Post # 1
Member
1268 posts
Bumble bee
Ever since I got engaged, I told myself that at the reception we would not have your streotypical “wedding food.” I wanted something unique and different, and I wanted people to walk away thinking how wonderful their meal was.
However, I had no idea how much catering truly costs. My dad’s friend owns a very popular/fancy seafood restaurant by our venue. He said that for 15 dollars a person, he would cater a buffet for us. This is for the food alone, of course, with the service charges, beverages, flatware, etc. all seperate.
For 15 dollars a person, he said he would do:
Rosemary red potatoes
green beans with garlic and lemon
Alder plank slamon
chicken with a mushroom sauce
salad and rolls
OF course, this is exactly what I had in my mind as “streotypial wedding food.”
What do YOU think. would you stick with a menu like this for the price he’s charging?
those of you that have a similar menu, what are you paying per person?
Post # 3
Member
1029 posts
Bumble bee
$15pp??? That’s almost exactly what we’re having and it’ll cost us $65pp (plated though – not buffet) including 5 passed appetizers. That includes gratuities, flatware, services fees etc but no bar.
I guess if you want to spend more depends entirely on your budget – what did you have in mind for ‘unique’ food?
Post # 4
Member
11324 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Maybe do a little more research? I think the food sounds good and its a great price, but as a person who REALLY didn’t want “typical wedding food” (and in the end chose NOT typical wedding food) I totally feel you on this… so maybe if you did some more research it would be less of a yes/no question and more of a wedding food for 15 vs. non wedding food for x?
Post # 5
Member
4822 posts
Honey bee
What do you mean by “better” better quality or more exotic, less steriotypical wedding food? As long as the food is done well, people will enjoy it. You could do something less “weddingy”, but if it wasnt cooked properly, served hot, etc, people won’t even notice. Its more about the quality and what he is giving you is a great price if its good quality.
Alternatively you could ask him for something a little more fun and tell him you are willing to go up another $5 a head and see what he has for suggestions.
Post # 6
Member
605 posts
Busy bee
I think it is an amazing price, but I do agree, it seems like rather “typical” food. But, the more I think about it, what ISN’T typical food? Unless you are really willing to splurge, I don’t know that you’ll get much different? Our venue does the catering, and it’s about $85 a person and we’ll basically have the same meal! Maybe some “fancier” sides. But seriously, that is an AWESOME price! No one remembers the food anyhow.
Post # 7
Member
4136 posts
Honey bee
for $15, i would go for it! seriously, you can’t beat that price. shop around a little to get an idea of what others charge for non-typical foods. mine sort of similar but with a few local dishes and $35/pp.
Post # 8
Member
1268 posts
Bumble bee
with everything (alcoholic beverages, non alcoholic beverages, all services charges, linens, and flatware, we will be spending about 30-35 bucks a person. this guy, as my dad’s friend, is cutting as a great deal.
he will only stick to the style of food that he serves at this restaurant. So, if we want to go for a more alternative style of food, we won’t be able to use him and therefore won’t be getting a homie hook-up.
Post # 9
Member
1268 posts
Bumble bee
by non “weddingy” food, i meant foods like:
Asian-infused cuisine
Tapas
kabobs
funky appetizers (dips, exotic cheeses)
stuff like that. i know these aren’t all related, but they were just some of the ideas i had.
Post # 10
Member
3176 posts
Sugar bee
It depends on your area and the amount of guests as well as the quality of the food. A wedding for a friend I attended in downtown STL had a very similar menu for 100 people and it cost about 38 per person. My cousin had 400+ with more food and it was only 10.00 a person. It doesn’t hurt to shop around, if anything it might make you feel like you are getting a really awesom deal that you can’t turn down 🙂
Post # 11
Member
4822 posts
Honey bee
I say go for it and maybe hire another caterer (if its in the budget) to do some really fun passed hor deourves? It will still probably save you money at the end.
Post # 12
Member
11324 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@heatherrobyn: they dont have to be related! we’re doing “dueling buffets” of mexican and asian food. Just bc we like them. weird? maybe. but whatever its going to be SO GOOD.
Post # 13
Member
1876 posts
Buzzing bee
IDEA!!!
How about you go with this menu, it’s an amazing price and the food will be good! But do something a little different for either cocktail hour, dessert, or a lite night munchie buffet?! You could have late night snacks catered by a favorite fast food joint, like total bar food, sliders, mozzarella sticks, wings, etc. Or do an elaborate dessert bar? Or a crazy awesome cocktail hour?
What’s great about doing this deal is that it free’s up money for you to do something else extravagant.
Post # 14
Member
1268 posts
Bumble bee
we actually ARE doing a crazy dessert buffet.
-Cotton candy
-TONS of candy
-Popcorn machine
-homemade pies
-Several cakes
-brownies
-cookies
so maybe that will make up for the boring food?
Post # 15
Member
1876 posts
Buzzing bee
@heatherrobyn: LOL your dessert buffet sounds amazing!!! and don’t worry the dinner won’t be boring! I read the food you originally wanted:
Asian-infused cuisine
Maybe a local chinese food restaurant could cater apps?
Tapas
Do you have a favorite Tapas restaurant? Maybe you’re dad’s friend could mimic their menu for some interest sides?
kabobs
Where you live do you have street meat? This is HUGE in NYC. Maybe you could have a vendor set up a cart at the end of the wedding to give everyone kabobs as like a “to-go treat”?
funky appetizers (dips, exotic cheeses)
I’m sure if you mix and match some of the above ideas it’ll be funky and delish!
Post # 16
Member
50 posts
Worker bee
I think it’s a great deal and I don’t know your guests but I know sometimes people don’t like exotic food. They want meat and potatoes. lol