How much are you spending per person?

fishlips23 · March 2012

Ok ladies, I'd really like your opinions on the amount of money we are spending on food! I'm starting to think this is a little ridiculous.

Our total cost for food, servers, and china is $10,830 for 130 guests. That's $83.30 per guest!

Right now we have 3 passed appetizers, 1 stationary appetizer, salad, 3 dinner options (chicken, steak, grouper; plus vegetarian), coffee service, small petite desserts, 14 servers, 2 bartenders, and china ($10.50pp!). I am providing the alcohol. We had a tasting a few months ago and let me just say the food is absolutely amazing...but I'm currently having buyers remorse and feel like this cost needs to be like way down. Like under $60/head.

Is this in line with what you girls are spending or do I need to completely rethink my menu?

goobersinlove · March 2012

That's roughly what we are spending for our substantially similar menu up here in NY. We haven't finalize anything so I don't know our exact foods or pricing per head, but that's right in our ballpark. I'm not sure how different FL pricing is.

While I wish our cost was lower (don't we all?), I save by having a small wedding (50ppl or less). Food/alcohol is our #1 priority, so I don't mind paying because I feel like I'll be getting what I pay for.

lyndausvi · March 2012

We had to rent all the china, silverware, glasses, etc. If you included that plus food/booze it was more than $200 a per person in South Jersey. I'm not sure what costs are like in FL.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · March 2012

Ours was $103/person, which included the venue (we were the only event that day), tables, chairs, linens, valet, beer, wine, house liquor and mixers, bartenders, serving staff, 4 passed appetizers during cocktail hour, salad, soup, entree (choice of 2), dance floor AND service/gratuity fees. We brought in a cake, but there was no cutting fee. The only other reception things we had to pay for were flowers/centerpieces/decorations, and then vendors (DOC, DJ, photographer, pianist). Our reception was 5 hours.

We also "saved" by keeping it small - 75 people, so $7500 for the reception location and food.

RebeccaB88 · March 2012

That sounds pretty good for a formal dinner to me.

fishlips23 · March 2012

ok well this makes me feel a bit better! I was starting to think I was paying way too much when I was reading around on the boards and people were complaining about $30 a head. Maybe that didn't include china and service. I think we still might find a way to save a few bucks by doing a duo plate instead of choices and maybe nixing the extra desserts.

lisa3185 · March 2012

Wow I must live in an expensive area bc the $ amounts u ladies are posting seems incredible. I opted for a brunch so its obviously less cost than dinner but my pp price still exceeds many $ amounts posted. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I live in the Poconos (super tourity) and vendors seem to think they can really stick it to us brides.

random4180 · March 2012

Food alone is expected to be about $30 pp (for 100-125 people, more than that is a couple of dollars less) for a catered pasta bar buffet, passed hor'devours, a chicken dish, salad, rice, roasted veggies, bread, coffee, tea, soda, cupcakes. Beverage service is an additional $3.50 pp (providing alcohol ourselves.) We also have to rent tables and chairs and and a tent for the outdoor patio and pay for service (waiters, bartenders, etc.) The expected cost of the entire reception should be about $60 pp, maybe? Choosing to go with a pasta bar knocked about $15 off the initial proposal (and its prime rib and salmon option.) We're from NYC but we're getting married in Westchester, about an hour outside of the city.

melntaitt · March 2012

For the food alone (upstate NY) it's $43 per person. If you include the full open bar, it's about $60 per person.

NOLAbridealmost · March 2012

We spent about 100 dollars a person but that included the open bar for 3 hours. Food was our biggest priority so we went a little nuts and kept the guest list small (72 guests).

SuMmErKuTiE · March 2012

We paid $135 per person (in Connecticut) but it included a lot.

~Cocktail hour with 8 butler passed hors d'ouvres, cheese and fruit display, and open bar
~Open bar throughout the reception
~Onsite wedding coordinator
~Dinner
~Champagne toast
~Wedding cake
~Linens and china
~Overnight accomodations for the bride and groom
~Onsite wedding ceremony
~All gratuities

fallbride1109 · March 2012

I think we paid around $80+ pp with alcohol (including champagne toast), not including the service charge. Since we were married at a hotel, there was no renting of linens, china, etc., that was all included.

Razmatazski · March 2012

Appetizers, Dinner, Beverages, Late night pizza... comes to at least $90 per person...

MSwanny87 · March 2012

We are spending $77.50 a person. That includes the cocktail hour (top shelf open bar) with both passed appetizers and chafing dishes. This price also includes the four hour reception (top shelf open bar), which includes a sit down dinner, and the cake. We're getting married on a Friday night, which is why this package was available to us. We live in New York!

DanielleS8412 · March 2012

Our cost is $45 pp, which comes with choice of 2 main dishes, linens for the tables and chairs, champagne toast, rented votive candles, 3 plated appetizers, and unlimited beer, wine, and soda for 6 hours. It also includes a suite for the bride and groom that night.

How much are you spending per person?

Re: How much are you spending per person?

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