DIY Reception food for 130 guests? Is it possible?

I think with a smaller wedding of maybe 50 people it's more doable, but with your numbers I would not have family members making food and warming it up the day of.....I think there's a lot that can go wrong there.

Unless you're talking about church ladies who routinely make and transport casseroles to church functions that will feed a small army. Those women can do pretty much anything.

I agree with Kris. This just seems impossible.

I can be done if u have the right food think pasta, fried chicken rice stuff like that. But u have to have an oven microwave won't work.

I think is possible. I am going to do a once course reception and my FH's family will be doing the cooking. I'm a steak and potato's kind of girl so no one is surprised by the menu.

I'm still looking for caterers that will work with our budget but it is very hard. We are thinking of getting chicken and sweet potatoes from a cateter, do our salads (two kinds), and my wanted to make two other sides?

I don't see how that's possible unless you have a commercial grade kitchen. How many stoves/ovens/microwaves would you need to prepare that quantity of food or even just warm it up? Not to even go into how many things can go wrong with this scenario.

It can be done - it's a PITA and you need some very organized family to help. I've done it and swore I'd never do it again LOL. If your venue has a commercial kitchen w/ convection ovens it's pretty easy to retherm and serve.

Here's what I made

Sliced Roast Beef

Ziti

Meatballs Sausage

Roasted Chicken - parts not whole chixs

Mixed Veggies

The usual salads

Its a full kitchen at the reception venue (stove microwave fridge). Stove can be used to warm up things but not fully cook.

It's gonna be hard if there's only one commercial oven to reheat that amount of food. You'll only be able to get 4 hotel pans (12x20) in there at one time and it will take 30-45 minutes to bring the food up to proper temp for serving.

What are you thinking about serving?

I think it's too dangerous (food poisoning!) and pretty impractical. I would suggest having your reception during a non-mealtime (like midafternoon) and serve a bunch of finger foods - you can pick up a bunch of party trays from Costco for a very reasonable price.

Fingerfoods depending on what they are can be just as much of a PITA - proper food temps need to be maintained for them as well - Under 40 degrees or over 140 degrees in order to avoid food born pathogens.

Op plz read!

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/new-bridesbrides-with-default-pics-read-please/9e3b9d14d99d5f24.html

Thank you all for help and advice, the food temperatures were my biggest worry. I will consider doing the finger foods I just wanted to be sure my guests get enough food for the time that they are there. We are planning on having the ceremony at 12 at our church and starting the reception at 1 because it is not too far from our church. Is that a good time to serve finger foods so that guests won't be too hungry?

I talked to our photographer about not wanting alot of time doing pictures after the ceremony, and we are planning to arrange a time for my fiance to take pictures prior to the ceremony to get those out of the way.

It's definitely doable. We are having between 200- and 250 people. We are planning on bringing in a couple of our own things (coleslaw, beans), but will be contacting a caterer for the rest of the food. Anything we can cut back on and do ourselves, we will do.

Just something to think about, many restaurants will do catering, and it can be a lot cheaper than an actual caterer. We are having a restaurant cater our reception, and it's only going to be $6.95pp, including plates, flatware, and napkins. You could call a few local places that have the type of food you want and see if they would be able to help you out at all!

Yes I'm still looking at some restaurants and cheaper caterers. I just signed up with a wedding planner to help with the month of so Im also going to consult with her on restaurants that she knows.

April B posted this site yesterday.....

http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/Buffetchart2.html

tips

http://lotsofinfo.tripod.com/N8feedingacrowdtips.htm

food safety

http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/foodsafe1.htm

I do agree with the ladies to be Very careful with temperatures if you do go this route I'm pregnant, and probably wouldn't eat at your wedding of fear of food poisoning.... I don't even eat lunch meat when I am pregnant.

~ good luck ~

Restaurants are a great idea. Have you tried grocery store delis? Costco/Sams? Andersons? (If you have Andersons in your area).

Just another option.

I would worry about the food safety issue, and also about the general PITA for those women who have volunteered, who basically won't really be able to enjoy the wedding. It's more than just heating up food- it's setting it out, keeping it at the right temperature, clearing it away, replenishing it, keeping the buffet area clean, possibly washing plates/silverware/glassware that would need to be reused......

Maybe there's a hospitality or catering program of a local college where you could hire students cheaply? That doesn't solve the temperature issue since they probably won't be licensed but just trying to brainstorm for you.

Good luck!

Jilandra. My Wedding is also at 12, and my reception is starting at 2 and I am having dinner type Foods. Just becuase its the afternoon, doesnt mean people wouldnt eat a whole meal. Just means they get to go home earlier with a fuller belly and not cook