Input on catering

aacobs

Hi girls,

What is everyone doing for catering? I have a few questions and would appreciate any input!

I am hoping to keep my guest count around 140-150. I want everything to be very tasteful and nice, but I want to keep it casual also. I don't want to serve a formal, sit-down dinner. I had a friend who just did heavier hors d'oeuvres, and people could sort of go from station to station enjoying a more substantial "finger food" if you will.

What does everybody think of this option? I really like the idea of being able to enjoy a number of different tastes that still compliment each other. I think an "hors d'oeuvre party" is a good way to keep everyone moving around and mingling (as our extended families have never met).

Anyone have any suggestions on how much I might anticipate spending per person on something like this? Is anyone else doing something like this? Thoughts?

Thanks! Cheers!

belgirl

Doing an elegant dessert reception.  Wedding starts at 7:00 PM to give people a chance to eat dinner beforehand.  We are having a chocolate fountain with different items to dip such as brownies, strawberries, etc.  A gelatto bar with 3 different selections and different toppings, a fruit bar (for those who are diabetic etc.) and a gourmet coffee bar, punch and water. For 150 people, I spent about $16 per person which includes taxes, service, eating utensils and tip.  Hors d'oeuvres can end up being more expensive than a sit-down dinner so you want to be careful on what you choose and how you price that out. 

acnahm

I don't have any suggestions on a per person estimate, but we are doing something similar while still having dinner type foods.  We have the option to do "stations" which I love.  It's sort of a buffet, but the stations are set up around the room so people can get up and mingle and get whatever food they like without having to go through the whole buffet line.  We're doing a pasta bar where we'll have several different pasta dishes pre-made (we have the option of doing them pre-made or letting guests make their own, but we chose pre-made for sake of time and lines).  The pasta bar is nice because we can have non-vegetarian and vegan/vegetarian dishes so there will be something for everyone.  We will also have a meat carving station, a salad station, a veggie station and then the guests will also have rolls and such at their tables.  It's a happy medium and some guests may not have experienced a wedding dinner like this so I'm hoping it turns out to be fun!  I think a heavy hors d'oeurves reception will be fun and keep people moving and interacting

aacobs

That's so similar to exactly what I was thinking for ours!! I was thinking a pasta bar, maybe a panini station, salad/veggie station, maybe a station for building your own nosh plates - cheese, fruits, chocolates, nuts, etc. Maybe having a paella station as well? I feel like I'll still need to do some kind of carving station, because I don't think panini's will have enough substance for the real "meat lovers" in the crowd.

Where are you having your wedding? When is the big day?Do you mind if I ask who your caterer is?

I have a tasting set up tomorrow night with Creative Hands in Mesa. Haven't committed yet. I've heard fantastic things about them. I've also heard that they do extraordinary action stations and they're really good for the more laid back, social eating experience that I think we're both going for, rather than a formal, sit-down option (which I think tend to get a little stuffy, in my opinion).

Thanks so much for your response! Good luck with everything!!!!

aacobs

Also, as for dessert, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and I'm skipping a traditional cake because I've never really cared about the "cake-cutting/smashing" part of the night. Personal opinion obviously.

But I think for those who do have a sweet tooth, I'd like to do a gelato bar sort of like BelGirl mentioned. I had thought for a while about doing a Sundae bar. But I'm also a diehard Tiramisu fan, so I might just serve that instead.

acnahm

We're getting married at Troon North Golf Club (in Scottsdale) on January 7.  Since it's a golf club, they have their own restaurant and chefs (and might I add possibly the best food I have ever tasted - we had our tasting a couple months ago), so we don't have an outside caterer.  There are so many options when you're doing a stations-type meal that I personally think if you don't want a meat carving station, you don't have to have one.  I feel like all of the food you suggested sounds awesome!  I think you can serve whatever you want as long as there is enough of it and enough of a variety that everyone can find enough of something they want (whoa, did that make sense?).  

Also, for the dessert, a gelato bar sounds awesome!  Such a good idea.  If you don't like cake, you should have something that you really want rather than something that people expect or that is tradition!  Tiramisu sounds good too.  All this food talk is making me hungry!

Schocked

I think heavy hors d'oeuvres or stations are a great. I love going to weddings that have different options for food!

We are likely doing gourmet wood fired pizzas and pasta for our reception. We both love gourmet pizza,  and found someone with a wood fire pizza oven on wheels! We are crossing our fingers that it works out.

As for desserts, we will be doing a dessert table with all kinds of goodies as opposed to one big wedding cake.

bhead81

We did Waldos BBQ.  Per person was less then $15 and it included plates, soda, water, 2 meats, salad, 2 sides, and bread and appetizers.