average $pp for reception dinner!

tap4781 · June 2010

ok so I have recieved several quotes from caterers (HSA approved caterers list) and they are all over the board! We are having about 150-170pp and I have quotes from $3500-$10000. OMG this is crazy! My question is what is a REASONABLE price per person?

We just want a basic meal with 2 meats and 2-3 sides...
exp Chicken and Beef with mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn.
also fruit tray for passed Horderves.
HELP PLEASE!!

NMac2010 · June 2010

Plated, or buffet style?

cfibelkorn · June 2010

Well that is a VERY hard question to answer b/c everyone is different.....thats like asking how much a t-shirt cost...

That being said......most places I personally looked into were about $40-$70 pp (which for your guest count is about $6,400 - $11,200)

but Im sure there is MUCH cheaper out there...I am going with a hotel so I have to use there chef, I never looked into prices of independant caterers

NMac2010 · June 2010

I think 10k is a little ridiculous for 150-175 people. But that's just my opinion.

emimayor · June 2010

There are too many variables to consider to find a "reasonable" average of a price/pp. For example, our number included alcohol, so that alone adds another facet of cost.

The best recommendation I can make is to get several quotes of exactly what you want and decide what is best for you. GL!

swilson7921 · June 2010

Everywhere in the DFW area that we looked at was $35 - $50 pp. Luckily we are getting married on a golf course in East Texas (where I'm from) and they have a chef we have to use and they only charge $15 pp for a buffet style.

Hope you find something cheaper!!!

Tiffany618 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_average-pp-reception-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:aa31cab2-f5db-4b63-a82f-4f68f9d05574Post:9d115a7e-9f08-4bf1-a93c-9733122366a3">Re: average $pp for reception dinner!</a>:
[QUOTE]I think 10k is a little ridiculous for 150-175 people. But that's just my opinion.
Posted by NMac2010[/QUOTE]

Well that depends on what your feeding them! I don't think $57-$66 per person is unreasonable at all.

We had an herb crusted beef carving station and chicken cordon bleu... with rolls, salad, steamed veggies, and a mashed potato tini bar with mashed regular and sweet potatoes. We also had passed hot hors' douvres (crab cakes and these chicken things wrapped with bacon), a gourmet coffee station, a fruit and cheese display, plus a few other things all for $40 pp plus 20% gratuity and tax. We added alcohol on top of that, so I'm not sure if your including that in your pp cost.

And that was from a country club, so I'm assuming you could get it cheaper from outside caterers...but I don't know.

fallbride1109 · June 2010

Like with everything else, there will be a low, middle, and high end. Obviously 10K is the high end. I think for what you are looking for, it should be on the lower end for sure--maybe $30 pp. Just FYI, the lowest I've ever seen on here was $13 pp. But you could also spend 10 times that. Just do your research, read reviews, and narrow it down to 3 or 4 to meet with just like you would any other vendor.

NMac2010 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_average-pp-reception-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:aa31cab2-f5db-4b63-a82f-4f68f9d05574Post:5fb4e9aa-42e9-4a26-a819-63677ed652e2">Re: average $pp for reception dinner!</a>:
[QUOTE]Like with everything else, there will be a low, middle, and high end. Obviously 10K is the high end. I think for what you are looking for, it should be on the lower end for sure--maybe $30 pp. Just FYI, the lowest I've ever seen on here was $13 pp. But you could also spend 10 times that. Just do your research, read reviews, and narrow it down to 3 or 4 to meet with just like you would any other vendor.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

I agree. Sorry, I guess that just seemed like a lot to me. I'm a budget bride! haha.

dstfoour · June 2010

The only venue that I came in connection with is a BBQ place...they have two meat or three meat choices with two sides, relish tray..etc...some are 9,11,13 bucks pp and that includes drinks...so if you want to go that route...try it...I know some ppl think BBQ is not okay for a reception dinner, but it simply depends on your choice of meat and sides...good luck!!!!
I totally understand about the 30+ per person...that can get expensive..but it depends on what you can afford and what makes you happy

cfibelkorn · June 2010

I remember liking this girl when I met her at the Dallas Bridal Show

http://www.alliescatering05.com/services.html

She has good pricing too! $16-$25 pp

This kind of sounds like what you were looking for:

Our Family Dinner-$18.50
Fruit & Cheese Tray and Chicken Bacon Wraps
Dinner Salad
Sliced Roast Beef w/sautéed Mushrooms and
Stuffed Chicken Breast w/spinach and cream cheese
Twice Baked Potatoes
Homemade Green Beans w/bacon
Rolls w/butter
Ice tea and Ice Water

bridgetlb · June 2010

we are having plated dinners at the country club where the reception is to take place and they can choose between 2 entrees, both were priced at $20.95 per person. both entrees we picked were that price, but some were more. we are also doing a chocolate fountain that is $5 per person.

lacy1603 · June 2010

Bridget: I'm having a chocolate fountain too! I'm very excited about it! The lady puts this edible glitter on the strawberries and they just sparkle so pretty under the lights.

Donnaaries · June 2010

It depends on what you want. Buffets are typically cheaper than stations and plated dinners. Then you have your add on's, where usually passed hor d'oerves are more expensive than display stations (like fruit and cheese). Options are endless. Depends on if the food is important to you. We spend about $60pp and that doesn't include alcohol. Butwe're foodies, so it was worth it to us.

danac2010 · June 2010

I'm also a budget bride and my caterer is charging us about $2500 for 175 people and that includes the beer, all plates, cups, silverware, etc, 2-3 servers, and clean up but we are doing buffet style so it seems to be a cheaper way to go. We looked at some other caterers and they were much higher. You just have to shop around and see what's out there. My best advice is that if you are going to price compare ask for the exact same thing with each caterer so you know you are getting the best price. Hard to compare when one is pricing meatloaf and one is pricing filet mignon!

NMac2010 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_average-pp-reception-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:aa31cab2-f5db-4b63-a82f-4f68f9d05574Post:bbe4ba10-81c4-43d6-8ce6-8823f8ec3a76">Re: average $pp for reception dinner!</a>:
[QUOTE] Hard to compare when one is pricing meatloaf and one is pricing filet mignon!
Posted by danac2010[/QUOTE]

Exactly!

bsn1752 · June 2010

Lacy - EDIBLE GLITTER?? I think you just changed my life.

lacy1603 · June 2010

LOL yes!!! I don't know where she gets it, but it is sooooooo pretty! My best friend and I tried to order some online but it wasn't the same stuff.

tap4781 · June 2010

WOW! Thank you ladies for all the responses! I would like to have buffet considering IM paying for this ENTIRE WEDDING MYSELF. I just dont want to get jacked around with caterers on prices! I dont mind spending money on GREAT food if its REASONABLE! (meaning I dont want to find out someone else got the same food I did for 1/2 th price by the same caterer! I dont like the fact that a lot of cateres ask u your budget! So one of my clients told me to approach the situation as telling them how much I could afford per head!

I have $4000 max to spend for 150-170 people, so thats why I have decided buffet was my best option! I realize this was a "up in the air" question and I thank everyone for your responses and opinion! We are getting married at Hickory Street Annex and we have a Perferred Catering list we have to go by.....AGAIN THANK YOU ALL! MUCH APPRECIATED!!

lindzi375 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_average-pp-reception-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:aa31cab2-f5db-4b63-a82f-4f68f9d05574Post:bbe4ba10-81c4-43d6-8ce6-8823f8ec3a76">Re: average $pp for reception dinner!</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm also a budget bride and my caterer is charging us about $2500 for 175 people and that includes the beer, all plates, cups, silverware, etc, 2-3 servers, and clean up but we are doing buffet style so it seems to be a cheaper way to go. We looked at some other caterers and they were much higher. You just have to shop around and see what's out there. My best advice is that if you are going to price compare ask for the exact same thing with each caterer so you know you are getting the best price. Hard to compare when one is pricing meatloaf and one is pricing filet mignon!
Posted by danac2010[/QUOTE]

Just curious...which caterer are you using? That's the best price I've heard. Also, are you using a venue where you find all your own vendors? I'm wanting to have about 170 people but all the places I'm checking I could only afford 120 people or so.

But I agree with PP there are soo many vendors and different caterers it's hard to have an average price. ..

ajdubya126 · June 2010

we used Black Eyed Pea a year ago ( I think they are a HSA approved caterer) we paid around $2600 for 125 ppl. We had a cheese tray, fruit tray, shrimp cocktails, salad, salmon, steak, broccoli, green beans, new potatoes, bartending (we provided the alcohol and they provided the mixers), and cake cutting. We didn't use fancy plates and real silverware, but I don't think it would've been that much more. I think that averaged out to around $27 per person. Not sure. They were on the low end. We were quoted $5000 by some caterers just for a heavy hors d'ourves reception. I think you need to decide how important food is for you. That was at the top of our list because we hate going to weddings with bad food!

bobbileighb · June 2010

You may want to try royal catering that is who I am using. We are doing the following all buffet style:

Fresh Seasonal Fruit Display with Melon Basket
Domestic & Imported Cheese Display with Fancy Crackers
Assorted Mini-Croissant & Tortilla Wrap Sandwiches
Mesquite Grilled Chicken Breast Strips with a Mild Curry Dipping Sauce
Spinach Dip with Sliced Baguettes
A pasta station with chicken and shrimp

All for 21 a person we are going a little more casual but there will be plenty of good food. I think it all depends on what you want and how fancy you want it to be.

mseale · June 2010

TAP, I'm having about 175-200 people and did not have a huge budget to spend on food. Check out the next thread, I posted my menu and it was $17pp. Two Sisters was very flexible, and could even go lower with a few different options.

bridgetlb · June 2010

we sampled the chocolate fountain (with dark chocolate) at the open house and i knew no matter what i had to have it!!!! luckily, we needed it to fill out min. food cost!!!

mayv2010 · June 2010

I am paying for $70 pp, food and alcholol included at the Arts District Banquet facitlity. I wil have my reception and ceromony there. To me. that is a lot easy, i dont have to worry about rental fee, service fee, etc, every thing is included. i checked out a lot of places, some want to charge $2000-$3000 on rental fee for just 4 hrs on a sunday.

Jay+Marissa · June 2010

Unless it includes alcohol, I wouldn't pay above $35/person. Our caterer was cheap (and sucked), but there are other caterering companies out there that will do it under $20-25 for what you want. Check out Celebrations Catering--their food is awesome

Donnaaries · June 2010

wow mayv, I'm shocked to hear how the prices have dropped across these wedding venues. We looked at Arts District Banquet facility in the spring of 2009 and were quoted $120pp (all inclusive with alcohol). Your quote is almost half that!

tam427 · June 2010

Ours is a little on the high side, about $38 pp including passed h'ors douvres, but we didn't have a choice for our caterer, with a $2500 food/bev minimum. Fortunately, our space rental is only $700! (for ceremony+reception)

tap4781 · June 2010

oh wow! $700 for your space rental! Matt and I fell IN LOVE with Hickory Street Annex....Its $4500 for rental! We looked around but nothing fit our personality better than HSA! Congrats to u!

mayv2010 · June 2010

Doonaaries-

Your pictures look so pretty. who is yoru photographer?

natashanurse2b · June 2010

speaking of catering.... I noticed a couple of you were using babe's chicken I really like that idea! Can you tell me how much you paid and what all it includes?

average $pp for reception dinner!

Re: average $pp for reception dinner!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards