Evening - guests vs. food

Pinzy

Little dilemma - there's a lot of people I'd love to invite for the evening do, but we can't afford to feed them all. The venue will be supplying food for 40 people (part of a package), but we're looking at minimum of 90 people, so I feel I need to get a bit extra otherwise it'll look rather sparse!

We'd like to have about 120 for the evening do, but food costs are mounting up.

What about you other wedding folks - did you go for more people and feed them less, or less people so there was plenty of food?

Bella73

When we got married we had 150 for the evening party and catered I think for about 100 and there was lots of food, I think they "recommend" about two thirds you could always word the invitations as "light evening buffet" so if people want to they can eat before.

Stephb1986_2

We just went to a evening reception a few weeks ago, we didn't expect to be fed so ate before hand. There was an evening buffet of chips, curry, cake, sandwiches, quiche, sausage rolls etc

HTH

Steph xx

sheeppappar

Bella73 wrote: »

you could always word the invitations as "light evening buffet" so if people want to they can eat before.

Ah ha good plan! we don't want to overcater for ours but also don't want to look mean.. so may steal your idea!

I would go for more guests / less food but that's just me.. Lots of people will eat beforehand anyway if it's an evening do x

Miskate

We're having a cheese wedding cake in the evening, as well as our normal wedding cake. This is costing £150, plus £2 per head for bread and crackers/chutney and grapes. I'm confident this will feed well over 100 people.

cats2012

You only need to cater for 75% max so that should help!

LEJC

Do your venue know that you are planning on inviting 120 people...not necessarly from a food point of view but from a fire regulation point of view....

We had 250 at our evening do and self catered,its reasonably easy as long as you have plenty of people who are willing to lend a hand and store things for you before the evening....and then a few willing friends who will lay it all out for you during the evening...
Keep it simple and try to avoid things that cant easily be picked up and eaten with your fingers...

jtr2803

While I appreciate initially it's adding more cost but have you thought about a sweet table?

You can do them yourself really cheaply and most venues don't actually mind them as they are more favours than food

Scotsbride

we had 53 at ours I'd say 90% of the food at the evening buffet wasn't eating not because it was bad just that people weren't hungry as had large lunches before the wedding

PinkPrincess83

We had about 100 people come our reception and I catered for about 70, which I think was about right. There was no point in catering for the full amount because 45 had eaten at 5ish as part of our sit down buffet so I took into account they may want a snack but wouldnt eat a full 1 persons allowance (if that makes sense). We also had cupcakes (80, which all went) and a sweetie table.

If your worried could you speak to your venue and find out if they could do you a deal to bulk out on some of the 'cheaper' items?

I do think the idea of putting a light buffet in the invite is a good idea, so people can have a snack before they come.

Torry_Quine

I would have had my supper before going to an evening reception but unless otherwise stated would expect a buffet.