Ah, we all love to eat, don’t we? And most couples plan to feed their guests at the wedding. I bet you’ve already researched traditional wedding caterers and been shocked by their prices. According to The Knot, the average caterer is $85/per person, including alcohol. Wow! I can’t imagine that kind of money for food and beverages. Let’s break the mold and move away from official caterers. Yep – you can have a wedding without a caterer, and we can come up with better alternatives for those with a tighter budget. If you do not have experience feeding large groups of people, this can be a bit daunting, but let’s see if we can make it easier. Feeding people does cost money, so when you're on a tight budget, some real thought must go into this area. There are three general ways to accommodate the food: paying for someone else, doing it yourself, or a mix of both. When I say “paying for someone else,” I am not talking about traditional catering, but instead paying for food prepared by: 

• Local restaurants (food chains like Olive Garden, pizza, Mexican food, or a local start-up that needs the recognition) 

• Food trucks (these are great for smaller groups but a bit tough with large groups as they are slow to serve.) 

• How about a group that will do it as a fundraiser (church, Girl Scouts, etc.)?

• Maybe friends will cook it if you provide the ingredients. 

If you have an extreme budget (under $5,000) and can find a source like a restaurant, food truck, fundraiser, etc., with a cost of $8-$10 per person or less, consider this seriously. The time and effort saved may be well worth it.

If you do choose the DIY route, it gets more complicated but usually cheaper, and if this fits you, it can be fun. Here are a few ideas for brainstorming:

• Taco bar, pasta bar, potato bar, or any kind of bar—depending on how you arrange this, the costs can be kept quite low, especially if others bring many of the ingredients.

• Breakfast buffet - you can provide this or have friends bring special dishes.

• A good old-fashioned potluck - These are usually best if the guests are close and know each other well. You can modify it by assigning food to people you know and trust well. Now, you can also take the best of both worlds and order something from a restaurant and add sides to go with it. Get creative! There are a lot of ways to get around traditional catering, so figure out what fits you the best, with your resources.

If you are doing any DIY food, whether the meal or desserts, here are a few tips:

1. Take time to plan well.

2. Give your helpers clear directions, uncomplicated food prep, and food and supplies in a central location. This is the most critical job to delegate (aside from a DOC), as it is time-sensitive and can be a bit complex right on the wedding day itself. It’s also best for you to pay someone to be on kitchen duty during the reception.

Whatever you decide to do with the food, choose the simplest route you can accommodate, make it easy for people to serve, and have plenty for your guests.

Bon appetite!