ideas for catering (nighttime foodwise) for at least 200 people on very little money

[biglips]

as we have been putting the wedding off for years as due to the cost of the food wise at the nighttime do. So easily 150 people will come.

any ideas would be appreciated.

my ideas was for people to bring a tray of foods in, but dp thinks that wont work! as he quite happy to do a buffet but i dont want him to be stressed on the day.

A hog roast. Giant buns, premake a load of stuffing and add a few jars of apple sauce.

Hire a hot dog van.

Have a cheese wedding cake then have it cut and served with a load of crackers, chutney and grapes.

We are having bacon and sausage butties, and then the wedding cake will be served for pudding.

ooh keep them coming please

Haggis, neeps and tatties! (You can get veggie haggis.) Vat of chilli con carne. Lasagnas. Chunky broth and bread. Curry-
homemade or you might be able to get a good deal from a restaurant to order in bulk.

may not go for a indian buffet as best to stick to the chinese buffet as more safer but the ideas are fab.

I also got a big slow cooker to do a chilli and my mum can do a curry....

cheese wedding cake is a great idea as you only need to add condiemtns and grapes to make a really impressive display.
Fish and chip van
barbecue

I suspect if your DP dioes the buffet he will be worrying about it all day. Coudl it be prepared the day before and someone else bring it? Or you two do all the preparable stuff anf have a caterer just bring a few bits which woudln't keep.

If dp is happy to do the buffet then do it the day before and maybe serve it in as a picnic so everyone gets a parcel.

Lots could be done before and frozen, sandwiches, quiche, pastries etc. Just add fruit and cake on the day.

What about a kebab van. There are loads around here who only seem to appear at football matches.

momb - i do like your idea ....

sash - dp is v happy to do the food the day before as i was saying that we do the fancy stuff, eg chilli, curry in slow cookers, fancy rice (and do a fancy fish dish on the day), most of them will be deep fried/oven stuff whilst my aunties do sandwiches, etc (anything basic for them to do). Me and Dp will do our own wedding cake with cupcakes too.

Dp had done this before for our engagement do and he got loads of compliments as he is a v good cook.

we are off to the church today to book a date

Avoid food that has to be "portioned" eg fish and chips. For large numbers and small budget you need things like chilli, curry (hot) or sliced roast meat and salads (cold)