DIY Cocktail Hour Appetizers

sdinwidd

We are having a buffet-style sit-down dinner for roughly 200 people catered, but the cost for the company to do the appetizers were almost the same as the dinner! Therefore, my fiance and I decided to save some money and do the cocktail hour appetizers ourselves. We are now having trouble deciding what type of foods we should serve. Some intial ideas included: 

- chips w/ different types of salsa (my family is Mexican and we love our salsa!)

- cheese & cracker trays (possibly some cheese balls)

- veggie & dip trays

I'm nervous to do anything hot for reheating reasons, but there is a large refrigerator on-site that we could use. Any budget-friendly suggestions/ideas would be very much appreciated!  

Sue-n-Kevin

Not sure why you consider it mandatory to have any appetizers at all. Is this common in your geographic area? Many people don't have it, just because of the cost.

However, consider:
Cold rolled flour tortillas with meat & cheese inside, cut into about 1 inch thick slices (think sandwich wraps, but cut into pieces)

A fruit platter. You could dip some strawberries in chocolate (more often a dessert, but I've seen them on fruit trays)

sister2groom

Who is going to set them up? All of the ideas mentioned sound great, but I would think about which ones can be left out for a while or are easier to set up.

Klhacker

This isn't an idea, but something to think about. You may want to check with your venue and caterer to make sure that you can bring in food that has been prepared outside of a licensed kitchen. Your venue/caterer may not allow you to bring in your own food due to liability and food safety issues. I would hate to see you prep and bring all the food all that day and then not be allowed to use it.

juma1111

Well as long as you are allowed to bring in the food yourself, and you are sure you want to serve appetizers, because you definitely don't have to then I would go with something very easy.

I would have trays set up of fruit and veggie platters, if you are worried about keeping them cold, maybe make 2 or 3 smaller trays but make sure you have someone who can go to the fridge to get the new ones when the ones that are out start running low. I would also think finger sandwiches or wraps, like a PP suggested.

All of this can be put on the platters ahead of time, covered in seran wrap and refrigerated. Then, as long as you have someone who is willing to help you or hire some college kids or something, you can have them set out on a table or passed around, whatever you choose.

sdinwidd

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions! The venue does allow me to bring my own food, so we’re covered there and my aunts have offered to set up the food at the start of the cocktail hour - so the easier the better.

I guess I just assumed that appetizers were to be served based on the weddings I’ve been to recently (plus maybe I’m watching too many wedding shows!). I may nix the appetizers entirely, but I loved the fruit/veggie platter and wrap suggestions. Thank you all! 

cwaggoner07

We are skipping cocktail hour, partly because our venue is ceremony and reception, and partly because it is so expensive. I don't think anyeone will think twice, especially if you have the food served shortly thereafter.

jessicabessica

It's fine to skip appetizers if you are skipping cocktail hour altogether, but I would serve some kind of snacks during cocktail hour if you have it, especially if you're serving alcohol during that time.  

arp4181

I used to work in a catering hall.  An easy idea is sweet and sour mini meatballs.  You use a bag of prepared meatballs, chili sauce, grape jelly (seriously!), and some brown sugar.  Stick it in a crokpot for a couple of hours (you can do overnight) to heat up.  Then, go to Party City and get a sterno set (about $10) and use that to reheat.

beth34608

We are having just 2 appetizers Shrimp cocktail and cheese/meat platter.

RNMOMTO3

One of my bridemaids worked in a local catering hall and she said she knew of several people from there that I could hire for a few hours cheaply to help with the food set up and service, plus they can come dressed as for the catering hall. Im thinking the extra $100 would be money well spent to help keep the food going since I'm having the same issues with putting food out while we are busy with pictures. Maybe check with the local culinary schools or ask ur waitress at ur favorite restaurant to see if they know of reliable people that might want to make a LITTLE extra money.

sdinwidd

Thank you all for the suggestions and feedback! We are now considering doing a "first look" for photos and skipping the cocktail hour all together so we can get right into the reception. If not, I have awesome suggestions from you ladies! Thank you!

bridesally2012

I know you said you changed your mind, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing the same thing. I'm going to make some appetizers (the pinwheel sandwhich rolls mentions above, devilled eggs, cheese & crackers, veggies & hummus, some pickled fish, and cured meats). It's not necessary to have a cocktail hour especially if you are taking your pictures before the ceremony but I love food and want my guests to enjoy as much of it as possible. Plus I'm planning on partaking in this cocktail hour not missing it for photographs.