Need Caterer for Wedding Reception for under $700 feeding 70-80 people! HELP!

Where are you located?

Columbia, MD which is between DC and Baltimore

Have you checked local italian restaurants? It's possible they would be able to do the setup as well.

Are all your guests adults? Our Caterer is charging 5$ less for children under 12 & that is something they brought up I didn't even think to ask!

You are talking about 8-10.00 per person for food. Around here, that's a fast food meal deal. Your area is more expensive that mine. I would be wary of what they would serve.

Hi Jennifer, congrats and welcome to WW!

Unfortunately that budget will not buy dinner, drinks, and all the dishes/tablecloths etc. in Columbia. Basically it is about $5 per person before taxes, delivery and gratuity for a meal and drinks. Have you considered a reception at a non-meal time with cake and punch?

Famous Dave has catering but I still don't think it will be in that price range with all the add ons.

I wanted to do a reception earlier in the day but it was booked up until late afternoon so the reception will be right at dinner time. I was contemplating serving breakfast food for dinner but then I would have to change the entire theme to match a more laid back experience. I found a BBQ place for about $12-15/pp which is great. But I was hoping to find maybe a more local family owned place that would cut us a deal. With the costs this high for both catering and photography a honeymoon is no where a possibility. Very frustrated.

I have a budget of around 5k, including food...and let me tell you it's been difficult. I don't even live near a city. Have you thought about doing a cocktail wedding? Brunch wedding? You won't be able to find $700 catering. The $12-15/pp is the best you are going to find trust me, or maybe you can find another bbq place for the same prices. They are usually around that price.

Maybe you could do homemade desserts, would your family be willing to help bake? You could do your own drinks too. $700 is just about impossible, unless you go to like local stores and get their food as if you would for a regular party or something, and then set it up.

It sucks I know.

I went with a local Italian resturant and we got turkey and roast beef, Italian bread, salad, and some pasta, and veggies. It fed 80 people with a ton of leftovers for $350! And it was delicios

You cannot get a meal even in McDonald's for $4 per person in DC area, unless you do $1 cheeseburgers.

WOW Katelin!!! $350 would be more than amazing! What restaurant did you use and if you don't mind, how much food did you actually order? Its hard to gauge whether a "large" pan of something that is estimated to feed say 20 people, would actually feed more or less? Feel free to message me more details.

Your area is expensive. You are having a reception at dinner time. I really think a cake and punch reception is the way to go. If you find something cheaper, think hard about it. A value meal at McDonalds is around 8.00 and they buy their food in bulk through their own company. You are looking for a Mom and Pop store to essentially take a loss so you can feed people? Those are the people who can least afford to give away things.

What other cost cutting measures have you taken? No way to change your date so you can do brunch? No way to cut the guest list? There has to be something.

I was expecting to pay more for catering than $700 but then my family member won't do wedding photography so now I have to hire someone.... which is more expensive than catering is. But how can I only do cake and punch when everyone will be expecting dinner ... reception will be too long not to serve at least hot appetizers or some type of meal.

That is why I am asking if you can change the date. A week earlier or later? I originally had an October date. We moved it to January. My vendors were happy to change. They say October is a busy month. I changed to January, a low month. Moving it certainly won't be convenient, but it is better than the alternative.

Already put a deposit down on the location so I can't change the date.

We are doing Itallian-lasagna, seafood pasta, salad, and foccacia bread. We are paying per tray and not per person which makes a HUGE difference. It is only including food, though. We have the option of hiring their staff for serving and clean up at $25/hr per server, I think. We are responsible for providing dishes, silverware, cups, napkins, chaffing dishes, linens, etc. I think we are going to take care of drinks because having that catered is so expensive and drinks are where restaurants make their money. Check out Costco and sams for chaffing dishes, plates, cups, etc.

I know everything in that area is expensive good luck!

What about cutting the guest list? Or saving an extra $50 a month? That would give you additional $400 for food. Cut the cable, get smaller cell phone plan, pack lunch?

You may have to cut the guest lists to get what you want at the price you want. I suggest looking around at some smaller catering companies and see if you may find someone that can help. Is it possible to change the date or time so it can be in the afternoon?

I had all my vendors booked. I traded a busy day in October when they could easily rebook to a slow day in January when they have less work happening. Every one of my vendors was wonderful about switching. There is no harm in asking.

I'm also in Maryland, and things are EXPENSIVE here. My catering cost for hors d'oeuvres, non-alcoholic beverages, and a plated dinner for 150 on a Friday night is about ten times the figure you've mentioned above. Not saying it can't be done, but I'd be really wary of the quality of any vendor who says they can do everything you've asked for at that price. Seconding the suggestions to cut the guest list or opt for brunch/cake and punch instead. I hope you find something that works for you!