Low Budget Menus for Weddings
From LoveToKnow Weddings
Food can comprise as much as 30 percent of a wedding's cost, so it's no wonder many couples look for low budget menus for weddings. Fortunately, there are several options for keeping everyone fed and not being eaten out of the reception hall and home.
Basic Low Budget Menus for Weddings
For many weddings that take place at someone's home or in a park, a casual menu can suit the casual venue. A simple barbecue might do the trick, or you can tie the menu to something romantic – if your first date was at a pizza place, it makes perfect sense to serve pizza at a luncheon wedding. You want the menu to suit the locale, so a simple wedding demands simple – and therefore inexpensive – food.
In fact, an at-home, in the park, or even beach wedding can be potluck. That may sound tacky, but if you don't need stuff for your home, you can ask guests to bring food, and their favorite recipes to share with the bride and groom, as a unique wedding gift. It can end up making for an even more special occasion, which is what you want.
The No-Caterer Reception
Caterers are very good at what they do and are used to working within a budget. With more belt-tightening going on, they can become even more flexible. For a large wedding, a caterer is indispensable and a necessary investment, but for a smaller wedding, you can go without. This will usually mean friends and family need to be put to more work, but if no one minds, it can save money and even enhance the fun.
A luncheon wedding is the easiest to do without a caterer, because people won't be expecting a huge meal. They will usually be happy with just soft drinks or juice, rather than wine (although you may want to have champagne for toasting). You can get large platters of cold cuts and other sandwich fixings, as well as all the appropriate sides, from the local deli or the supermarket. Or your friends and family members who are good cooks can provide all the food. A low-budget menu for a wedding can include one or two pasta dishes that could be served cold if need be, a salad, fruit, and bread should feed everyone comfortably.
The Low-Budget Dinner
One of the time-honored means of keeping the costs down when a dinner is being served is to have a buffet rather than a sit-down meal. Most guests actually prefer this option. It can be easier for those with dietary restrictions to get a full meal without worry and means more choices for everyone to try.
One reason many people resist a buffet is that it can seem tacky, or may create a melee for the food. If you're not working with an experienced buffet caterer, ask a friend to be in charge of organizing the buffet line so that the meal can be served in an orderly fashion. One table at a time is invited to come up and serve themselves. When the last person has started down the line, the organizer then goes to the next table and asks that everyone there follow him or her to the buffet. You can do this in such a way that the effect is almost as elegant as a sit-down meal, while being a fraction of the cost.
If you are interested in a low-budget menu for a wedding that is also on the healthier and more eco-friendly side, consider going all vegetarian. Entrees like a vegetarian lasagna, moussaka, couscous, or selection of quiches are inexpensive, filling, and crowd-pleasers. You can serve several salads – perhaps you can even work with a local organic farmer who would like his or her wares advertised. This can be a good way to get cheese and wine at a lower cost as well.
Instead of additional desserts, have the wedding cake be the one sweet of choice in addition to a fruit salad. Dietary-conscious guests will be pleased.
Low budget menus for weddings can be just as delicious, creative, and enjoyable as any fancy feast. By taking your budget into account as you plan your menu, you can create a tasty meal to share with family and friends without needing to bankroll a larger menu.
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