What is your catering budget/cost?

sarahgirl2

I know this will be the most expensive cost for the whole wedding......but trying to figure out what is reasonable or what you ladies paid will help me! We are looking at 150 guests.

GApeachOH

Um, we are spending less than $500. But, we are doing our own food.

MissOwl

roughly 5000 for food (apps and 3 stations), 3000 for bar (this includes all service charges and gratuity)

food is really important to me

sarahgirl2

Do you mind telling me who your using?

jnkreager

Oh gosh this makes me sick to my stomach, but our catering bill is about $8500 and our alcohol is about $3000.  That is basically all inclusive though for 180 people:

• 3 appetizers
• 2 entrees
• 2 sides
• salad
• rolls
• coffee/tea/pop/beer/wine
• linens
• cake cutting
• service fees
• tax

Brit12

Ours was around $3700 I do believe for 175 people, plus we spent about $1000 on alcohol / beer.

The catering bill included:
bar setup (mixers, pop/juice, garnishments, napkins, cups, pourers, ice & large linen-wrapped buckets to hold the liquor that needed chilled)
2 appetizers
salad
rolls & garlic bread
pasta chef stations (2 chefs, our guests had the choice of 2 pastas, 2 sauces, and a variety of toppings including grilled chicken, meatballs, cheeses, mushrooms, other veggies)
cake cutting / serving
3-4 servers (can't remember how many)
table linens and any decor throughout the food stations
and all glassware / plates / silverware
our caterer also placed all the centerpieces out for us

We brought our own alcohol (purchased wholesale) which is why it was so cheap, and we had friends of friends who bartended for tips (they made quite a lot)

We used Laura's Catering

sweetcarolanne

We're in the same boat as jnkreager - all-inclusive prices which is really nice when you're calculating.  For 225 people, we're expecting to pay around $7800 for food (includes buffet w/ 3 entree choices, appetizers, 2 salad options, 2 starches, cake cutting/serving, champagne and toasting glasses, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee service, linens, centerpieces, chair covers, cookie table. tax and gratuity).  We're also paying $3000 for 5 hours of open bar which will include 2 beer kegs, house wine, bottom-shelf liquor, mixers, tax and gratuity. 

csh96

Went spent about $26 pp and that included china, linens, silverware, all the servers, bar tender, on site coordinator, setup and teardown....so basically everything.

tiffanydaniels

we are looking to spend around 4000 for just food and service, we have our own linens, we plan on spending around 1100 for bar and bar set up. 

Carly245

We are spending about 5,000 for food including two apps, salad, rolls, three entres, two sides, dessert. Then about 2500 for the bar. This is for 150 ppl

15Step

We're at $50/per person for catering including rentals (linens, china, etc), staff, highest level buffet package with upgraded salad and 2 passed apps with a stationary app table.  

Add to that about $25/person in booze and $4.85/person for cake.

It's about $79.85 per person altogether.  It all adds up so freaking fast.

Cassandra999

Ditto on sick to my stomach! 

uugg this is so much money

Assuming 180 people:

$3060 for drinks

$3780 for 2 appetizers and mexican buffet

scuster09

Total bill for reception, just got it today, $5403 (110 people). Food, appetizers, beer and wine for 4 hours, room rental, bartender fee, service charge, and tax. They also have people to greet at the door, coat check, and gift people attendants.