Thirteen Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Catering
Advice 29.11.2022
Choosing your wedding menu can be one of the most exciting parts of the wedding planning process. But your catering can easily use up a big chunk of your wedding budget too. So here are our 13 easy ways to save money on your wedding catering.
Go easy on the appetisers
If you’re opting for a plated wedding breakfast, you don’t need to serve three courses. If you’ve already served canapes and with drink before or after the ceremony, don’t feel obliged to serve appetisers too. Go without a starter and go straight into the main course instead, and save yourself some money.
Skip dessert and serve cake
Instead of having a separate dessert, serve your wedding cake as the dessert. And while you’re at it, think about having a shop bought cake rather than ordering a bespoke wedding cake from a cake baker. It’s easy to buy a plain iced cake and decorate it yourself with fresh fruits and berries, or flowers that match your bouquet.
Have a buffet
A full sit down wedding breakfast is a nice-to-have but a wedding buffet will be more cost effective option and can be just as delicious. You may opt for a complete help-yourself- buffet with cold meats and salad. Or if you’re serving hot dishes such as chilli, paella or a hearty stew you might want to have servers on hand to dish up. There also tends to be less waste with a buffet as guests will only help themselves to what they want. Although some guests will definitely go back for seconds!
Limit the choices
You want to cater for all your guests and ensure everyone has a good time. But if you create a special dish for every allergy, intolerance, preference and lifestyle choice, the costs will soon mount up. Talk to your wedding caterer about creating dishes that cater for a number of guests, such as a vegetarian terrine that’s also gluten free and dairy free.
Go vegan
Talking of vegetarians and vegans, you may want to go completely veggie for your wedding and reduce your costs. (And it’s good for the planet too.) More and more couples are choosing plant based dishes only for their wedding breakfasts, and these days there are plenty of delicious options to choose from. A big pan of vegan paella or a platter of vegetarian mezze are always popular.
Hire a food truck
Food trucks for weddings are hugely popular right now and a good way to keep your catering budget in check. If you’re having an outdoor wedding, you may want to hire a few food trucks to create a street food vibe. Serve tacos, kebabs, bao buns and falafels. Or opt for a fish and chip truck for the evening only. Or maybe choose a food truck for the desserts. A waffle or ice cream van are always popular.
Have a BBQ or hog roast
A BBQ or hog roast is the perfect way to keep your catering costs down and ideal if you’re having a festival style wedding or more informal celebration. Serve with bowls of potato salad and green salad, and include plenty of condiments too, such as ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. Rather than have these in one place and risk a long queue, decant into little glass jars and have them on each table. If you’re BBQing remember to include vegetarian and vegan dishes too. Grilled halloumi, grilled, asparagus and vegetable kebabs always go down well.
Have a pot luck
Instead of wedding gifts, ask your guests to bring a dish with them instead. In order to stop everyone bringing a quiche, you may want to send out a list of dishes and let people choose. Or maybe just have a free for all and let guests bring whatever they want. Either way, it will keep your catering costs down and will be a conversation starter.
Have grazing platters
Grazing platters are so popular at the moment (and look great on Instagram too). Numerous couples are opting for these mini buffet platters for each table instead of a traditional buffet and anything goes. A charcuterie board with cold meats and cheeses works well, as do dessert platters with everything from macarons and fresh fruits to marshmallows and nuts.
Keep the evening food simple
It may be tempting to put on a full spread again in the evening. But keeping it simple will help you keep your catering costs under control. Serving up bacon butties (and a vegetarian equivalent) is guaranteed to give everyone the energy needed to keep the party going all night long. You might want to think about having pizzas delivered too. Just make sure you order them well in advance.
Choose a seasonal menu
Certain ingredients cost more than others at different times of the year. So talk to your caterer about choosing dishes for your menu that include seasonal ingredients. And if possible, choose food that’s grown locally too.
Opt for an experienced caterer
Choose a caterer who’s worked at your venue before and has catered for a similar number of guests there. Tell them what your budget and let them work with you to create something unique and memorable for your wedding day.
Choose a venue that’s flexible
If you choose a wedding venue that insists you use their in-house caterers, you’re going to pay a whole lot more than if you opt for a DIY wedding venue. A wedding venue that lets you choose your own menu with all your favourite dishes will help you save money on your catering, as well as ensuring you enjoy a memorable wedding breakfast that’s personal to you both.