How to Create a Low Cost Wedding Menu

The food is often the most expensive part of a wedding. For large weddings, the estimated costs for the menu may create a hardship for the family. Many couples have high expectations for their wedding menu, but there are several ways that the cost of the menu can be cut without sacrificing anything from the special day.

Instructions

1. Have the wedding at a time of day that people will not be expecting a meal. A full lunch or dinner for a wedding can be extremely expensive. Snacks and finger foods will be much less so. From 2 to 4 p.m., the guests will have eaten lunch and will not be expecting a dinner at the reception. Stick to a buffet setting that allows the wedding guests to choose their own menu of snacks.

2. Let cake, drinks and a few light hors d'oeuvres serve as the main menu. This can include finger sandwiches, which are inexpensive but that look elegant with the crusts removed. Choose a few types of cookies and candies that can also be elegantly displayed. Danish wedding cookies and small chocolates can be displayed on tiered displays for an expensive-looking array of food that costs very little.

3. Keep the drinks limited to punch, sodas and bottled water. This will give guests a lot of variety in what they choose to drink without the high price tag that alcoholic beverages have.

4. Offer a few foods that will make the weight-conscious crowd happy. A couple of vegetable trays, even if they are large trays with plenty of variety, are a low-cost option. Use different colored vegetables for a pleasing display that is as good to look at as it is to eat. Carrots, celery, cauliflower and sliced bell peppers of many colors will make a colorful vegetable display.

5. Serve vegetarian meals or ones with a chicken entree if you will be serving a full meal. If the time is already set and you will be expected to serve a meal, the meal can still be a buffet-style meal that uses many of the finger foods along with a more substantial entree. This main dish can be kept low cost by making it a vegetable dish like quiche or vegetable lasagna. If you want a meat-based entree, use chicken instead of beef or seafood for a lower cost.