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How much food is enough for a dinner time reception?

hgminorhgminor member
100 Comments Second Anniversary 25 Love Its
in Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
Man, can I first just say I don't know what I would do without the help of all you ladies!  I love being able to throw my thoughts and ideas around!  I'm not the best at making decisions, so everybody has really been a big help thusfar!

Onward to my question: I want to make sure I have enough food around to keep my guests happy and relatively full, without breaking the bank.  I'm not doing a plated dinner (not my style) and I would really prefer more stations and set up displays versus a regular buffet, which is what I've seen at most of the weddings I've been to.  

I'm trying to decide how many stations there need to be, if there will also be some dips, displays and hors dourves out and around.  Of course there will also be the cake (most likely a bridal and a grooms cake).  I know that at the two caterers I'm debating between I have the option of a mashed potato/sweet potato bar (which is my FAVORITE, in case you havent read my other posts).  There are other options like salad bars, pasta bars, and of course the normal carving station.  My question is, how much food would you think necessary to keep people full and happy.  I don't want stuffed and sluggish, because I plan on PARTYING it up with lots of dancing.

I've been to weddings where there was SO MUCH FOOD it was unneeded, then I've also been to a wedding where there was just one station and cake for a 8 oclock reception, and I was starved (partly becuase I was involved and didn't get to eat beforehand because of helping set up stuff).

So, where is a good middle ground?
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Re: How much food is enough for a dinner time reception?

  • AprilH81AprilH81 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary 5 Answers
    edited March 2013
    I would ask your caterers what they recommend for the amount of people you invited and for the time of day.  It is hard to give a number, some people (especially kids) will eat less than others or more at one station than others.  

    If you don't trust their recommendations then you shouldn't work with them.

    Also if you don't want "sluggish" try to keep the food items on the lighter side, try not to have a lot of meats with heavy sauces and creams or super heavy appetizers.
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  • Sue-n-KevinSue-n-Kevin member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its First Answer
    I agree with the above poster.

    A large amount of stations gives people a choice.........they will eat until they can't eat any more, or are full. It's really not up to you to decide how much to have, that's up to the caterer. Most of them over-supply, and have left overs. No one wants to get caught with too little.

    FWIW, we brought home a lot of leftover beef tenderloin, potatoes, and cake. We froze it and enjoyed it for a long while. But we had a caterer that brought their food to a venue where we could bring our own. It was already paid for, and ours to take home. I prefered that to running out.
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