Weddings tend to be one of the most expensive events that people put on in their lifetime. With the average wedding costing over $35,000, it’s not all too surprising that many brides and grooms-to-be are on the constant lookout for money saving techniques and options.
One area where average costs can be significantly reduced tends to be catering. Sure, you have to feed your guests throughout the day and food can be an extremely exciting area of the wedding to get involved in. But you don’t have to fork out a fortune for something memorable!
Here are our 7 top catering options that will help to save you money in the lead up to your big day!
- Research your caterer – if you’re going to put your trust in a caterer to provide the food for your big day, you want to be sure that your food is going to be in good hands. You want your guests to be satisfied and you want the food to look good in your wedding photography and pictures. So, take a look at their portfolio and read up on recommendations from previous clients. This should give you a good idea of their capabilities and performance. Having to find someone else if you are let last minute can be extremely costly.
- Go buffet-style – it costs a whole lot more to have individual meals plated up and served to your guests. You can save a lot by going buffet style. This will see food served up in huge trays, which your guests can then take from themselves. This also gives your guests a lot more freedom in choosing what they want – they can taste different things depending on how they’re feeling on the day, rather than having to place down order months in advance.
- Try food trucks – food trucks are rapidly growing in popularity, with events springing up left, right and center that bring food vans together for people to pick and choose from. Food trucks tend to be a lot cheaper than other forms of catering at weddings. Plus, there’s just something cute and unique about them that will leave a lasting impression in your guests’ memories. They’re a real novelty!
- Serve Up Pasta – pasta is one of the cheapest forms of cuisine around. It can be purchased in bulk loads and turned into delicious dishes with just a few natural ingredients added in the form of a sauce. So, why not consider it for your big day? This is a particularly good option for bigger weddings where you have a lot of people to feed.
- BBQ – if your wedding is in the summer months, a BBQ could be a good option. Not only will this get everyone outside in the good weather, but it’ll create an intimate and personal atmosphere, bringing garden parties and relaxed summer afternoons to mind. Plus, BBQ foods tend to be cheap. Burgers, hotdogs and buns are all relatively low cost. Just make sure you cater to all of your guests’ dietary needs. You might find that you need to purchase some vegetarian and vegan alternatives too – and you may need more than one grill so there isn’t cross contamination.
- Burritos and Tacos – another food tends to be burritos and tacos. Shells and wraps are extremely cheap and you can fill them up with all sorts of wholesome ingredients. Make sure you have plenty of salsa, guacamole, and salad to add into the mix. Again, make sure that you cater to all of your guests’ dietary needs. A salad wrap or taco really doesn’t sound all too appealing!
- Fondues and Fountains – when it comes to dessert, hiring a chocolate fondue or fountain can significantly cut costs in comparison to individually served desserts. Offer a variety of different things for your guests to dip in. Strawberries and marshmallows tend to go down a treat, but you could get a little more creative if you like.
Sure, catering at your wedding is going to be somewhat expensive, especially if you have a lot of guests. But there are ways that you can save a whole lot of money in this area of your day. This surplus could be saved or put towards making a different area of your big day a little more lavish!
If you overspend on your catering, make sure to capture the delicious overpriced food with some good wedding photography. A good photo will make it all worth it later on when you look back into that magical day.
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