What to feed guests on a tight buget?

Could you do a dessert reception? Desserts that are homemade combined with storebought. Like cupcakes, twinkies, dingdongs, kinda retro. Icecream in large bins is pretty cheap with toppings, so maybe a sundae bar besides. As long as you TELL people what type of reception it is, it shouldn't be a problem. For example if you go with the DIY hors deorves make sure your invites say hors doerves and dancing to follow... not dinner and dancing.

Having friends prepare the food...Costco or low cost membership stores are awesome. Pasta is always cheap and easy with a tasty sauce, salad and bread. It's spring time so light food is great! I'm sure the centerpieces and decorations will cover the theme so the food does not have to line up exactly with the theme. GOOD LUCK! You can pull it off.

3500weddingblog.com

Ok i just looked at the catering menu for a local Italian restaurant (Zio's Italian Kitchen)

For 50 people you can get...

Meat Lasagne- $180.00

Salad- $80.00

Bread sticks should be free & this still leeves you with $40 to spend either on the tip or drinks.

Italian food can be VERY INEXPENSIVE! Plus you won't be stressing about doing it all DIY! *Most Italian restaurants will have pricing comparable to the ones listed above*

Chicken is always reasonable.

SO MANY WONDERDERFUL IDEAS

I'm going to be blunt with Meghan (who always says what I'm thinking....) You can't even take 50 guests to Mcdonalds on a 300.00 budget, so I guess my first question is how you decided that was your budget? Even if you buy 10 boxes of Costo hors d'oeuvres, you still have to have someone cook them and serve them. Trust me, as someone who catered her own wedding (and I was a professional caterer at the time) this is something you do not want to do yourself.

If you move it to a non-meal time, you can invite guests for 'coffee and cake" or some other phrase that lets them know it will not be a meal. It will be a shorter reception, but it will be within your budget.

I think that you can feed 50 people for $300. In fact, I have done it. It just depends on what you are feeding them. Chicken is always pretty reasonable. You may even be able to throw in some roast beef if you catch it on sale. Potatoes are always pretty inexpensive and they fill you up. Salad and a veggie would suffice. Or you could mix in a pasta dish like baked ziti.

Yes, do the event earlier say an 11:00AM wedding and a 2-5 reception. Send your invites and call it a "Cocktail Wedding Reception." Offer beer, wine, soda (or a nice homemade punch).

Go to Costco, BJ's or Sam's club (see if anyone you know is a member so you don't have to spend $ on a membership and go with them to shop). You can order a variety of frozen appetizers, finger sandwiches, chicken wings, assorted rolls and croissants and even get a sheet wedding cake. You could also do a candy table and get about 8 - 10 glass jars from the 99 cents store (maybe your mom has) fill with wrapped peppermints, butterscotch and other candies, hershey's kisses & cookies. Buy a small scoop and cello bags. This could double as a favor for your guests to take home.

It should be fine. Do have nice paper plates and napkins to match your colors. You could go to www.orientaltrading.com for paper goods and utensils and table cloths for weddings. Do a search.

Good luck! Lise'

Buffet, definitely. Maybe do a soup and salad kind of theme with fingerfoods? Soup and salad you can get a TON of for very little money.

I already paaid for the cake and drinks so 300 is stickly food.so fried chicken,pototos,slaw,pasta dish,hush puppies,bakedb fish.

Oh well you are good. A case of chicken wings will run you about $75-$80. The potato salad Shouldn't run more than $30. I don't see you needing more than 15lbs of potatoes. Coleslaw is another cheap side. The fish may be a little expensive, but you can catch a sale or buy frozen. You can easily make 2 pans of baked ziti for $40. The only thing that you are missing is a vegetable. I think you can pull it off.

STRING BEANS

AND OH U CAN FEED 50 PEOPLE ON THE DOLLER MENU AT MCDONALDS.LOL

Sounds yummy and simple

LOL kendra.. You should just order everyone a dollar burger and call it a night! JK.