Post # 1

Member
22 posts
Newbee
Hello ladies,
I am starting to research caterers and was wondering how much people are paying for catering. So if you are having a sit down dinner, buffet, stations, it doesn’t matter – let me know how much you are paying and how many guests.
For me, I am having 130 guests and I want a sit-down dinner and am trying to find out what the average price in Atlanta is for that.
Post # 3

Member
997 posts
Busy bee
My venue includes catering (but the food is amazing!). Anyways, they have a food minimum of $4k for Saturday night events. We only have 100 people so we are doing the upgraded menu at $40 per person. It is stations and not a sit down meal. If they didnt have a food minimum we would have gone with the $32 per person menu. I do not know the sit down meal prices, but I do know it was extra.
I didn’t research caterers in the Atlanta area because my venue already one, but I would say a few thousand for 130 people would be average.
Post # 4

Member
1623 posts
Bumble bee
I wasn’t in the Atlanta area, but my catering came out to be about $13,500 for a nice sit down dinner for 330 people (I know , huge wedding). The breakdown was about $23/head which included rolls/butter, salad, entree with meat option, veggie and starch, and then water and coffee. Our food was outstanding in my opinion.
Post # 5

Member
846 posts
Busy bee
we can’t bring in outside caterers, so we are going with my venue’s cheapest package which is $20 per plate. we are doing buffet-style with chicken, pasta with sausage, potatoes, mixed veggies, two salads, and rolls.
Post # 6

Member
3173 posts
Sugar bee
Yikes! I am not in Atlanta (wedding will be in Charlotte, NC) but our catering is coming out to $4K for less than 40 people for a buffet. I’m not paying for it or planning it though.
Post # 7

Member
523 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: March 2013 - Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Our catering is coming out to $11k for 200 people. This includes a buffet with three stations, plated salad at the table, mini banana pudding shots for dessert, all of the staffing, china, utensils, and glasses.
FYI we’re working with Zest Atlanta Catering and they have been an absolute joy to work with.
Post # 8

Member
22 posts
Newbee
Whew, some of your catering prices is making me very jealous. All of my proposals for an 130-140 sit-down dinner with cocktail hour is around 9,000 -10,000. And that doesn’t even include open bar.
Also we have to use one of the preferred caterers which is also making this decision a little hard.
Post # 9

Member
62 posts
Worker bee
I am spending $3k for 100 people buffet style
Post # 10

Member
756 posts
Busy bee
Yeah I’m not in Atlanta, but we are spending $12,000 for 120 people before the bar. Damn you New York, that does include taxes and service fees though.
Post # 11

Member
196 posts
Blushing bee
Our reception is a brunch. We are having 2-3 passed hour devours. Buffet style with a omlet station. For 150 people it is going to cost us about 4.5k. The cater does not supply alcohol so it allows you to shop around and find the best price for you.
Zest Atlanta Catering.
Hannah and Dana have been truly amazing. They respond very quickly and have been able to answer all of our questions throughly!!
I hope this helps some.
Post # 12

Member
2446 posts
Buzzing bee
We’re doing a seated dinner for 100 people for $10K. I think that’s a great deal.
Post # 13

Member
2446 posts
Buzzing bee
@lotto: Don’t fret, Atlanta catering (inside the perimeter) is quite pricey.
Post # 14

Member
95 posts
Worker bee
$18K for passed hors d’oeurves, plated first course and family style main courses. There will also be a dessert bar. This doesn’t include booze and this covers 120 guests.
Post # 15

Member
1 posts
Wannabee
We just booked our catering service this week – I’m looking over the final contract today. We were shocked to find out that a plated dinner was significantly cheaper than a buffet from our caterer (they say because when people serve themselves they eat way larger portions). We ended up going with a plated dinner and a hosted beer and wine bar for $5K for 150 guests. This does not include our cake or appetizers for the cocktail hour. Those we are bringing in from another vendor.
Post # 16

Member
1572 posts
Bumble bee
I am not in Atlanta, but I am paying $84 per person for a seated meal and open bar for 65 people, plus tax.