Help with budget wedding food

[dreaminginvintage]

Wondering if I can get some opinions on wedding food!

DP and I are getting married next spring, and are on quite a tight budget as we’re putting most of our savings towards a house deposit, but still want a celebration with our friends and family! We’re getting married in a registry office late afternoon with just family then hiring a pub function room for a party after with friends, who will be arriving from 6pm. Catering ourselves to keep down costs!

We’ve decided it’s going to be a buffet, but not sure if we should do

1. cold meat joints (ham, salmon, turkey)

With slices of sourdough bread, plus 3 or so types of salads (pasta, cous cous, potato) and then side bits like quiche, scotch eggs, pizza pastry puffs and coleslaw Or

1. Order lots of platters of sandwiches & baguettes ready made from Morrison’s/Sainsbury’s/m&s

Plus all salads & sides mentioned above

The venue does have some big tables and chairs but there won’t seating for everybody all at once, hence I’m a bit nervous that cold meat cuts is more fiddly and people might struggle if they don’t have a seat? Do you think sandwiches are ok for a wedding party?? Does it all sound a bit naff? Be honest!

I would go for 'things you can pick up with your fingers' for a buffet for a large number.
I love a sandwich buffet myself.
Once you get into cous cous, pasta and potato salads you are getting into needing to sit at a table with cutlery. I'd stick to mostly things you can pick up with your fingers.

@Kite22 yes think you're right... will have a little rethink. Thanks!

Could you do a potluck instead of gifts? Or could you see about hiring a fish and chip van or similar - might work out the same sort of cost then serve the cake as dessert?

From your two options i feel like sandwiches are better for the same reason a pp said

@CocksAndKnobbers do love the idea of a potluck, but most of our guests will be travelling in on public transport, not sure if it would be awkward to ask them to bring a dish without a car? Although have already specified no gifts so this could be a nice alternative.

Did want a food van but unfortunately the venue has no outdoor space and is on a main road so that's out of the question. Think I'll stick to nice finger foods and sandwiches as you say, and serve cake as desert!

Hi OP, congratulations on your impending wedding 💐

Do you have a CostCo nearby? They do a great range of sandwiches etc that you can order in advance and the prices are probably better than M&S. I catered an event using CostCo sandwiches and topped it up with other bits off the shelf, sausage rolls, quiches etc.

Definitely go for food that you can eat 1 handed. Although I’m biased as I love sandwiches!

Id do an order from the local chipper.

We hired a street food van for our wedding.

Have you costed the price of food if the pub provides it? Often its not a lot more money and it will take a huge amount of stress off your shoulders. Canapes and bowl food worked well at a friends wedding without seats for everyone.

I'd do some kind of dessert as well, get some cheesecake or large cakes from Costco.

Thanks for the responses!

@7catsisnotenough thank you and yes that's a good idea! We do have one nearby. Do I need to order all online and then pick up? Just had a look on the website but can only see sandwiches right now for advance order!

@Lemonlemon88 yes have looked into it, bit reluctant as pub wants £10 per head for essentially the same food as this? Just sausage rolls and quiches so don't really think it's worth it, there's going to be around 80 people in total. Like the bowl food idea though!

Hi @dreaminginvintage (love the name!) If you pop in you can pick up a leaflet with all the options in it and then drop it back to the store with your order written on it. I bought the plates and cutlery there too. They do a fab box of frozen tiny cake/dessert bites 😉

@Skyeheather good shout! Do love a cheesecake.

@7catsisnotenough haha thanks, born in the wrong era!
Definitely going to look into this, sounds fab! Seems much more efficient and think quality will be better too! Thanks for the info

You're welcome @dreaminginvintage .

PS I know that feeling - 60's all the way for me!

@7catsisnotenough 70s for me! Trying to convince DP to have a 'through the decades' disco for the party... he thinks it's too cheesy!

@dreaminginvintage it's definitely not cheesy! Let everyone pick their favourite decade and dress accordingly! I went to a birthday party years ago that did that and it was fabulous. If people don't want to do fancy dress type stuff they can lay claim to the 2020s!

Added to which music wise a mix of decades will cover all your guests 👍🏼

@7catsisnotenough sounds fantastic to me😂 let's see if it pans out. Do like the idea of everyone picking a song though!

The one wedding that is vivid in my mind, was the only one without enough seating for all! Like many others, I was wearing heels and to not be able to sit-even for short periods of time, was a painful nightmare! There weren't even enough seats for the elderly!

How are you going to prep the food- whilst also being the bride/groom? Will family/friends help? Are you prepping food within the pub or only able to take platters along with you? Could you have hot food, or will it all be cold?

I was going to suggest different flavours of hot, chicken drumsticks- with a napkin handle to hold.

• Hot pork rolls (many companies can provide this, or maybe family could help)
• Quiche could be made the day before