£2000 to feed 20 people

[colectivity]

Having a very inexpensive wedding we're trying to budget for in a Scottish castle that doesn't do food. I have been quoted £2000 for a 3 course meal for 20 people with no alcohol and a grazing table. This is from a big private catering company.

Their prices originally look quite reasonable but then they added 3 staff, petrol, surcharge, VAT and it went from £26 pp to £200.

It has to be on this site in Perthshire. What would you do? We're quite happy with one main course but want it to be a sit down.

Food trucks are very expensive with such few guests. They all seem to have a minimum spend of over £1k and I really wanted a sit down meal.

That sounds reasonable to me. If you have to cut costs further, I’d dump the venue, despite the money you’ve spent so far, you can’t really afford it by the sounds of things. As others have said, you could book a registry office and a restaurant.

£15k isn’t inexpensive! We spent £5/6k a couple of years ago including dress, rings, suits, flowers, makeup/hair, cake, photographer food, favours and alcohol! It wasn’t in a Scottish castle though (although i’m Scottish). Personally you are this far, it’s what you want, why not take out a 5 year £15k loan and give yourself the party you want?? £2k on this, entertainment, makeup! Life is short and hopefully you’ll only do it once. Ask for money from guests instead of presents?

I paid £26 for a main course mixed grill in a Greek taverna in a city centre restaurant (not London) on the weekend, expecting a 3 course meal for that per person in a location wedding is insane.

However, hog roast/BBQ style buffet/local college/independent restaurant might be cheaper than £100 per head, otherwise I do think you’re going to have to pay if you want a “traditional” sit down meal.

Have you tried wild rover dot com? I would also look at restaurants in pitlochry/muthill/Perth/crieff and ask if they do small event catering. Also look at places in Dundee and Newport.
Also if you are paying a lot for crockery/glasses consider supplying your own (particularly if you like shabby chic) check out Facebook/charity shops.
If you get your booze from oddbins they do free glass hire..
Wishing you lots of luck!

Am I being thick here but £2000 for 20 people is £100 a head, not £200. If they includes all the food, crockery, serving staff etc I think that’s reasonable isn’t it??

@colectivity I'm in fife and my friend has a restaurant and also does outside catering for weddings, not sure how much he charges but pm if you want his details, been a head chef at several well known venues.

Totally reasonable for an outside catering company

If it's a sit down £100 per head sounds ok, especially if you have an additional grazing table.
Get your booze from Majestic on supply and return; they'll supply glasses and ice too (they used to anyway)

Have your PiL withdrawn their offer completely? Would they, or your parents, be able to contribute at all? I understand that you want a sit down meal but getting in caterers for a small group will always be expensive per head - the overheads of travel and staff will be almost the same whether you're feeding 5 people or 50.