engagement party catering woes

Re: engagement party catering woes

• Matty143

  

  August 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_pre-wedding-parties_engagement-party-catering-woes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:32Discussion:71a570c2-0dce-452c-a111-26d2770ef09ePost:11a3c7ec-c774-46ac-87d8-ad0f9e608703">engagement party catering woes</a>:
  [QUOTE]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 <strong>grand total of approx. 45, can I get away with ordering for 35?</strong> We've used this catering company before and there always seems to be tons of leftovers... Advice? -D
  Posted by danielizash[/QUOTE]
  
  I dont think this is a good idea.. Why dont you choose the most affordable options, OR make the food? Or maybe serve drinks and light appetizers? Even if you usually have leftovers, I think its better to be safe rather than sorry.
  GL <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />

  

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• MairePoppy mod

  

  August 2011 edited December 2011

  Does your caterer charge by trays or per person. For instance, we can order a tray of of baked ziti - $49, sausage and peppers -$69, assorted salads $39, etc.....Each tray serves 25 people and you must pick them up. For that type of catering it would probably be okay to order an extra child friendly dish such as mac'n cheese or chicken fingers for the buffet, rather than doubling up on the other stuff.
  
  If you are ordering a package and the caterer is delivering and serving the meal, you will probably have to count the children in the head count.
  
  Play it safe, tell the caterer what your budget is and how many children will be there. They will probably be willing to work with you.
  

                     

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• covejack

  

  August 2011 edited December 2011

  It doesn't have to be fancy.  What about pizza and beer/wine?  You could do salads yourself and save cash there.

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• mrshall1027

  

  August 2011 edited December 2011

  My parents are also throwing us an engagement party, but I was more concerned about cost then they were.  My FI found a couple of places that do brisket by the lb at around $6 per lb.  Each lb would serve two people, so all in all, not a bad deal.  We ended up going with a place that is including three sides plus the brisket for $350 total for 50 people.  We ordered a sample brisket and it was literally the best brisket that I have ever had.  I think all our guests will be very happy, even though it's not the steak dinner my dad wanted to have originally!!

  
  

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• danielizash

  

  August 2011 edited December 2011

  Mine and my fiance's parents are hosting the party--I'm just concerned my parents might be overextending themselves (they're covering the cost of food). We figured on ordering the standard $11.50 per person deal for 40 people even though there'll be about 50. We're also going to order one extra tray for about $40/50, and buy a couple jars of the catering company/deli's penne vodka sauce and make an extra tray of that ourselves...
  I hope I'm not delusional in thinking this will be enough lol

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