Weddingbee boards

Hey bees!

Just wanted to see what everyone thought of the menu. We're doing a "heavy hors d'oeuvres" buffet menu. Our budget for catering (to include the linens/service/setup/breakdown/tip/etc) was $4000 max for 80 people. So after doing some research, we started to get really discouraged because if we went with a buffet of a main course, starch and salad we could only do two entree choices. This felt really restrictive and frankly boring, so we started looking into alternative styles of feeding people. What I found was that hors d'oeuvres are the most expensive due to their time consuming nature, however if we didn't do a plated meal or an entree, we could afford a LOT of different things for the same price. Which suits me just fine because I have found that people don't like the plated food half the time or they don't like the options. Anyway, this is what we came up with, what do you think/what are you doing and what is your budget?

Fresh Garden Vegetable Crudite ~With herbed Boursin and ginger carrot dips.

Mini Fruit Skewers ~With an orange coconut yogurt dip.

Baked Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Artichoke Dip ~Served with toasted pita chips.

Grilled Marinated Vegetables ~Zucchini, yellow squash, portobello mushrooms, asparagus, Bermuda onions, roasted bell peppers and roasted garlic.

eef & Broccoli Wontons ~Served with ginger soy and hot mustard.

Cuban Pork Skewer ~With lime mojo sauce.

Herb and Garlic Lamb Skewer ~With blackberry relish.

Wild Mushroom Duxelle Strudel ~Wild mushroom duxelle and brie cheese wrapped in a puff pastry & baked golden brown.

Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops ~Served with creamy chipotle creme fraiche.

Spinach, Bacon and Gruyere Mini Quiches

sounds delic!

Premature post.

@fvsoccer:  Selection looks good.  A decent amount of vegetarian entrees, which is considerate.

My only concern is your timing and # of pieces available per person. 

@andielovesj: I was concerned at everyone having enough food as well. The last six will have 3-4 pieces/ person. When we were tasting, we had 2 of each of the last six, plus a few other things and we were stuffed! They also reassured me that everyone will get plenty to eat. The reception is only going to be 3.5 hours so there isn't a ton of time that people will be eating. Also, we have fabulous cake!

@fvsoccer: Are you having it over a meal time?  I would definitely be hungry with only 4 pieces.  It's really just 1.5 pieces per hour.  I would definitely want to eat more then one mini quiche or scallop in an hour.

If you had 12 (2 of each of the last 6) pieces and were stuffed, you are only offering your guests 25% of that amount in a presumably longer time frame then your tasting.   

We are also not having a full meal, but are having ceremony at 7:30 pm, an hour long cocktail hour and then stations with more substantial food.  Our cocktail hour (starting at 8pm) allocates for 5 pieces per person, which is then followed by stations (risotto, and mini-entre station) for another 2-3 hours.  So I guess I just can't imagine having 4 pieces over 3.5 hours.  It seems very low.

@andielovesj: ha sorry, wasn't very clear. there are 3-4 pieces per hot hor douevres per person, in addition to all the cold buffet options that are unlimited. So really that is 6-7 pieces of hot options/hour and unlimited fruits, veggies, and chips/dip. So I guess in a roundabout way that establishes that there will be enough to eat for the reception!

yum! sounds good to me! I second the chicken comment though..I wouldn't eat lamb or pork either. But then again, if I were at someone's wedding I'd just find something I would eat. :)

I'm not sure that unlimited dips and veggie platters will make up the difference. I would look at upping the selection to allow people to be able to at least try 1 of each hot app. Every time something new goes by people will want to try them.

I think your guests will be full as long as they are aware that it is their actual meal. Some might try and save their appetites.

I would probably take away a dip and add a sweet to accompany the buffet.

@andielovesj: Ah I am obviously failing miserably at explaining! Each person will be able to have 3-4 pieces of EACH hot app. So that is 18-24 pieces of hot appetizer per person over the course of 3.5 hours IN ADDITION to the veggies and fruit and chips/dip.

@sorrycharlie and 7-9-11bride: There is a beef hot app. I couldn't edit the post though. they are the wantons. And we tried their chicken skewer and weren't impressed.

@luckyjuls: There are fresh fruits, and a sweet dipping sauce, and the cake will come later in the evening. The chips/dip are mainly meant for people to snack on intermittently between the other appetizers. Mainly so people will have a carb along with the protein and veggies and fruit to really feel full!

honestly, we made the menu out of things that tasted great to us and that we wanted. with dietary restrictions such as vegetarians/allergies/religion in mind. however, and this is bound to ruffle feathers, we did not/nor will we cater to "picky" guests. we're already feeding you food (great food) suck it up and try it with an open mind and get over the preconceived notions of weird food! this is just a disclaimer for anyone else that might suggest that we subsitute for less adventurous food, just to save everyone time!

speaking of weird food, watch the movie "food, inc" and all the "normal" stuff doesn't seem so normal anymore (i just watched it tonight)

@melynn44: I actually really did appreciate that opinion due to the fact that I had not considered it when planning the menu. I just considered it and then decided that it was not going to change how we are doing the menu, then in order to save other people's time in their responding to my post, I deterred any further posts of that same opinion. I don't see the need in soliciting the same opinion over and over. I am not "scoffing" by any means it is just a fact that stating that POV again by another bee will have no effect, but I am still open to other suggestions/considerations!