. Generally, buffets are cheaper than entrees. I would look into Mexican, BBQ, Italian, or things like burgers or hot dogs depending on the formality of your wedding.

If you’re considering just appetizers, definitely make sure it’s not over a meal time or people will be expecting a meal and people might not stick around. Does your $1000 budget include drinks or just food? Even just fit apps most of my quotes were $15/per person when I was quoting various options, though that was hot apps not just charcuterie boards and things like that. Do you have the option of self-catering and buying appetizer trays from some place like Costco or Sams? How formal are you planning your wedding and reception to be? Good luck!

View Quoted Comment Appetizers typically cost more than a regular dinner, because you need more of them to fill your guests up.

We are paying $1075 for a taco lady for 150 people, so I don't see how you can make $1000 go far enough. I would see where you can cut costs elsewhere, like the flowers, decor, no favors, etc., before you try to skimp so much on the food.

Cake and punch wedding. 2pm ceremony, 2:30-4:30pm reception. At $5 per person you’re not going to be able to serve a full meal so do a beautiful afternoon tea instead.

Cost for catering is typically similar to the cost for the same thing in a restaurant. For $5, you wouldn't even be able to get a meal at McDonald's. Even cake and nonalcoholic punch is going to be a stretch for that number.

This is not including drinks. Alcohol is not allowed at our venue, so that's not a cost I'm worried about.

Maybe a brunch? That could cut some costs.

View Quoted Comment You still need to factor in non-alcoholic beverages (water, soda, lemonade, iced tea, or whatever else you would like).

We are doing pizza! $1400 for 75 pizzas and 14 trays of salad

Do you have a mission BBQ where you are?Someone I know used it for their wedding and paid about 1500 for close to 130 people. It's over your budget but it's really good food and they give you everything you need, even serving spoons, plates and all that good stuff.

$1,000 for 200 people could get you a cake & punch reception, or possibly a grocery store catering light lunch items like sandwiches. We have a lunch reception being catered by our local grocery store (they’re known around here for their catering) and are spending close to $1,000 on lunch type food just for 85 people. Adding in dessert, plates/cups/silverware/trays and non-alcoholic drinks put us at about $1,600.

If you don’t like the punch and cane idea, or just apps maybe you could do salad and pizza? I wanted to stay under 3k for 100 people and the cheapest I found was BBQ. They are supplying 2 passed appetizers, 3 sides, 3 meats and a choice of roll. They are also supplying the dessert, 3 different shooters. They aren’t supplying drinks or ice but are providing us a bartender. Final cost will be around $2700.

That would mean $5 per person..,which is like fast food. If you don’t want to go over your catering budget then you’ll need to down size your guest list or just have guest bring their own food or do a
pot luck.

Just Something to consider that I do t think I see mentioned yet.. tax, tip, and delivery will add a few hundred bucks to that as well. Like other have suggested. Cake and punch might be your best bet to avoid going over budget, and can be quite beautiful as well.

View Quoted Comment

The closest one is in Chattanooga, TN and it's 140 miles away.