Inexpensive Reception Food

I agree. I know people have great intentions and saving money is always a plus ( I am Ms Coupon) but this is not the place to save money. Hosting open houses for both my kids HS graduations was A LOT of work - lots of prepping, cooking, storing, serving. Do I wish I had called Noodles and Co? Kind of. (My sons both wanted pasta bars) But for a wedding day? Moms should be honored guests not cooks. Serving 80 people at $300? $3.75 a person. Wow. And your son gets to collect trash.

Me three!!! Honestly, when I responded I did not realize how old it was. I wonder if on some mobile devices the original date does not show up? I would not have responded had I realized how old it was....oh well!

I responded too. On my mobile device it doesn't show the date lol but glad I found my answers

I enjoy reading all of these. I am trying to locate a place that will allow me to bring in outside food so I can do it myself. Nobody seems to be allowing that these days. I have 14 months until the big day but I am a perfectionist and need things planned and executed properly. I was married before and did it all myself. Invited 100 people, about 60-75 showed. Made all the food myself. Was a good time. I think overall with everything including my dress, his outfit and the odds n ends was about $3000, This time around my fiance wants like 200+ people. HE wants extravagant and I want simple lol. Other than Italian food, what else is easy to make for a large crowd?

Food that a caterer has made. There's a reason most venues won't allow you to bring homemade food in: liability. You're on the hook if someone gets food poisoning because you didn't keep things at the correct temperatures.

PEOPLE!! This post is over 6 YEARS old. Let it go.

Have you considered doing BBQ? You could do ribs, burgers, hot dogs, brats, potato salad, chips/salsa, taco dip, etc.

My FH personally loves Mexican food. Taco's soft/hard shell, different meats (pulled pork, hamburger, steak, chicken), salsa, chips, sour cream, guacamole, etc.

I was going to do all the work cooking between myself and family or do a pot luck, but than I considered the timing, cost, added stress, etc. and decided it's worth going through a caterer. We already have enough stress planning everything else, ha!

More power to you, though.

Stacie this is a great idea. It similar to what I want to do. We are having a destination wedding in Fiji with reception back home in states with family. So the budget for the reception is pretty small. I want to have as many Fiji elements as possible at the reception including food. So I want to have like a roasted whole pig and a chicken option. I like your idea of macaroni/potato salad as well. But I'm definitely looking for more ideas to keep with my theme but not break the bank.

Before you decide to do this on your own you first need to decide on a menu and figure out the costs for preparing, storing, serving the meal yourself. Then contact a caterer or two and give them a budget, along with the guest count and see what they can come up with. We have invited 127 people, and have an extensive menu, in Orlando Florida, and our bill is $3200 all inclusive. Our menu is extensive, Cuban pork, Salmon with cucumber dill sauce, Beef Tenderloin, Spanish rice, fried plantains, Mashed potato bar (both white and sweet potatoes), green beans, yucca with peppers and onions, plated salad, and for apps we are having chicken lollipops, fried mushroom lasagna, empandas, and coffee and tea. I can tell you that trying to keep the food at proper temp on the day of the wedding is an event onto itself.

I attended an evening wedding a few years ago, and I thought their dinner buffet was just the neatest idea. They did a breakfast buffet. Everyone loves breakfast foods, and breakfast for dinner is always fun. I can only imagine the money they saved, because breakfast foods are so much cheaper than normal dinner selections.

We're ordering pizza. No joke. Super chill wedding

How many ovens do you have? Heating food for 150 to the correct temperature for serving is going to require a lot of oven space...

Italian food. Pastas are always a good choice. Check out local caterers to see how reasonable they are If you decide you do not want to cook.

When we were looking at different venues, one idea we had was a pasta bar! Variety of noodles and sauces. Should be very inexpensive.

Most people tell others not to self cater as honestly it is a lot of work. Food safety is also a real concern. Unless you are knowledgeable regarding food handling, temps, etc. I would recommend hiring a caterer. Another thing, people seem to think that by doing everything yourself you are going to save money. Most of the time that isn't true. A caterer gets their food at a different cost then what you will plus has the ability and resources to prepare and keep these items at the safe temp to avoid food poisoning. I would suggest checking with numerous caterers and giving them your budget. Give them some ideas of what you are looking for. You will find one that millwork within your budget and give you what you are looking for. My youngest has an extensive menu for 100 people. It includes, Chicken lollipops, empanadas, fried mushroom lasagna for apps, a plated salad, Cuban pork, Salmon with dill sauce, Beef tenderloin carving station, mashed potato bar with both sweet and white potatoes, yucca with peppers and onions, fried plantains, green beans, bread, tea and coffee, for $3100. We contacted at least 15 caterers and we given prices from $3000 (which included losing one meat, the potato bar, and choosing between the other sides, and only have 1 app) up to $7500 for the same menu. There is someone out there who will work within your price range. Also, the day of your wedding you really do not want to have to worry about the food...if it is cooked, prepared, served correctly and safe. You also do not want to have to have any of your family have to work on that day. I have been thru wedding days with my other 2 daughters, one daughter had full formal wedding, the other just got married at a park, but that day is busy, stressful, filled with numerous last minute items, family is excited, and everyone just wants to spend time with all the people. Yes family will tell you they don't mind helping and honestly they don't. They want to do everything to make your day the greatest. Please just let them experience the day and spend time enjoying the day not worrying about food, cleanup etc.

BBQ or Italian or Mexican tend to be cheapest! And from restaurants, not traditional catering companies.

BBQ, Italian and Mexican food for catering are the cheapest.

We did BBQ sliders, ham and cheese sliders, buffalo chicken dip + chips, fruit, cheese + crackers, mac n cheese balls and spinach balls. it all came out to like $17 a person!

I'm actually doing it myself too. We are having easily prepped things like Pulled Roast Beef, Turkey, Sliced Tavern Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans, Gravy, Mac'n'Cheese, Rolls and Pies. Total cost to me will be around $350.00 with roughly 150 people on my guest list the pricing comes to around 2.50 per person.