Catering HELP!

omglah247 · October 2010

What would be the average for catering per person for buffet? For seated? I just started searching & have no idea what would be a good deal or not!

We are getting married at the Baltimore Museum of Industry & they have a list of preferred caterers... so we are limited to theirs.

omglah247 · October 2010

Well I only got 1 price so far... & that was Atlantic Caterers & they want $50.25 per person buffet style! Buffet is cheaper then the seated dinner. Not including alcohol. Just seems like a lot!

Their list of caterers are:

Absolutely Perfect Catering 410-579-8777
Cameo Caterers 410-342-6960
Mothers Federal Hill Grille 410-244-8686
Accomac Catering 717-252-2288
Charles Levine Caterers 410-363-0900
Biddle Street Catering 410-727-7777
Classic Catering People 410-356-1666
Dionysus Kitchen 410-744-4300
Innovative Gourmet 410-363-1317
Putting On The Ritz 301-725-4220
Sascha’s Catering 410-539-6103
Simply Elegant Catering 410-484-4554
Atlantic Caterers 410-254-6662
Zeffert & Gold Catering 410-281-1124
Hunt Valley Catering 410-343-3553

omglah247 · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maryland-baltimore_catering?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:85Discussion:e4cedc3a-5c26-497d-a644-b0fa9d7eb1a8Post:b93524f8-d568-465a-8774-24b0cc447dc8">Re: Catering HELP!</a>:
[QUOTE]You got engaged on my wedding day! =)
Posted by lovethebeach16[/QUOTE]

aww cute! congrats! :)

weezie825 · October 2010

Atlantic Caterers is great. A lot is included in their package that you have to pay seperately for with other caterers, like their package includes the cost of the wedding cake.

We used Atlantic for our wedding and were very pleased. A friend of mine used Hunt Valley catering and she really liked the food, but said the coordinator was a little hard to get a hold of. (But that was 6 years ago!)

omglah247 · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maryland-baltimore_catering?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:85Discussion:e4cedc3a-5c26-497d-a644-b0fa9d7eb1a8Post:8b53c98d-59c4-4721-a706-007cbfb2f3c7">Re: Catering HELP!</a>:
[QUOTE]Atlantic Caterers is great. A lot is included in their package that you have to pay seperately for with other caterers, like their package includes the cost of the wedding cake. We used Atlantic for our wedding and were very pleased. A friend of mine used Hunt Valley catering and she really liked the food, but said the coordinator was a little hard to get a hold of. (But that was 6 years ago!)
Posted by weezie825[/QUOTE]

I've heard great things about Atlantic... that's why I went to them first! :)

I just don't want my mom overpaying, I guess is what I'm getting at. Just don't know what is the average cost per person so I can tell if it's a good deal or overpriced.

QueenFromQueenz · October 2010

$50 pp not bad. I've too seen $80, even $100 from certain venues/caterers! lol

gottahavashorti · October 2010

We paid about $40 pp plus alcohol and staff fees. That was the lowest price we found for a cocktail style reception.

Buffets are sometimes less expensive, but not always. Remember that while a sit down dinner might take more staff to serve the food, the caterer might have to prepare more food for a buffet.

If your venue allows it, see if you can go with a caterer that lets you bring your own alcohol. It saves a ton in markup as long as you're not charged corkage fees.

omglah247 · October 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_maryland-baltimore_catering?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:85Discussion:e4cedc3a-5c26-497d-a644-b0fa9d7eb1a8Post:d81ff341-573d-43d5-9afe-776b5ba8cb24">Re: Catering HELP!</a>:
[QUOTE]We paid about $40 pp plus alcohol and staff fees. That was the lowest price we found for a cocktail style reception. Buffets are sometimes less expensive, but not always. Remember that while a sit down dinner might take more staff to serve the food, the caterer might have to prepare more food for a buffet. If your venue allows it, see if you can go with a caterer that lets you bring your own alcohol. It saves a ton in markup as long as you're not charged corkage fees.
Posted by gottahavashorti[/QUOTE]

Atlantic does allow us to bring our own alcohol if we choose to... do you go through a liquor store or a warehouse? It just seems like it would be a hassle to bring it... how does that work?

gottahavashorti · October 2010

We lived in PA so we purchased as stuff went on sale at the state store, did tastings at local wineries and purchased from them over the course of a few months, and bought beer at the beer distributor the week before the wedding. We loaded it into DH's trunk the night before, he and the GM unloaded it at the venue and Dean & Brown took care of it from there. It was pretty easy.

I think most people go through a liquor store. Some places will also allow you to return unopened bottles after the wedding.

weezie825 · October 2010

I know I am biased towards Atlantic, but in reference to your, "I just want to be sure we are getting a good deal," comment... On the list of approved caterers you provided Atlantic and Hunt Valley are probably the 2 cheapest options of the ones that I recognize

Good Deals with regards to price, consistently good reviews-
Atlantic Caterers
Hunt Valley Catering

Ones that get good reviews, but don't know the price range-
Biddle Street Catering
Sascha’s Catering
Putting On The Ritz

I've heard mixed Reviews-
Dionysus Kitchen

Ones that I know are Pricey-
Classic Catering People
Innovative Gourmet (Most Expensive in the CITY!)
Simply Elegant Catering
Zeffert & Gold Catering (However, can do Kosher, if you need that.)

Ones I have Never heard of- (After being on this board for about 3 years!)
Absolutely Perfect Catering
Cameo Caterers
Mothers Federal Hill Grille
Accomac Catering
Charles Levine Caterers

Suprisingly Absent from the approved list:
Dean & Brown- a very popular caterer with a relatively low per person starting price.

omglah247 · October 2010

thanks for your help!

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