How to Save Money on Your Reception Menu

Feeding your wedding guests at the reception can be one of the biggest expenses of putting on a wedding. Saving money on the reception menu will ultimately lead to a much cheaper wedding. The following guide will help keep both your guests and your pocketbook full.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Caterers
• Servers
• Reception venue
• Warming pans and crock pots

1. Plan your menu budget. You and your partner should discuss your expectations for the reception meal, and determine exactly how much you are willing to spend. Keep in mind you will be providing both food and drink.

2. Provide a buffet instead of a sit-down meal. Buffets require less wait staff to keep your guest happy, and thus it will lower overhead cost. Everyone gets what they want, and your guests don’t have to wait around for seconds.

3. Order Drop-off catering. This is where a catering company delivers food from the reception menu already prepared, sets everything up and then comes back to pick up their supplies later. The idea is that you haven’t paid anyone to serve the food, something you will have to figure out separately.

4. Consider alternatives to a full-scale dinner. It is increasingly common to provide appetizers in the form of meat, fruit, vegetable or other hors d'oeuvre platters. A limited luncheon, featuring soup and salad, or brunch-style menu can also be a less expensive option.

5. Cater it yourself. Providing for part or the entire reception menu yourself can drastically reduce your cost. Consider having a potluck, asking your closest friends and immediate family to forgo a present and bring a dish.

6. Limit the open bar or have a cash bar. If alcohol is free, it’s typically the most popular guest at any reception. Restrict the time allowed for the open bar to after dinner, when people might be too full to drink in excess.
   
   

Tips & Warnings

• Finding an inexpensive location to hold your reception, such as a park or home, can allow you to allocate more money for food.
• Try asking your close friends or members of your family to help serve at the reception.
• Keeping the food and alcohol bills separate may help you be more cognizant of how much you’re spending on each.
• Make sure your reception menu caters to meat-eaters and vegetarians.
• Consider providing one or two kegs of beer and making your guest pay for additional mixed drinks.
• Make sure you are aware of state and local laws if you are planning on having your friends or family serve alcohol. Some states have special requirements.
• If you’re catering the reception yourself, be sure to have an accurate number of guests and provide enough food for everyone.

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