Wedding Food

View Quoted Comment Self catering for 250 would be very tricky. At that number of guests you would probably need multiple pans of whatever you are serving. That would require something to keep food not out yet to be kept hot (hot box), a heat lamp or something to keep the food out at safe temperatures, and someone to keep an eye on the food and know when to replace it. That's not even taking into consideration making the food and storing it safely before the wedding.

I’m not going to give you flack about a Thursday wedding, but if I’m being invited to a Thursday wedding I’m likely taking a minimum of 1 day off (2 if I can’t work 1/2 day Thursday), 3 or more if I’m traveling. I’d be pretty bummed to eat cold pizza (that’s what delivered pizza would be about 20 people in to self-serving pizza) at a wedding. If your budget is only $800 for food, that means you’re spending too much of your budget elsewhere. Food/beverage cost usually accounts for 40-50% of your total budget. I think you should reconsider how big your guest list is compared to your budget.

View Quoted Comment I know typically food is 1/3 the budget but we can’t afford to do that

View Quoted Comment We’d considered it but we don’t have anywhere to store food for 250 people

View Quoted Comment I mean even with just family we are at close to 200 because we both have huge families. We don’t have any alcohol but we had to consider the venue being $2000, dress/veil/accessories $1000, photographer $2000, and that’s over half gone before figuring out flowers, decorations, tips, invitations, etc.
The other option we have is a cake and punch ceremony, but we definitely can’t afford $2000+ on food

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I didn't say it was the easiest thing, and it does take teamwork. I was simply giving a suggestion....

View Quoted Comment And I definitely appreciate your advice! I was just letting you know that sadly we couldn’t do that because we don’t have the space and because our guests are coming from all over

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I think you have a few choices here:

a) cut the guest list significantly and stick to only nearest and dearest and provide a full reception.

b) spend less on venue/dress/photographer. If having a full reception is a priority then you have to cut costs elsewhere. The three listed here (especially dress and photographer) are places you can cut costs easiest.

c) have a cake and punch reception. Honestly I agree with the person above. Having a local pizza place will result in cold pizza for the majority of people. Realistically that's what's going to happen unless you have multiple food trucks (one wouldn't be enough for 250 people). If you can't rearrange your spending I would just plan for a cake and punch reception over having pizza from a local pizza place.

At this point you need to decide what's most important to you. If inviting 250 people and not having a cake and punch reception is a priority, then the spending should match that. If photography/venue is then that's where the spending should go. Just realize that at that budget you may not be able to include everything you want.

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I agree 100%

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You already have the venue so that's 2k gone. The dress 1k gone, if not get a cheaper dress.

You definitely need a cheaper photographer. You don't want to spend 2k and none of your guest are smiling in the pics because they're hungry. You can spend half of that or less and spend the extra on food. You don't want your wedding pics to be pictures of pizza boxes.

Only you need flowers, the bridesmaids can carry a single flower or none at all. Or Try corsages, I was in a wedding and we used corsages and it was so pretty, I'll attach pics. Get your flowers from the grocery store or farmers market. A 3 tier cake at walmart cost $150 and add on some cupcakes or a sheet cake. you can do an electronic invite or DIY and print yourself.

As a guest, after I spent money on an outfit/hair/makeup/gift/travel I would be upset to eat cold pizza. I would also be upset to know you were worried about the decorations and not about feeding and properly hosting your guests. The pics of your venue is beautiful you don't even need to decorate. But you definitely need to figure out a better way to feed your guests or save and get married later. But $800 is nothing for 250 guest, not even for 100 guest. You don't need alcohol but you definitely need food. At least 4-5k needs to go towards your food and even that is a biggggggggggggggg stretch with the amount of guests

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I don't think it's tacky. Everyone has to do what works for them. From what I am reading I think its safe to just do what feels right for you and your family. We still have to eat and live the rest of our lives. People who go over the top and go into a huge debt are kind of silly to me. We only have about $450 to feed about 125 people. I THINK we are going to do pasta dishes with salad and breadsticks from a caterer. (family will help with serving) and have some appetizers while we take pictures.

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I can't spend much on food either. We only have about $450. I have decided that pasta dishes are what we are going with from a local caterer. He is going to deliver it with breadsticks and Caesar salad. We will have things like chips & salsa, cheese ball and crackers, veggie tray, chicken wings as an appetizer. I completely understand your dilemma. I am doing mine at about $3000. We got lucky with a friend making my cake as a gift, a friend doing photography and my step brother doing the videography. The venue is normally $1000 but we got for $500 because they made a mistake in the booking. I hope you can figure something out. I have went back and forth. I was going to have a taco bar and do most of the prep myself. I will drive myself batty doing that....

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Then you need to seriously reevaluate your plans and priorities.

View Quoted Comment Cake and punch it is

First of all, I'm getting married on a Thursday too - it's cheaper, people can take one day off for your wedding! But I agree evening works best. I think pizza is great by the way, it's your wedding do it as you'd like. As long as you feed your guests they'll be happy!