Covid-19 is clearing up and that wedding that you rescheduled or planned is coming up.
Supply chain issues have hurt!
Here are a few suggestions that will help you save money on your wedding catering while still serving a memorable and delicious meal.
As one of the biggest expenses in your overall wedding budget, some couples find catering costs to be a bit more than they’d anticipated. While every couple should expect to allocate about half of their total budget toward reception costs—catering services included—there are ways to save money on wedding catering without sacrificing a delicious meal for all. Experts agree that if a couple is willing to build a strategic menu, skip the plated dinner, and think outside the box, there’s plenty of room to keep catering costs right on track. Out of the box thinking is Be Creative Catering’s specialty.
Go for budget-friendly foods.
Saving major money on your catering costs all comes down to making strategic menu selections. Choosing budget-friendly entrées such as pork, chicken, or turkey over more expensive menu selections like steak or lobster. The same goes for appetizers, sides, and desserts.
Couples should keep the food simple but delicious. There is nothing wrong with a traditional dinner of chicken, potatoes, and vegetables. Just focus on hiring a caterer with well-cooked, flavorful food; so even a simple menu will impress your guests. This is why tastings are so important and we encourage couples to taste their menus.
While budget selections may not be the foodie experience you originally had in mind, rest assured that a great wedding caterer can turn any menu into a stand-out meal: A Be Creative Catering Specialty.
Skip the plated full-service dinner.
If you are looking for an easy way to save money on your wedding catering, one of the best options is to opt for a buffet, This style of service requires fewer staff compared to a plated or family-style dinner; saving you hundreds of dollars in labor costs. A buffet may also reduce the amount of rentals needed, as well. For example, if you decide on a plated dinner, a salad course is typically served first. This would require you to rent not only a dinner fork, dinner knife and dinner plate, but also a salad fork, salad knife and salad plate.
However, be careful, as it can be easy to confuse a buffet service with stations. Stations can rack up the costs quickly as it requires experienced chefs to manage each station. The menu also becomes longer when several foods are offered at each station, thus increasing your food costs.
Consider disposable dinnerware.
A lot goes into catering expenses, including the cost of plates, flatware, drinkware, and napkins. While fine china and linen napkins are non-negotiable for some couples, others are able to explore alternatives for a more casual wedding and cut a considerable amount of costs in the process.
As a way to save money on wedding catering, consider serving appetizers or the wedding cake on disposables and keeping the real china for dinner service only. Serving your guests on fancy, high-end disposables will save you a bunch of cash you can use elsewhere.
Go casual for cocktail hour.
Hors d’oeuvres for the cocktail hour are also a part of catering that can increase your total cost. These small bites are often intricate and more labor-intensive, requiring additional prep time in the kitchen. If you want to serve snacks during cocktail hour to tide your guests over until dinner is served, consider offering platters and dips. Hummus and crudites or chips and guacamole are both great options. (And who doesn’t love chips and dip?) Or, a more elegant choice could be a charcuterie board filled with jams, cured meats, fruit, and cheeses. These dishes require less labor, thus saving you a little money.
From mouthwatering appetizers to decadent desserts and all the good food in between, our experts are here to help you plan the perfect catered event on your budget.
Be Creative Catering is Northern Kentucky’s premier choice for parties, family gatherings, and weddings, providing clients with creative guidance in menu planning and presentation. Give us a call today at (859) 586-4201 to speak to discuss your event catering ideas!