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Top Tips for Cutting Wedding
Catering Costs
With most weddings these days, the wedding catering follows a set formula of canapés with the reception drinks before a three-course sit-down meal, followed later that evening with a hot buffet. With all this food, it’s not surprising that the catering costs are huge.
By moving away from this recent tradition you can easily slash hundreds off your wedding catering budget.
Here are some top tips to cutting the cost of your catering:
Reduce the number of meals you serve
It’s only in the last 15 years that couples have started providing a sit-down meal after the ceremony and then a further buffet towards the end of the night for the evening guests.
You could easily cut the evening buffet, as most of these guests will have eaten before they arrive and those guests that ate earlier are generally still full from the earlier three courses!
Opt for smaller companies
By avoiding the large professional catering companies, you’ll reduce your catering costs. Many small restaurants or small, local catering businesses are able to provide food for large events, including weddings. Going local and small will allow you to avoid the hefty price tag often associated with large companies.
Keep it simple
One of the best ways to reduce your costs is simplifying your menu. Consider serving up classic pub food such as bangers and mash or fish and chips (which was good enough for Kate Winslet!). They’re everybody’s favourites and will keep your costs low.
Do it yourself
Enlist the help of your family and cater yourself. If everyone pitches in a little you can make light work of catering. It will take a little planning, but with a simple buffet menu it is easily achieved. Make sure you read my article on tips for DIY wedding food before you go down this route.
Think differently about your food
There are plenty of food options available, so you don’t have to go down the route of a traditional sit-down meal. Consider providing party foods, snacks or plenty of canapés for a champagne reception. For a summer garden reception a BBQ or spit-roast would go down well. A dessert only reception would work well for a bride with a sweet-tooth or perhaps a picnic style buffet for a more casual affair.
Consider a catering college
In virtually every city there is a catering college and often these offer additional services. After all, the students need to practice their catering skills and what better way than at a wedding?
Contact your local education authority to source your nearest college. Even if they don’t do the catering, you may find a number of students willing to serve at your wedding.
The general rule of thumb is if you do what most of the other brides are doing, you’ll spend a fortune just like them. Try something a little different, simplify your plans or do it yourself and on the whole you’ll save yourself a packet.
If you’re using a caterer make sure you read my thinks to consider when using a wedding caterer so you ask all the right questions and don’t fall down any of the money traps!
Related articles:
DIY Catering – Hints and Tips
Easy Wedding Food For Buffets
Where To Start When Catering Your Own Wedding
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Image credits:
Sizzling chicken and kebabs: © Juriah Mosin | Dreamstime.com
Cooking: © Liv Friis-larsen | Dreamstime.com
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