Catering

I would look into Mexican and Italian restaurants in your area and see what they offer for drop off catering. Or I’d have your wedding at a non-meal time and just offer a few snacks/desserts.

Since that's less than $12 a person, it might be hard to find if you want traditional catering. If you're open to other things, then like Sarah said local restaurants or even BBQ places are going to be cheaper than hiring a catering company.

Agreed with using a restaurant for drop off catering. This should work. When the caterers serve the food as well - it gets pricey fast. I’m doing buffet catering with servers for 60 and it is coming in around 3500$

It would have to be food that you pick up and serve yourself. BBQ is expensive where I live, but if others think bbq is doable on this budget, it doesn't hurt to look around. A taco bar would be possible with ground beef and shredded chicken. Fajitas would be be over your budget.
I think you could do it with meat and cheese platters from the grocery store deli. Will that amount also include your cake? You could get everything from the grocery store and have a nice spread.

Pasta and taco bars are always popular. If you have any grocery stores in your area that offer catering services they are going to be much less expensive than finding an actual catering service. You could also think about purchasing food for drop off as others have said. I will warn you though, that even catering in lunch from Olive Garden for 25 people where I used to work, it was like $450-$500 each time. That's half the people youre needing to feed and a little more than half of what youre wanting to spend. We did have teenage boys working there though, but I wouldnt count on people actually only taking one serving unless youre going to pre-portion plates.

If youre getting married earlier in the day you could easily do a luncheon with subs and sides and save yourself a ton of money.

If your venue allows it you could also do potluck style and have your family help prepare the food you'll be serving. Doing a pasta bar this way will cost no more than $5 a person even with different protein, sauce, and pasta options. However, this can be seen as a major health hazard to a lot of traditional venues and most places wont allow this. You may have to look at places to cut from so you can stretch your catering budget. Food is usually one of the highest cost items for a wedding.

That’s a good point about the grocery store- we have done some elaborate spreads at events with luncheon meat platters and all the sandwich fixings and sides- that can be fun for a lunch time wedding

With that budget a restaurant is your best bet

Look into your favorite takeout local restaurant. Mexican, Chinese, Italian, etc. Typically you can get a ton of food in large catering pans at much cheaper price and better tasting than through a regular caterer.

I also wanted to add to check with your venue. Ours makes us use a licensed caterer that stays for the entire meal time.

You could check local italian places for pasta dishes and salads. Honestly the budget may be difficult to worth with for a dinner event.

You could do a lunch event with sandwiches and pasta/green salads? I think that would fall into your budget.

What's your venue? Will they allow outside food brought in?

View Quoted Comment Yes they will allow us to do so!

Drop off catering will probably be your best option. I'd pursue pasta dishes

I agree that Mexican, Italian, or BBQ drop catering is your best bet. My rehearsal dinner for 32 ppl is at a pizza place & it’s going to be $1200 (no alcohol included). My reception will be catered with a seated service for 50 & it clocks in at $3500 (not including alcohol or gratuity). I thought that was a great deal. Most quotes I had gotten were upwards of $5000.

View Quoted Comment Would they do set up when dropping off ???

My sister's wedding had lasagna and pasta from a local Italian restaurant for 50 people. It costed $1200!! They delivered but just dropped it off, didn't lift a finger to help set it up. You're going to have to cook or prepare hot food yourself because prepared from a restaurant will be over your budget. Don't forget about delivery fees, taxes, and gratuity.

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It's good to ask them to clarify what they mean by "set up." Some will drop off pans of food on a table and simply leave. You'll need to confirm in advance, between them and your venue staff, 1) how can you keep the hot food hot and cold food cold, and 2) will dishes/utensils be provided and if so, will they be stacked for guests to help themselves? That is what they'll likely do.

Just ask and make sure you are clear about the "connecting" services that are/are not provided between the venue and the drop-off service. I attended a wedding some years ago that when all of the guests entered the reception area, the only thing on the tables were the tablecloths that the wedding party had set up earlier. No dishes, no utensils, no food or beverages (or staff) in sight. Everyone sat down and looked around in confusion.

It turns out the caterer had dropped off the food in pans, according to their contract. The bride didn't request chafing pans from them because her venue had a kitchen. However, she also didn't book any kitchen or service attendants from the venue. She assumed her room rental contract included food & beverage staffing. The venue staff that were on site to work another event said they couldn't leave that client (understandably) and that even if they could, due to liability, they weren't permitted to warm up the "outside" food in their kitchen or serve it because of the couple's room rental-only contract. I kid you not - the bridesmaids had to go in the venue's commercial kitchen, search the cabinets for pots to warm the food and then fix plates and serve all the tables. At the table where I was, none of us had the same thing at the same time. Three people had soft drinks, two people had salad, three or four of us had utensils and napkins, and we gave those to the folks who had their salads. Those bridesmaids wound up becoming the bartenders and the clean-up crew too. God bless those women for stepping up to help save their friend's day. My sister was one of the bridesmaids.

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I don't think you can expect them to set it up or provide anything to keep the food hot at $12 pp. At least not anywhere around where I am.

View Quoted Comment Right! I was thinking (if I can’t find a caterer in budget that will provide what I needed) if I did drop off catering, I could rent or buy chafing dishes and have the guests serve themselves? Do you think this is a mistake on my end? I have waited so long for this day girl and the venue is too pretty to do finger foods and such. It’s a little bougie, but was only 250$ above budget.

View Quoted Comment If the guests serve themselves I would suggest splurging on more food since everyone takes different amounts and you don’t want to run out of food. Also, if you just did drop off catering no set up you would still need someone to set up the food stations, stack the plates in the proper area and utensils and napkins etc. including set up May be best to avoid any confusion or chaos with the food. Dinner is the biggest part of a reception you want it to go as smooth as possible.

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You could totally get chafing dishes (I will point out two things: 1. you'll need to make sure you have precisely the number/sizes/configurations you need for the food you're ordering (half-pans vs. whole pans) and 2. the cost of renting or buying your own might not save you $ in the long run. Only you can decide if that's the case). The issue is People Power: Who will get the chafing dishes to the venue, unpack and place the chafing dishes, pour water in them and light your sternos? Who will bring out more food when the first pans run low? At the end of the party, who will break the chafing dishes down and pack them up? (Side note: you didn't mention your cake pans, but again, you'll want to confirm who will slice and plate the cake).
Do you have one or two family members (like a cousin or best friend who aren't in the wedding party) who are willing to manage the chafing dishes for you? If so, maybe you could get them aprons to protect their nice clothes (when "working") as thank you gifts.

I hear you in the waiting so long for your day! And for following your budget. It will all work out.