budget food

claddaghbride · December 2011

my fiance and I are on a budget and my mom offered up the idea of a pot luck dinner for the reception. is this a good idea since we cant afford catering?

jessicabessica · December 2011

A potluck is not appropriate for a wedding reception. The reception is to thank your guests for coming to your ceremony, and you need to host them--people don't bring their own food to a hosted event.

Have you looked into sandwich platters from Costco (or a similar-type store)? A bbq? If you have your wedding at a non-meal time, you can also just do cake and punch.

Smashleyk · December 2011

Bad idea...I agree with Jessica. Go with sandwiches or something...I saw some wedding photography of a wedding in the country, they served PB&j...and had smores for dessert...it was super cute!

NOLAbridealmost · December 2011

As a very recent victim of food poisoning after a pot luck, I really, really, really do not suggest doing that for your wedding. There is no way to ensure that everyone prepared the food safely and even if everything was originally prepared perfectly, it can easily go bad if the cold things aren't kept cold enough and the hot things aren't kept hot enough.

That, and it's really the responsibility of the host to provide the food. It does not have to be fancy, and if it's at non-meal time it does not have to be much. But asking the guests to bring the food is very inappropriate.

Sue-n-Kevin · December 2011

I totally agree with the prior posts. It's just not proper to ask your wedding guests (assuming you are talking about the people you know making the food........ otherwise you'd have strangers doing it) to bring food. You risk having the food go bad if not properly heated or cooled, or the temperatures not properly maintained.

I guess the question I have is what is your vision for your wedding, and what do you consider "on a budget"? Most of us were "on a budget" and planned weddings we could afford. My budget was around $5K. I made a guest list I could afford, planned the event I could afford.

If "on a budget" means $1,000, then plan the wedding you can afford. I peeked at your bio and it says you are getting married next August. Not sure if you've made definite plans for that date, or just picked any date while you are planning your wedding until firming up the details.

The options you'll see on the Knot for a low budget wedding will generally be these:

- plan it at a "non-meal" time, meaning reception starting around 1 pm, 4 pm, or 8 pm, so guests will know food is not expected and will have eaten.

- at a non-meal time you can offer something to drink (doesn't have to include alcohol) and a snack

- Keep your guest list small. Don't invite family or friends outside a certain pre-determined circle, ie first cousins only, no kids, no dates for single people, etc

- Appetizers only instead of a meal is not always cheaper. It takes people/caterers time to make them, and often they cost more than a buffet

- Look into local gourmet stores that also cater. This is what we did. Many gourmet stores in our vicinity cater parties and weddings. Because their only source of profits is NOT just from catering, they can provide more wiggle room for negotiating price........ and they have fabulous foods on hand already for the customers of the store.

I would also recommend you check your local board, click on link to the left for "Local Boards" and find the one in the area where you are holding your wedding. Our local board is very active, has great ideas for costs, and they will be some of the best advisors in your area.

Good luck.

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