We are having a tiny wedding with approximately 30 people, us included. We are targeting under $10/person.
Both of our tentative venues remind me of The Secret Garden.
I have made tea cakes before and am a tea enthusiast. I can make decent scones. I've never done clotted creams or jams.
I read it was convenient to make the sandwiches the day before and chill them. Is that true?
I can get a caterer to make an assortment of tea sandwiches for $90: $3/person
She will do half that for $58 or $1.93/person
Utensils, glasses and settings for about $60: $2/person
Cupcakes: $3.50/person
Case of Pellegrino $12: $0.40/person
Case of Martinelli's $25: $0.83/ person
Deviled eggs?
Tea Leaves & water are sunk costs.
I am missing scones, cream and jelly and I am already at $9.73.
I want it to be cute, relatively low maintenance and not tacky.
What do you think? I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. please provide any suggestions.
Is this tacky? Is this relatively low key?
Re: English Tea Style Reception on a Budget - How Easy is This?
Are you locked into using this caterer for everything? Because you should shop around on the cupcakes. There is no way that should be $3.50/person unless you're picking complicated flavors, complicated decorations, or they are vegan or gluten-free. I think you can definitely get that to under 3/person.
I would start with grocery store bakeries sections or neighborhood bakeries. And by neighborhood bakeries, I don't mean the cutesy look at all the fancy flavor combinations and our pear and gruyere tartlets and did you see our James Beard nomination? I mean family-owned, been around since the 50's, not mentioned in any magazine top 10, no nonsense, bakes white bread daily, has sprinkle doughnuts, M&M cookies, and apple fritters bakeries. The kind where you aren't even sure they do cupcakes. These types of every day bakeries seem to be a dying breed in favor of the "all cupcake bakery" or other cutesy specialty, but they know what they are doing, will take orders, and will almost always be cheaper by leaps and bounds. Also, I'll mention that our Mexican panaderias here tend to be much cheaper than other bakeries, as well.
Good luck!
Maybe. But my point is that the type of hospitality the OP wants to serve is, in the US, best served before 6pm or perhaps after 8pm.
Either way, the menu sounds delicious. I'd love it myself.