Is having an appetizer wedding reception cheap?

Question

My fiance and I have really been talking lately and we would love to have a big beautiful wedding, but of course, like always money is a HUGE factor! So today we came up with the idea of just having appetizers and drinks ( alcoholic and nonalcoholic). We plan on having 250 people at our wedding (i have a huge family) and reducing the guess count is not an option( trust me I tried). Whats even worse is we live in southern california in los angeles. We want our wedding to be really fun and want to have a great band and photographer because that is what's important to us. We plan on starting at around 7-7:30. Do you guys think this is a good time? If you went to our wedding would you think us cheap? feeding this amount would end up costing us around $7,000 and that is with a CHEAP catering company. HELP!!! Any input (so long as its helpful and not someone being stupid) is very much welcomed. Thanks for your time!

Answer 1

I'm a caterer, and I'm asked so many times to do an "appetizer only" menu because the assumption is that appetizers are less expensive.  This is wrong!  Think about it - appetizers are small, and you need many of these small items to feed so many people.  Of course, you want variety, so now you need a great deal of all kinds of small items.  Lots of labor costs in "appetizer only" menus.

I would recommend doing about 7 or 8 items on your buffet, but have a complete double sided buffet (meaning, you'll have 2 out of each menu item).  Choose 3 main dishes, 2 vegetables and 2 starches.  Your first table should be plates, forks, knives and napkins (and a large bowl of sliced rolls, if you'd like).  Stick to 9" plates - they fill up faster.  When deciding your menu, you want to think of things that can be made in large quanities, not dry out and still be inexpensive.

Sample Menu:

-Pot Roast (1/3 pot roast, 1/3 baby carrots, 1/3 diced potatoes)

-Chunks of Chicken with Mixed Vegetables and a pasta, such as Penne in a seasoned cream sauce

-Something different that people can try - or do Sliced Ham (Pineapples & Cherries help keep ham from drying out) or Meatballs (very simple)

-Baked Ziti (I wouldn't normally suggest this item, but if you decide to have Meatballs, this would team up perfectly with it.  If no Meatballs, then you can use this as your "vegetarian" dish.  Just make sure to add more sauce - dry Baked Ziti is never good!  This dish can be looked at as a 4th main dish too.)

-Garlic Butter Green Beans

-California Vegetable Medley (Broccoli, Baby Carrots, Cauliflower) or Caesar Salad

-Baked Macaroni & Cheese with a Panko Bread Crumb Topping (Always a favorite)

-A potato (If you have Ham, then choose a Loaded Sweet Potato Bake.  If you want to keep it simple and cheap, choose a Rice.)

This menu is EASY to prepare and INEXPENSIVE! 

Placement of the menu items is important too!  Whatever is in the beginning of the buffet, you will go through more of.  So buffet items #1-4, prepare to have lots of. 

Good luck!