Post # 1

Member
673 posts
Busy bee
So I just got my quote for food for my reception today And I want to see if y’all think it sounds like a good deal. It does not include china just food and wait staff. So if I do buffet for 150 people it is $6,115 for 2 meats, 3 sides and bread. If I do plated meals it is $6,738 for a choice of 1 meat, 3 sides and breads.
what do y’all think?
how much did you pay for your reception food?
Post # 3

Member
2285 posts
Buzzing bee
That’s a lot for me. In my area catering averages about $25/person and that’s for three entree choices. How many catering quotes have you gotten? You can also see if your favorite restaurants cater. A lot of them do, and they’re often much cheaper.
Post # 4

Member
673 posts
Busy bee
Oh and just so y’all know about $2,000 of that is staffing costs.
Post # 5

Member
699 posts
Busy bee
Food was about $50/each, including appys and dinner but not including drinks.
That was a good price in Toronto.
I prefer plated, but most people prefer buffet so that they have choice and control over volumes.
Post # 6

Member
1561 posts
Bumble bee
In my area, $31.58pp for a plated meal is dirt cheap! But it’s all regional – what is normal in your area? What have other caterers quoted you?
Post # 7

Member
1328 posts
Bumble bee
The price is totally going to depend on your region, so I can’t comment there.
Personally I prefer plated meals for large weddings, smaller groups either way. With a large group it can be a bit of chaos trying to get everyone through the buffet line.
Post # 8

Member
3879 posts
Honey bee
THat would be SUPER cheap in my area, so to me it sounds awesome! haha! I like buffets because I like to choose my food, but plated is fine too. Honestly I’m not picky as long as the food is good and there’s enough of it! I think in your case it would be best to do buffet since it offers more choices.
Post # 9

Member
673 posts
Busy bee
Thanks for all of your opinions. It is Whole Foods catering if any of y’all have Whole Foods in your area
Post # 10

Member
10355 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I mean, it depends on how high end a caterer you got. Even in a really cheap area, there are expensive caterers. Really hard to tell you whether that’s “a lot” or not, since we don’t know what type of meat you’re choosing, what your sides are, how fancy the setup is, haw many waiters etc etc etc
Post # 11

Member
4334 posts
Honey bee
I voted plated, but really, it depends. There can be a horrible buffet where they run out of food and it’s cold and you have to wait forever, or there can be a horrible plated dinner where you have only a tiny bit of food that you don’t like and it’s served cold and you have to wait forever. 🙂
Post # 12

Member
846 posts
Busy bee
that seems like a lot. we are also having 150 people and we are only paying $3,500 for two meats, a pasta, two salads, a veggie, a starch, and rolls. this price also includes all non-alcohol drinks and a coffee station, all china and stemware, all linens, and the wait staff. we prefer buffets and they are the norm around here, so that’s what we are going with.
Post # 13

Member
368 posts
Helper bee
Ours is $4700 for 200 people. Buffet style. $20/person
Post # 14

Member
673 posts
Busy bee
@crayfish: Ok so here is some more information! The two meats would be slow roasted beef brisket and a grilled lemon butter chicken. The 3 sides I am not sure about yet, but 1 will most likely be mac and cheese. It also includes artisan breads and ice tea. For staff it includes the event director, an event leader in charge of staff, 4 waitstaff and 1 kitchen attendant.
Post # 15

Member
6262 posts
Bee Keeper
- Wedding: August 2013 - The Liberty House
That sounds a little overpriced but not too bad to me, and I live right outside of NYC. When I did my engagement party, we had tons of appetizers, 2 meats, 3 sides, two salads, and bread for 120 and it was around $4500 including servers for a buffet
Post # 16

Member
398 posts
Helper bee
@Mrs_Harmer_to_be: From what I was told, plated should be less expensive because people eat less than if it is buffet style. I also think its a huge rip off you have to pay for china! JUst my opinion!