Wedding food costs can add up pretty fast. Luckily, there are plenty of options for cheap food for wedding reception you can use to create a simple yet delicious menu. If done right, you can free up enough money to use in other areas of your wedding, but still, leave your guests feeling satisfied.
So, if you are wondering, what is the cheapest option for food at a wedding? How can I spend less on wedding food? And, how can I feed my wedding guests cheap, you are in the right place.
What is the cheapest option for food at a wedding?
If you are on a budget, opting for expensive menu options like lobster or steak is not a good idea. The most logical thing would be to choose simple, inexpensive food.
A traditional dinner of chicken, potatoes, and vegetables is one of the cheapest food options. And your guests won’t mind what they are eating as long as the food is delicious and well presented.
How can I spend less on wedding food?
Other than choosing low-budget foods for your wedding
, you can trim the guest list, opting for a buffet or family-style meal instead of a plated meal, using ingredients that are in season, and choosing your caterer if your venue allows it.
How can I feed my wedding guests cheap?
Your guests should not leave the wedding hungry. This means investing in food that are not only cheap but also filling. This way, your guests won’t need too many servings to be satisfied.
Wedding Menu Ideas for a Dinner Buffet
A buffet is one of the most affordable food catering styles. But you also need to consider the type of food you put out on those buffet tables. Food such as Seafood and prime cuts are going to drive your prices way up. We have listed a few affordable wedding buffet ideas for you:
- Roasted chicken
- Roasted beef
- Salad stations
- Pasta dish
- Side dishes which typically include a vegetable and one type of potato
- Dinner rolls and butter
How to come up with wedding food on a budget – 5 ideas
1. Determine the serving style you want
Decide whether you want to serve a family-style meal, a buffet, a plated meal, serving stations, or heavy appetizers. The style you choose depends on several factors, such as your budget, venue space, and the formality of your wedding.
2. Consider your favorites
Incorporating a meal that you and your partner enjoy on the menu is a great place to start when coming up with wedding food. This can include a special food item that you had on your first date, or maybe a popular food from a local restaurant, etc.
3. Consider the season
Choose food options for whose ingredients are in season and available locally to reduce your catering costs.
4. Keep in mind the dietary needs of your guests
If you are having a buffet or family-style serving, include several food options to accommodate guests with food sensitivities or allergies. If you are serving a plated meal, offer your guests two extra food options.
5. Consider the aesthetics
As much as your meals should be delicious, they should also look appetizing. So, another easy way to come up with wedding food is to consider foods that can be well presented.
3 Ideas for wedding food on a budget
1. Appetizers
Dinner rolls with butter are an easy way to get your guests started without spending a lot of money. Other options for appetizers include kebabs, sliders, meatballs, cheese and crackers, and mixed nuts, etc.
2. Main Meals and Sides
Pasta
It is a good option because it is easy to make, is filling, and is low-cost. You can have an assorted pasta station with pasta and mushroom, a version with marinara sauce, etc.
Tacos
They are fairly inexpensive and also good for weddings. Consider having a taco station with fillings where guests can make their own tacos.
Barbecue
Include hotdogs, hamburgers, ribs, etc. Have sides of potato (roasted or mashed), green beans, grilled broccoli or asparagus, and cornbread.
Casseroles
E.g tuna casserole. They are delicious food options that will leave your guests feeling happy and satisfied, at the same time it will save you money.
3. Drinks
Alcohol is quite expensive and can really eat into your wedding budget. To reduce the costs, consider offering just wine and beer to your guests. If you won’t have alcohol at all. You can consider having a water station, offer sodas, mocktails, and punch instead.
5 Cheap wedding catering ideas
1. Hire a food truck
Food trucks are a fun and inexpensive way to cater to a wedding. To avoid long queues, ensure you have a set menu presented as a buffet or have premade food that can be easily handed out to guests.
2. Consider a potluck wedding
Food trucks are a fun and inexpensive way to cater to a wedding. To avoid long queues, ensure you have a set menu presented as a buffet or have premade food that can be easily handed out to guests.
3. Serve appetizers
You can move away from the main meal and serve appetizers only. This allows you to serve food that you love in small portions, instead of serving a main meal. You only need to ensure that there is enough to fulfil the guests.
4. DIY your own food
This means making wedding food yourself from scratch. It is only ideal for a small or medium-sized wedding. Make sure that you pick a simple menu to avoid getting overwhelmed.
5. Semi-DIY your food
If you can’t prepare a full meal by yourself, you can semi-DIY. This means having a caterer prepare the main meal, and then make the side dishes yourself.
In conclusion, weddings are expensive affairs, but you can lessen the financial burden by cutting the cost in different areas, including food. There are a lot of cheap food options available. You can also be creative and come up with your own unique but budget-friendly menu.
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