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food per person

danielizashdanielizash
First Comment
in Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
Hi!
I'm new to the planning scene and am trying to get an engagement party together. My parents are in a tough financial crunch but offered to pay for the food for the party. I'm adding up the guest list and realizing that the catering cost is going to fly way out of their budget. I'm cutting and cutting people but sitting here thinking--do kids count in the per person cost? If I expect a grand total of approx. 45, can I get away with ordering for 35? We've used this catering company before and there always seems to be tons of leftovers...
Advice?
-D
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Re: food per person

  • Muffin'sMomMuffin'sMom
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I don't order catered food for kids under 12...for the most part, they don't appreciate it.  Chicken nuggets, hot dogs, mac and cheese, PB&J...that's what kids eat.  It is generally way cheaper.

    Also, two things...

    First...An engagement party is like a shower...someone should be giving it FOR you.

    Second...PLEASE make sure that everyone you are inviting to the engagement party will be invited to the wedding.  It's an etiquette nono to do otherwise.
    My baby girl is a married woman...and now my baby girl HAS a baby girl. Time unfolds in such an amazing way. I've been blessed!
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  • WiscisblissWiscisbliss
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Kids count in the food count if they are going to eat. 
    So a baby who has bottles would not count.  A 6 year old who will eat a plate of food does. 

    You really do not want to run out of food. 
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  • ElisabethJoanneElisabethJoanne member
    1000 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    Ask your caterer for a discount. I read that lots will feed kids for half-price. That would mean for 45 people, you tell your caterer, 25 adults, 20 children, 25 full-priced meals, 20 half-priced meals. (So the same price as for 35 adults, assuming this is what your numbers) "Children" only means children with most of their teeth. Like others have said, children too young to eat regular food don't count.

    I'm expecting a similar adult-to-child ratio. I haven't figured out how to word response cards. Does:
    ____ Adult meals
    ____ Child meals
    ____ Total, including infants

    work?
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  • 031107031107
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Do you need an engagement party?
     
    Ask your parents what their budget is. Then either base the guest list off that, or invite extra people knowing you are paying the tab for them.
     
    Kids that are going to eat count. Now, the cater may offer a discount for a kid's meal (chicken nuggests, fries..).  I wouldn't expect a discount if you plan on serving the kids the same meal as the adults.
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  • danielizashdanielizash
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    thanks so much for the advice guys--we are ordering less per person but compensating with 2 extra trays and making one of our own as well. and no, we're not throwing ourselves  our own party--my and my fiance's parents are throwing it, my mom was just asking for my advice on the food she was ordering.
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