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Wedding Catering

Another conundrum for soon-to-be married couples is the dilemma of having servers versus having a buffet for the reception. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s look at both sides before you make your decision.

At the buffet table

The first and most obvious upshot of having a buffet style dinner at the wedding is the opportunity for all of the guests to choose what they want to eat. This way everyone is happy and they can have as much or as little as they want. There can be multiple things for various dietary restrictions as well as a multitude of side dishes for the vegetarian that hates getting pasta at every wedding.

But the downside of the buffet table is that things that are popular will run out. If you do not plan ahead for shortages, then you may have guests that didn’t get what they really wanted to eat. In terms of movement, the buffet table can be tricky. The bride may have troubles moving up there and might be afraid to spill anything on her dress, as other may be as well. Trying to find ways to serve items without having a large opportunity for spillage will help to avoid any dry cleaning bills.

The service is excellent

Having servers for the reception is a classy and easy way to keep everyone happy during the reception. Not only will no one have to move until the dance, but the servers can also attend to any problems without the couple even knowing about them. Drinks can also be served, which is wonderful for everyone—no more needing to get up and down during dinner.

On the other hand, this excellent service does come with a price tag. It will be costlier to have staff waiting on the guests, especially with more guests. You will also take the chance of the staff being nice to the head table and not to the rest of the guests. The best advice is to interview each staff member as well before the reception.

Both buffets and service are great options for reception dinners. If you’re looking for something a little more casual, then the buffet will be great, but for the more formal occasion, service is best. You may want to stop and consider your guests at this point. If they’re older and don’t move around well, service is a great way to keep them comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    wedding catering?
    I am doing a wedding project in my sociology class and we need to research the high and low end of wedding catering costs. Anyone know any good websites for either?

    • ANSWER:
      If you want to get some detailed answers first select some major metropolation areas (new York, San Francisco, Los Angles) then select some less metro areas (new jersesy, sacramento, denver) and then small towns.

      Find cateres in each area (3 per area) and give thema head count of 100, sitted dinner vs. buffet and see what they come back with. Create and average based on those numbers.

      There is no site to give you this info that i know of. My catering cost is ,000 for 100 people in Monterey CA

  2. QUESTION:
    Wedding catering. . . ?
    what would be the best food/appetizers to serve at a wedding with a very diverse crowd? Totaling about 100 people give or take 10 or so that might flake at the last minute

    • ANSWER:
      I own a country club and handle all of the wedding planning for the club. My experience is that most people choose items that are main stream and that people are familiar with. Although I have some unusual items on my wedding menu, these items are rarely chosen.

      What you choose would depend on regional preferences as well. I'm located in New England. The meals that are familiar here would probably not be the right choice for a wedding located in the southwest or California.

      I'm not sure what you mean by diverse, but you should probably consider a vegetarian dish as an option. Also, stay away from nuts and mushrooms, since many people have allergies. Hopefully if your guests have food allergies, they will let you know in advance.

      If you have a seafood, chicken, beef and vegetarian option, this should cover the bases.

  3. QUESTION:
    How much have people payed for their wedding catering?
    How much have people payed for their wedding catering and what did the service include and what was the menu? As much information as possible would be absolutely amazing. Or if you just happen to know much about it.

    Thank you!!!

    • ANSWER:
      I found a very inexpensive venue on NH. It is costing about about ,500.00 for 150 people. It's per person plus tax and gratuity.

      We are having a buffet that includes:
      tossed salad and rolls
      one starch
      one vegetable
      2 entrees

      We chose: baked potato, sweet corn medley, sauteed chicken with sun dried tomatoes (pasta) and slow roasted beef with au jus.

  4. QUESTION:
    What is the price range for Abigail Kirsch wedding catering & venues in NYC?
    Has anyone used Abigail Kirsch catering & venues to plan their NYC wedding? What is the average price range? Do they charge a flat fee for a package or is it priced per person? What services are included in the price? I just want to get a ballpark idea of how expensive it is before I request a quote. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      a quote doesn't mean you have to go with them & it's the only way to find out for sure
      http://www.abigailkirsch.com/contact.htm

  5. QUESTION:
    Wedding Catering ??
    Anyone done it themselves.
    Is it that big of a hassle,
    Did you save money
    Would you do it again?

    • ANSWER:
      My husband and I made all the food for our reception. We planned it all 6 months in advance and did everything but the cake.
      We had friends who volunteered to serve and refill as necessary.
      It was really a great experience for us.

  6. QUESTION:
    Where can i find a self catering wedding venue in gauteng south africa?
    Im looking for a wedding venue that has great photographic appeal but that does not offer catering and bar service as I find it would be far cheaper to provide these services myself. Can anyone help me?
    I am looking for a venue in the Johannesburg area. Anywhere in East Rand would be helpful.

    • ANSWER:
      you are going to have to narrow it down a bit. gauteng is too large an area. do you want something near joburg or where.

  7. QUESTION:
    How much should I charge? (Wedding catering)?
    I am catering my first wedding by myself. The couple are friends of mine, and are having a low key wedding in their backyard. They are buying all of the food themselves and I am just preparing it a few days beforehand/the day of and running the buffet. How much should I charge them for my labor?

    • ANSWER:
      Anywhere from -0. If its not that much food, just charge

  8. QUESTION:
    What is an appropriate dish/dishes for wedding catering?
    I'm having my wedding in a building where lots of people will be hungry. I need to know what are some appropriate dishes or dish that is good for a wedding. Any ideas? Hello? OH thanks :)

    • ANSWER:
      Johnny, are you hiring a caterer? They should be able to tell you!! Are you passing the food - butler style or is this a buffet?

      Look-up finger foods on the web - there are hundreds dude.

  9. QUESTION:
    Is it advisable to hire a food catering for wedding when you are in a tight budget?
    A plan to spend 30000pesos for wedding costs, is it okay to hire food catering? or cook at home. There are 100 people will attend. What do you think? I hope you I can hear your wonderful opinions there guys... Thank you very much!

    • ANSWER:
      it depends... u gotta do your research...do u have someone who can make u the food for free?...will it cost more to buy the ingredients?...can u find a caterer thats within your budget???

  10. QUESTION:
    How much would you expect to pay for wedding catering?
    It would be for a sit down meal (no buffet!) for around 60 guests in Sydney. Please no answers suggesting just having snacks or orderves as I want a proper sit down 2-3 course evening meal for my guests.

    • ANSWER:
      depends on the cater but about 20 to 30 a head. my friend is having 150 to her wedding and spending 3,000 for food buffet style but sit down would be 4,000. that seems to be the average atleast where i live.

  11. QUESTION:
    Wedding Catering costs are not locked in?
    I spoke with the venue manager who is also doing the catering, and they told me they can't lock in the prices of the food (raises every year) due to the cost of gas of tranportation to ship food, etc. We are currently paying .50 per plate (buffet), with 10 percent tax and then 18 percent gratuity.

    Anybody experience the same thing? How much did the food raise in price?
    They didn't give me a contract.

    • ANSWER:
      My question to you is have you put a deposit down yet? If no, change venues or call a local planner and ask if they will speak with the venue. If yes, re-read your contract and if possible send to an attorney to have them look it over. The venue is trying to pull a fast one on you because they think you won't dispute it. If you have a contract and it states that you are paying .50 per person then they can not legally change it. Guest count dictates a change if you start with 150 guests at .50 per person and then end up with 200 guests at .50 per person. Then the sub total would change but you would still add to that the sales tax and gratuity tax(Indiana charges 9% Marion County sales tax and 18%-20% gratuity tax)

  12. QUESTION:
    How do I handle wedding catering?
    I am trying to plan my wedding for next november and my fiance and I are stuck between chinese or barbecue for the reception because they are our favorite kinds of food, nothing is booked yet. My sister is my maid of honor and a vegetarian so what I need to know is how do I make it so my sister can eat at the the reception too? I don't want her to starve I know chinese has vegetarian options, but what about barbecue???

    • ANSWER:
      I don't get the point of catering to a SINGLE person. If you have a picky diet, than deal with it. What if someone doesn't like Chinese Food or what if someone doesn't like BBW Food? So I'd leave the "vegetarian" question out in the cold and decide between Chinese & BBQ. IMO, I prefer BBQ to Chinese Food (just the overal flavoring). As people have noted if you "must" consider the 1 with a picky diet..BBQ tends to be served with "side" options that picky people can chose from.

  13. QUESTION:
    What is the average cost of catering a wedding per person in DC metro?
    I'm planning my wedding around May/June of 2011. Obviously plenty of venues require their own caterers, but I was curious: What is the average cost per person for food catered at a wedding?

    • ANSWER:
      Hi there,

      It really depends on what type of catering you will need for your special day. I should also mention that my catering organization is in the Toronto/Canada area so prices may be a little different in the DC area, however, here's a basic guideline.

      If you want to keep things simple and just have a buffet style meal, then you should budget in the range of - pp

      A full sit-down meal would be more in the range of -.

      If you wanted to arrange for an all inclusive where the caterer provides all the settings, tables, decorations etc. then you should be budgeting around - 0pp depending on how extravagant the layout.

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      If you would like some examples of our Brampton wedding catering special meal suggestions and accompanying prices, you can view our suggestions here;

      http://www.tkscatering.com/weddings/packages

      OR

      Here is a website that outlines self catering vs outsource catering ideas and even includes a spreadsheet budgeting tool I found that may help you as well; (I did not use the budget spreadsheet myself so not sure how accurate it is but it may help with some basic budgeting guidelines)

      http://www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/wedding.html

      Congratulations and best of luck for your very special day.

      ...Chef Ted

      * Note: These prices don't include drinks.

  14. QUESTION:
    Are we supposed to tip a catering company (wedding) that doesn't include gratuity in the final cost?
    I've gotten several bids/proposals from catering companies for my wedding next summer. Each of them inclue 18% gratuity except for 2 of them. When paying them, should I include a "tip"? If so, how much (%)?

    • ANSWER:
      18% is high, unless of course the catering is something special, unique food, difficult to prepare/serve... or if the catering company has taken on extra chores not usually done by a caterer. Generally I would tip the same to a caterer as I would to restaurant wait staff...15% and little higher if the service was good or the waiter/waitress handled a diificult situation (food not cooked to order or table not very good etc.) In California the sales tax is right around 7.5% percent, so to calculate a tip, I double the sales tax and round it off higher for good service.

      Many Blessings for the wedding ;-)

  15. QUESTION:
    Does anyone out there know of a reasonably priced self catering wedding venue or function hall?
    I need a hall for a wedding but the wedding is supposed to be self catered for that old Century buffet style of food with all food and drink resembling that era. Where can I find a reasonably priced venue that will allow self catering and self bar or minimum the self catering?
    The wedding will be in South Africa in Johannesburg, Gauteng. If anyone out there can help I would really appriciate it.

    • ANSWER:
      we need to know where your wedding is going to be in order to help you.

      you didn't include the answer bar after your additional comments, so i hope you go back to read this...but here is a website you can check out venues in your area. i didn't know if you were in north or south gauteng and there are alot so you can check out what is in your area.

      http://www.sa-venues.com/weddings/gauteng.htm

      best to you...i have spent a considerable amount of time in durban and a little in johannesburg. love south africa

  16. QUESTION:
    How much on average should it cost for catering for a wedding with about 120 guests?
    My soon-to-be fiance and myself are planning a wedding with about 120 guests. The reception venue in which we've chosen does not provide catering so we've been shopping around different restaurants. I'm aware that we can budget by guesstimating how much per plate per individual guest, but i was just wondering on average how much should it cost to feed about 120 people for an occasion such as this?

    • ANSWER:
      Hello David, could you please add a little extra info, are you looking at 3 course dinners? There are other options such as buffets too. For my aunts wedding though, she got caterers sent in, that done spit roasts and other fancy stuff, and they told her how much it would cost per head, so she was able to roughly estimate how much she needed. Also do you need to include drinks for tables? Wine/Champagne for toasts etc. Honestly if it was my wedding, I would save around 00 for food for 120 people.

  17. QUESTION:
    Who is the best wedding catering service in Houston, Tx?
    Who gives the best bang for the buck?

    • ANSWER:
      Try Cordua catering, they are absolutely the best bang for your buck! They are the guys from Churrascos, Americas and Artista. You will definitely impress your guests by choosing this caterer.

  18. QUESTION:
    Is this too much for wedding catering?
    All I am having is a chocolate fountain table- no appetizers or anything other than that and of course cake/punch. The caterer wants to charge me /person for the chocolate fountain table (strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, melon, marshmellows, graham crackers, cantaloupe, etc). Anyway, I have to use her for catering if I decide to have anything other than cake/punch. I live in North Texas. Please let me know if this is about right or not. Thanks in advance!
    No, the cake & punch is a separate fee.

    • ANSWER:
      It does sound cheap however, I got my food catered by Boston Market. I paid 0+ for 100 guests. We had tons of food left over. You could probably rent a chocolate fountain and buy the fruit yourself. I have alot of Rent-All places near my home. They rent out chairs, tables,arches,and chocolate fountains and punch fountains. Google search Rental Supply Store or Entertainment Rental Supplies for a rent-all store in your area.I live in Georgia and they are everywhere.They also deliver the products to you and pick them up.We also ordered a beautiful Wedding Cake from Publix Supermarket. It was 0. Vanilla Cake with Buttercream frosting. It was delicious even the piece we saved for our one year anniversary. Look on the website for more options. They even deliverd the cake for us to the wedding before everyone got there. Boston market also deliver the catering.

  19. QUESTION:
    Catering your own wedding?
    After my own crazy experience of trying to plan my wedding which will be October 13th... I figured there are probably others out there that like me, want to cater their own wedding. Well, my future husband has been a chef for 11 years and we decided that other people may have use for a book (we are in the process of writing it) that includes easy to follow, but elegant recipes with menu suggestions so that people can cater their own weddings without having to put out all the crazy expense of having a company do it. Included would be set up ideas for displaying the food, as well as garnishing ideas. Each with step by step details to make it easy for the less experienced! Would you have a use for this book? Would it make planning for your big day easier? What would you expect to pay for this type book?

    • ANSWER:

  20. QUESTION:
    Ladies: How important is the groom's opinion on the color scheme/size of the wedding/catering?
    Many men don't idealize this day as much as most (not all) women do. Your opinions on this topic?
    @ Lauren, good advice and great insight.

    • ANSWER:
      I think it totally depends on the guy. I have friends whose husbands wanted no part in the plans, they feigned deaf whenever anyone mentioned flower arrangements or color schemes! But my fiance is very opinionated about it and really wants to be involved in every process. My thought is that you should run everything by them since it is his wedding too. If he is pretty hands-off then, for example flowers, you choose two arrangements that you like and ask him his opinion on which he likes better. If he is totally uninterested then at least show him what you decide (I looked at flowers today and I think I found the one we'll use, does this look alright to you?) you may just get a grunt, but he can't complain that you steamrolled the whole wedding :)

      ps most guys will probably want to have a say in the menu at least

  21. QUESTION:
    what are some wedding reception places in central massachusetts that use outside catering?
    i'm just looking for some locations in central massachusetts to have a wedding reception that outside catering can be used at. thank you so much for your help!

    • ANSWER:
      Try www.mywedding.com as well as the local boards at http://talk.theknot.com for ideas. Community halls usually allow you to bring in all your own vendors.

  22. QUESTION:
    How can i get into wedding planning/catering small but classy parties?
    any classes or courses you can suggest i take please let me know i really enjoy party planning and putting events together so any info id really appreciate it : )

    • ANSWER:
      Hi, I've been an event planner for a huge caterer for five years. It's fun, if you're the right person (hyper-organized, great at switching gears in a sec, and not that attached to your Saturday nights). You need to work for an excellent, busy caterer. You'll learn about the diversity of style, menus and clientele that purchase catering.

      Also, you'll learn things like:
      ~required staffing ratios for various types of events and different tasks
      ~setup time for different decor ideas
      ~what menus people like to buy versus what people actually like to eat
      ~local venue nuances
      ~local rental vendors to trust
      ~how to calculate beverage consumption
      ~what's in season when, (or at least where to look it up quickly)
      ~laws about fire codes (it's not all pretty work...and the liability is HUGE)
      ~how many people fit in a given room ceremony-style, meeting-style, for a seated dinner, for a buffet dinner, for a cocktail party and with/without a dance floor (I hate math but you get used to it...diagramming to scale helps a lot.)

      The certified event planners that I've met aren't any better than the people that are just naturally organized, methodical and tactful. I'd say, skip the formal training. You're the right person or you're not. We absolutely do not look for CMPs when we hire event planners or event planning assistants. I was a project manager before I became an event planner, and the skillset is similar. It's about turning nervous people in chaos into happy people with certainty.

      Definitely keep an eye on food and reception trends. Visit TheKnot.com, and watch a lot of Food Network.

      Subscribe to BizBash.com's reports...very fun and inspiring stuff from the most expensive parties in the country.

      Good luck!

  23. QUESTION:
    For a wedding, should a catering company that doesn't include gratuity in the final cost get a "tip"?
    I've gotten several bids/proposals from catering companies for my wedding next summer. Each of them inclue 18% gratuity except for 2 of them. When paying them, should I include a "tip"? If so, how much (%)?

    • ANSWER:
      The gratituity is the tip that you are required to pay. A tip should only be given for outstanding service if the vendor went above and beyond for you. It should not be required and it should not be paid before you see the final service/product in action. When you do tip, you give them what you feel they deserved based on the quality of service you received.

      Since you are already paying a gratituity, another tip on top of that is not needed.

      Edit: I personally never tip anyone who does a mediocre or crappy job. In my opinion, they did nothing to deserve the tip. I have never heard of anyone else doing so either.

  24. QUESTION:
    Disposable plates for catering wedding reception?
    We are catering our wedding reception and we need plates. Renting them through a party rental place would require us to wash about 200 plates before returning them. Are there any good options for high end disposables that would match our atmosphere?

    • ANSWER:
      We used high end disposables for my daughters wedding. Clean up was easier and they were nice looking plates. Like you, she didn't want someone to have to wash and clean up. Just enjoy the evening. I would do it again if I could.

  25. QUESTION:
    What are some other options if I don't want to spend the money on catering for my wedding?
    I'm starting to plan my wedding and I'm trying to save all of the money I can. My fiance and I are on a VERY tight budget, so I'm trying to get creative. What are some good ideas for food without paying for a catering service?

    • ANSWER:
      Make and freeze as much as you can before hand. A few things that are easy to make and freeze well are
      sausage balls
      cheese wafers
      mints (the kind you mold like flowers/leaves etc..)
      toasted pecans
      tiny ham biscuits
      make tiny tart shells and on the day fill with chicken salad
      cheese ball and crackers can be made several days ahead
      veggies and dip can be made a head
      fruit and dip can be made a few day ahead
      meatballs or cocktail weenies
      you can also make your punch ahead of time and freeze it

      I might know people who can help you for a very reasonable price. What part of the country are you located?

  26. QUESTION:
    Buffet Style Wedding Catering or Silver service?
    Hi there, I’m getting wed this summer and are having difficulties in deciding if I should go down the buffet style as oppose to the silver service. Seem to be quite a difference in cost!

    • ANSWER:
      Go with what is more affordable. You will be too excited to eat. And most of your guest will be there to support you, not eat high on the hog. Those that are there for the food, can get a full belly with the least expensive service too.

  27. QUESTION:
    If you were catering a wedding how many lbs of mashed potatoes would you need to feed people?
    My fiance and me have decided to make the food for our wedding to help save costs and I was wondering how many pounds of mashed potatoes would we need to make for a guest list of 200 people.
    Would use the same measurements for a salad and pasta salad?

    • ANSWER:
      I usually go by about 1/2-1 full potato per person. Take into account how big the potato is. You could probably reduce it touch since there will be other choices of food.

      I agree w/ the poster ^above^ on the measurements for the pasta salad and salad...sometimes people have big salads, others don't. It will also depend on whether this is self-serve or not. If you are in control of serving sizes, you can easily gear the portion control, of course, if people want more you can't decline. But people will be less likely to pile it all on their plates if someone is doing it for them.

  28. QUESTION:
    Ideas for catering a wedding?
    Friend A is having a wedding - small, only 30-50 people. Me and Friend B are excellent cooks and as a wedding gift, Friend A asked us to make food for the wedding.

    Can you think of any 'nice/classier' food that we could prep ahead and serve buffet-style? We only have a few hundred dollars to work with, so any tips would help.
    Wouldn't you have to serve potatoes warm? How would you do that?

    • ANSWER:
      What time of the day is the wedding? The menu really depends on the time. If it was daytime, assorted sandwiches on croissant and rolls, fruits, meat and cheese trays, salads...if at night, heavier, traditional food. To keep it hot you will need steam tables or chafing dishes.

  29. QUESTION:
    tell me the catering agencies or catering company specialised in wedding catering in newport?
    also i want the same company which i can open in Swansea area

    • ANSWER:
      There are a few newports in UK, which did you want?
      Why don't you just search yourself on Yell.com, it could save you a lot of time.

  30. QUESTION:
    price of a wedding cake and catering in jamaica?
    I'm just trying to calculate the price of a wedding reception in jamaica. What sort of things do i need to cincider and any idea of the prices as well as good wedding cake bakers and a good caterer.

    • ANSWER:
      it depends on where you having your wedding reception - if its on any of the tourist areas - no problem they will have everyhing ready for you at a nice price. if not then you can check out
      C&J caterers on derrymore road/courtney walsh drive -they are caterers and they also got a great venue and every and anything that they need.
      Other than that there is waterfalls up hope road and also the terra nova on waterloo road.
      A wedding cake on its own cost anywhere from JA000 up depending on size if u go with a caterer who does cakes also like C&J then that will be best.
      Good Luck.

  31. QUESTION:
    Is it tacky to have family and friends help with catering my wedding?
    My Fiance and I are on a small budget. We are getting this November. We don't think we have the money for a caterer, is it tacky to have family and friends help out by bringing covered dishes, our should I keep looking for a caterer?

    • ANSWER:
      I don't think there's anything wrong with having A FEW of the wedding guests--family and very close friends--bring dishes. Most small church congregations operate like this--the women of the church always bring a covered dish to a wedding.

      I have been to lots of weddings like this and don't see anything wrong with it as long as the request isn't spread to every guest, or even to most of the guests. Not everyone wants to spend 30 grand and have a fancy caterer, and not everyone can afford it.

      P.S. I'm assuming, by the way, that your wedding is small--not 750 people, for example--and the other elements of it will be simple and modest. Don't wear a Vera Wang gown and then ask Aunt Karen and Aunt Debby to cater the reception, in other words. LOL

  32. QUESTION:
    Can anyone recommend a reliable, affordable halal wedding catering service?

    In the south east region of England!

    • ANSWER:
      For where? It will be easier to find one in Riyadh, for example, than London, and easier in London than in Saskatoon.
      .
      .
      .

      Alas, South-east England is not my stomping ground, so do not take these as a personal recommendation. But, I'm a dab hand with a search engine, so you might try:

      Aim Wedding Services - High Wycombe, HP11
      Tel: 07867 786 275

      or

      Fatma Halal Foods
      111, Collins House, Whiting Avenue, Barking, Essex IG11 8JT
      Tel: 020 8591 8953

      or

      Warsash Maritime Academy
      Newtown Road
      Warsash
      Southampton
      Hampshire
      SO31 9ZL

  33. QUESTION:
    How do i "inform" guests that if they RSVP YES they have to attend the wedding since catering costs per head?
    My wedding is going to be a small affair, and my fiance and I will be footing the entire cost...i want to make sure that when i spend 0 a plate on my guests who RSVP "YES" they will definitely attend. How can I impres the importance of this on them?
    I am from the Caribbean, and my fiance is from the US. We are getting married in my island of birth...we are both different ethnicities, and unfortunately some of my relatives are narrow-minded. Furthermore, i have no problem with persons cancelling at the last minute due to serious unforseen circumstances, but i was hoping that there would be a tactful way to impress upon them the importance of attending if they have confirmed that they will (barring any emergengy, illness etc.). It is very common for persons to confirm attendance even though they may know they may not attend, and i was hoping to avoid this...
    Thanks alot for the advice, I appreciated all the responses! :-)

    • ANSWER:
      Um, you really can't. You just have to trust that when they say yes, they mean yes.

      My reception cost about the same per plate as you, and we had 3 people RSVP "yes" and then not show. We were upset, but we just had to politely deal with it!

  34. QUESTION:
    catering in South Carolina for a wedding reception?
    Anyone know a good catering in SC for a wedding reception. Reasonable price but yet, professional?

    • ANSWER:
      Hello, I live in Charleston on James Island I can tell you who we used for our wedding caterer. They were reasonably priced FOR the great food you get and they were Very Friendly and Very Professional.

      They are called Gourmet Bay Catering http://www.gourmetbay.net

      Just go to the website and click the "Free Quote" button and they will contact you. YOu can also check out their menu options but you are able to also request a specific dish if you have a favorite. Owners name is Austin I believe...super friendly.

      Congrats on your new Marriage btw! Are you doing the wedding inside or out???

  35. QUESTION:
    How would you go about catering your own wedding?
    I mean what if you dont want an expensive catering service? What if you had buffet style and you brought the food your self?? How would that work?? I mean do you cook the food the day before?? Do you purchase the food from food stores.. Or IDK!

    • ANSWER:
      I would have to say that it all depends on what you are doing. I have thought about doing my own in June. I am having a reception at my church after the wedding, and I am only going to do something like appetizers that can be prepared the night before. I am having a lot of people to cook for me stuff that can be refrigerated before the wedding and set out for the guests. I would not recommend a sit down dinner to cater yourself, but if it is stuff that like sandwiches, salad, fruit, soups then that is fine. Catering is very expensive, I do understand that. You gotta do what is best for you. I dont think that you should serve of course. I am doing stuff like veggies and dip, fruits, deli meats/pinwheels, salads, cheese and crackers-so why I pay someone to do stuff like that. I can prepare that the night before. For warm food, my mother and friends are doing meatballs, chicken wings and other little warm appetizers. So it all depends on what you want and can do without interfering in your moment as the bride. Good luck!!!!

  36. QUESTION:
    Would appreciate some advice on catering a wedding reception?
    My best friend asked me to help her with a catering job. I'm so OCD that I am asking her questions she hasn't even asked the Bride. So with very little info, My question is, A buffet style reception serving 200 guests with just the basic fruit and meat and desert trays, how should I estimate this project? Thank you for your input. I know there is so little info...so sorry but any basic advice would be greatly appreciated

    • ANSWER:
      It will depend on how many items are on the menu the more choices, the less of each item you'll need. One large fruit platter (cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, strawberries, grapes to garnish) should serve about 25-38 people. You can guesstimate the meat (I assume you mean deli platters) by assuming that each person would eat 1/4 of a lb. What exacting did you mean by dessert trays, wouldn't there be cake? If not and you choose bite size pieces,estimate 3 per person. Don't forget to include something for vegetarians. Once you have a menu let us know we can be more specific. Good Luck!

  37. QUESTION:
    Wedding venue in Minnesota with do your own catering?
    I am planning a October 2010 wedding, hopefully that will be the date, and am looking for a cheap place to have my wedding reception that is nice but where I can do my own catering. I will need it for about 150-200 people. My wedding budget is really small but still want to wedding of my dreams. If anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      You will probably want to keep it simple but delicious. I would go with the traditional Chicken and/or ham if you want to give your guests a choice of meat. Then you can do a simple potato dish probably roasted and a vegetable.

      My sister had a fancy catered wedding and we ate stuffed chicken breast with potatoes and green beans, you could so make that yourself and save a ton of money!

      Did you know that you can rent a decoy wedding cake? I just read a article the other day about that. It costs about 0 and looks gorgeous but your serving your guests another less expensive cake.

      Here is a website to give you some ideas and advice.

      Best of luck!

      http://www.ehow.com/how_2053698_cater-wedding-inexpensively.html

  38. QUESTION:
    So I m catering my wedding myself want to serve tex-mex and dont know what to serve?
    I am making the food myself and would like some ideas what kind of mexican dishes to make that are not messy and not expensive to make. Any other food suggestions are welcome as well
    unfortnelty paying someone else to do it is to expensive already looked into that....and as for getting help no one was willing to. SO its up to me

    • ANSWER:
      If I were getting married and requested help but no-one was willing, I'd have a very small wedding, inviting only my closest family and friends. I've been to many weddings where friends volentarily brought foods, ie., lasagna's, breads, salads, punch. . . You must have someonewilling to help out. If not, save your money for a new start with your future hubby.

  39. QUESTION:
    I would like to start my Wedding Coordinating and Catering Company?
    I think the best thing to do is to start small. I want to just start with selling my Sweet Potato Pies. Where should I advertise? How can I get business? Any other tips are appreciated.

    • ANSWER:
      First and foremost congratulations on making the first step in starting your own business. What you can do initially is give away samples of your pies. Yes, I said give away! :o ) If only your family and friends know how wonderful your pies are, then business will be slow. If you have any small restaurants in your area, ask management if you can have a sample day to get the word out about your pies. Another idea, make pies for friends and family to take to work. When their coworkers rant and rave about the pies make sure business cards are ready. Now another form of advertising could be Craigslist. You can advertise your sample day and not only will you be helping yourself out but also the restaurant that will help you. I hope this helps...Good Luck to ya!

  40. QUESTION:
    Indian Wedding Catering in Bali?
    Hi guys,
    i am planning to use Indian catering service for my wedding reception this July. I mean not just some restaurant or hotel that able to make an Indian food, but a really indian catering one. Any suggestion? Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Hi, i would recommend you to use Queen Tandoor for Indian Catering services.
      Please visit http://bali.queenstandoor.com/

      or contact this :
      Jl. Raya Seminyak No. 73, (Gallery Seminyak)
      Opposite Warung Made, Near Bali Deli.
      KUTA – BALI: 80361 – INDONESIA
      Tel: (62-361) 732770
      Fax: (62-361) 732771
      Hotline Local: (62-81) 249 249 249
      Toll Free: 000-800-100-7000 (From India only)
      Email: bali@queenstandoor.com
      puneet@queenstandoor.com

      YM: queensbali@yahoo.com
      GTalk: queensbali@gmail.com
      SKYPE: queensbali
      HM: queensbali@hotmail.com
      FB: www.facebook.com/queensbali
      Twitter: www.twitter.com/queensbali

      Hope it helps! :)

  41. QUESTION:
    About how much should catering a wedding cost per person?
    I want good food like some fancier stuff not too fancy but not like fried chicken and potato salad. I would like to do a buffet with a wider variety of choices and want to know how much on average it should cost per person not including alcohol. Thanks :)

    • ANSWER:
      There isn't a "should" on this. It might be a person at the Holiday Inn but it might be 0 a person at the Plaza. Call some places and ask them for sample menus with pricing.

      Ours was like 0 a person for a very high end plated meal, with wine & alcohol.

  42. QUESTION:
    Wedding catering service coimbatore?
    Hi all,

    One of my friend is looking for best catering service for his wedding to be held in Coimbatore...any pointers shall be appreciated..

    regards.

    • ANSWER:
      CAL 8056431628 ABBAS

  43. QUESTION:
    seeking wedding reception venue in Olympia WA without a catering contract, are there any?
    Looking for a place to have a reception in Olympia for an April wedding but we have food and beverages covered already, and everywhere seems to require at least a catering contract. Can someone please give me some recommendations?

    • ANSWER:
      here are a number of places in olympia and close by areas where you can do your own catering or have your own catering company. many of these places also have their own catering but i have checked each one to be sure they state you can bring your own. you may have to scroll down to find that information and in the case of courtyard hall i had to find it in their questions area.

      swantown inn at http://olympiaweddings.com/

      albees bed and breakfast at http://www.thealbees.com/forms.htm

      another bed and breakfast, the lighthouse bungalow at http://www.lighthousebungalow.com/amenities.html

      the tyee event center at http://www.tyeecenter.com/weddings.php

      king oscar tacoma's convention and event center at http://www.koscar.net/conv_ctr/index.html

      the dragonfly retreat center in bothell at http://www.dragonflyretreat.net/

      the courtyard hall also in bothell...they only allow you to have your own catering on sunday through thursday events. http://www.courtyardhall.com/

      the magnificiant thornewood castle about 14 miles outside of olympia at http://www.thornewoodcastle.com/index.htm

      or choose to rent an entire place for you and your guest where you can do everything exactly as you want to. try the chastain mist manor at http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/73691.html

  44. QUESTION:
    how much would it be to rent a hotel hall for a wedding with catering services?
    im doing a project for my class we have to plan our wedding and i cant find actuall prices. i have to send in a formal request or call them. i dont want to do that. so what would the general be? I'd rent it in the evening for about 4 hours.

    • ANSWER:
      it depends on the hotel. what you want food and bev and service wise.
      and how many ppl you are having and other factors.

      i used to work at a hotel in ne tenn. 1 wedding had a 23k bar bill alone. others the whole thing didn't cost over 23k...

      you should just call a hotel for in depth info... will be better for your project. i'm sure your teacher will be impressed as well.

  45. QUESTION:
    Outside Catering to Wedding Reception in San Diego?
    Hello Everyone!

    My Fiance and I are getting married next year and we are trying to figure out where we can have a ceremony and reception that allows us to bring our own catering. We have a restaurant in the family and it is very important to us to use that as our catering; but nearly every place we think of does not allow outside catering.
    My Only thought thus far is an estate rental, but I am not liking the options so far.

    Do you have any ideas?
    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      why not ask family restaurant owner for ideas? also see:
      http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AuHyF37vstfwLbSp3h2VgNpu7BR.;_ylv=3?p=diego+reception+venue&submit-go=Search+Y!+Answers

  46. QUESTION:
    Do you think having BBQ catering at my wedding is tacky?
    I’m getting married this summer and my fiance has recommended we do a BBQ buffet for the catering. Sounds a bit tacky, or not?

    • ANSWER:
      "Tacky" has to be the most overused word ever when it comes to weddings. You know what's tacky? Rudeness. Judging others on unimportant things like the food they serve when you should be at their wedding because you love them and you're happy for them.

      If it's not rude, it's not tacky. And there is nothing rude about asking loved ones to celebrate with you and feeding them when they do.

  47. QUESTION:
    Any ideas of wedding reception venues that will allow us to bring in our own catering in Grand Rapids MI?
    I am helping a friend plan her wedding and I need some ideas of venues that will allow her to bring in her own catering and drinks. Does any one have any ideas or suggestions..??

    I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions! Thanks!! =)

    • ANSWER:
      Hi. The only places that allow this would be any of the "service" type of clubs/groups that have halls such as:

      Elks Clubs
      VFW Halls
      Lions Clubs

      You might even check around for some city/township buildings that are rented out. OR....many churches also have fellowship halls, but they usually do not allow alcohol.

      Obviously, any "regular" type of banquet hall; hotel; golf club will NOT allow you to bring in your own food and alcohol as that is how they get their money.

  48. QUESTION:
    Should we have to tip the catering staff when the wedding venue is owned by the caterer?
    Our daughter is getting married at a venue owned by the catering company. We are planning on a buffet dinner, plus bar. The contract includes a 20% service charge, plus sales tax. The contract specifically states that the service charge is for "the processing, insurance, administrative fees, and other expenses. This does not include gratuity".
    This seems excessive to us - paying a 20% service fee and still being expected to tip the staff, who work for the catering company. Is it?

    • ANSWER:
      It seems excessive, but the contract states that there is no tip included in the price.
      I guess it's the same as eating in any restaurant. The wait staff work for the restaurant and you tip them, right?

  49. QUESTION:
    What are some alternatives to catering for a wedding reception?
    Obviously that would mean cooking our own food, but do you have any ideas? Something simple.
    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      If your family cooks, they won't be able to attend the ceremony or enjoy the reception because they will be chained to the kitchen all day/night. Your best bet is to call up Boston Market if there is one in your area or your favorite ethnic restaurant and ask if they do catering. Both options provide a full hot meal at a fraction of the price that a wedding caterer charges (and you get stuff thrown in that the wedding caterer will nickel and dime you for) and your family can enjoy the wedding instead of having to work.

  50. QUESTION:
    I am catering my own wedding reception for 200 people what would be the best foods to have?
    I was thinking mostaccioli, green bean casserole, and salad but I have no idea on how much I should make.

    • ANSWER:
      i don't know how much you would make either ... wow! umm, well, there's this site that gives you tons of ideas for food, if that helps ...

      http://www.remembercatering.com/samplemenus/


wedding diet