Southern BBQ Catering...What would you pay per person?

I'm paying about $17pp total for our buffet. However I am using 2 different restaraunts. We are having

pulled pork

pulled chicken

fried chicken

collard greens

cole slaw

yams

mac & cheese

rolls

sweet tea

lemonade

I wish a buffet was an option

We are paying 40 pp (smoked brisket, pulled pork, and half chickens (organic & BBQ), mac and cheese, delicious hot potato salad, grilled veggies, house salad, corn on the cob) this also includes our cocktail hours (hush puppies, veggie crudite, cheese/meat/cracker platter, pigs in a blankets, boneless wings). ETA: I forgot tea and lemonade included and Mama's sweets (the caterers mother literally bakes brownies and cookies etc.

We're doing a cajun buffet and we're paying $8pp with bread, rice, and four dishes with them dropping off and setting up.

I am paying $15 per plate from Famous Daves BBQ for brisket and roasted chicken quarters for 150 people with garlic mashed potatoes, baked beans, and mac and cheese buffet style. That also includes them serving the food and keeping it cold/warm for four hours. Killer deal!!! But I probably wouldn't pay much more for BBQ food.

It is most likely a fee for not meeting their minimum? Most caterers have a minimum of 75 people and charge a surcharge of 20-30% if you have a smaller party. Can you copy and paste the quote?

$30 isn't high if they are including full service, tons of food and sides and have a minimum pp

Are you getting married at Lover's key? I found lots of BBQ for under $30 and that included ribs. Anyways, I know Lover's Key has just a couple preferred vendors and I looked into Frisco's Catering. They had a nice BBQ package for about $18 a head.

I would just get rid of the brisket as an option. Pork or chicken is plenty of meat options.

We had 3 meats and 3 sides plus half a dozen salads and buns along with water and sweet tea for $11 pp

We are having BBQ as well - our quote was roughly $3000 for 130 people. That is with two meats, all the fixins, two sides, a plated salad, unlimited tea/lemonade, bread, cups, plates, silverware, cocktail hour appetizers with a mashed potato bar and meatballs, and a bartender. If we had gone basic and eliminated apps and the bartender it was like $15 a person.

Becky- I am getting married at lovers key ? I'll have to look into Frisco catering for sure then! The quote I received originally did not include full service or any drinks so I think it was high as a price per person.

View Quoted Comment Remember you are not just paying for the food. I am a caterer and one of the things that most clients dont understand is that caterers have to plan and shop, prep and clean up. We dont get deliveries. Drive time, prep time, cooking time and the use of their inventory, staff, set up and clean up. All these factor into the cost. The average seated meal is $41pp buffets are $28pp. This is what goes into making your event a huge delicious success.

Katharine, this thread is from 3 years ago. OP's wedding was over 2 years ago.