What are some inexpensive food ideas for weddings?

Question

me and my fiance are getting married within the next year and we are not rich, but we want to be able to supply our guests with a good dinner. what is a cheap food that people will like but wont know we were just buying it cause its cheap.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

APPETIZERS:
1. Cut cucumbers at an angle, about 1/4 up to 1/2 inch, scoop out with a melon ball scoop, but not all the way through. Fill with a garlic-herb dip,spray cheese, or ranch dip.

BUFFET DINNER:
1. Chicken breasts covered with lite layer of mayonnaise, sprinkle with white pepper, grated Parmesan cheese, and baked for about 45 min. Serve w/ crinkle cut carrots, broccoli florets,cauliflower florets....steamed with a light mist of Garlic butter. Add a small baked potato,split and topped with shredded swiss cheese, chives and sour cream.

2. Buy a large styrafoam cone and cover it from top to bottom with fresh strawberries,poked in with a toothpick to hold, with one huge strawberriy pocked in the very top. Poke blueberries into holes between strawberries. Set cone in the middle of a large oval tray. Alternate rows all the way around the tray with the following things:
roast beef slices,swiss chees, green grapes, turkey slices, chedder cheese, red grapes, ham slices, provolone cheese, green grapes, and start again with the first meat and keep going around.
You can lay Kale under the grapes to add abit more color. This is a beautiful display and you can have a side plate with tiny cocktail breads, or snack crackers.

Hope this helps abit. There are manythings you can do cheaply that look very elegant. But, worrying if your guests will think you are cheap should not be a concern on this very important day...for you or for them.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!!!!

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

very good source

Answer 2

i often do catering for people, it really does depend wheather you want a sit down meal with a two or 3 course, finger buffet or something that can be eaten with a fork simply by standing. get back to me, im sure i could give you a few ideas. also please state the area you live in and nearest super markets as that often helps with deals or markets around your area.

Answer 3

we r in pretty much same position, we're having a sitdown buffet but with sliced meats and minted hot new potatoes ;-) should be ok

i'm more worried about speeches and entertainment!
gd luck + congrats

Answer 4

A pasta bar. Is inexpensive and you can be creative with it.

Have Boston Market cater if there is one in your area.

Have your favorite restaurant cater. They are much cheaper than the cheapest wedding caterer and you get more for your money.

Any appetizers from the frozen section of Costco/Sam's are inexpensive and hearty enough you can easily make a full meal out of them. Serve 10-15 pieces per person during the dinner hour.

Answer 5

Our daughter's wedding was a 4th of July weekend wedding and we had picnic fare...

Fried chicken, slaw, beans, chips, etc... it was a huge hit and not expensive at all.

I have also heard of having a mashed potato bar.... so cool! You serve mashed potatoes in martini glasses and have all sorts of toppings for them and let the guests choose...

butter
sour cream
bacon
cheesy brocolli
the sky is the limit!

Best wishes to you both!

Answer 6

BURGER KING

Answer 7

we are having a cocktail reception, which is finger food being served on platters. The reception isn't as long, and you don't need to worry about place settings.

another couple of ideas I was given, were a picnic reception with picnic foods. And another was chinese food, I haven't met a person who doesn't like chinese.

Answer 8

pasta is cheap and good.u can get different kinds of sauces and let them choose.

Answer 9

i'm thinking of doing what a friend suggested; tactfully say to family& friends you know, "oh, Aunt Sue, you make the best *insert food here* can i get the recipe? or do you think you could make some?" Personally, i'm going to be testing my cooking skills...a lot...plus, enlisting the help of several friends of mine! it's cheap, and i know what we'll be serving! handy! ^-^

good luck to you!

Answer 10

We had a picnic basket set up for our guest as we had a morning wedding I am talking early! We ended up having chicken and champange breakfast with fresh fruit, it was a hit with our guest...

You can also try a buffet style wedding with lots of salads and cold meat selection like ham, chicken, roast beef etc all the cold meats you can think of but make sure you have a huge range of salads for your guest!

Answer 11

First, I'll tell you what I did, then I'll give a few more ideas. I understand your situation. Instead of providing a meal, we set the wedding at 2pm, not a meal time, and informed our guests we would have a dessert buffet. I also saw pictures of a dessert buffer for a reception with normal food, but I loved the desserts so much, that was all I wanted. My mother-in-law, some family friends and I made an assortment of cookies, truffels and we had two chocolate fountains (they were $15/each at Walmart). Then we had our cakes and punch and coffee.

If you want to serve a full meal however, things that turn out well are buffets. Serve lots of starches, as they take the place of most of the meal, and are very inexpensive. Rice, pasta and breads are great. You could have a stir-fry (chinese) or spaghetti noodles with an assortment of sauses. You may also choose to just serve a few inexpensive finger-foods, such as mini-sandwiches, chips and dips. If you go to a wholesale place like Costco or Sams you could find veggies like greenbeans, or corn, etc in large cans, then just just heat and serve. If you watch, you can find brisketts on sale, and prepare then days in advance and warm in the oven a few hours before. Serve with bbq sauce and buns, a huge can of beans, and you're doing good.

Answer 12

We are thinking of having a champagne afternoon tea style party, lots of little sandwiches, toasted paninis, cakes, eclairs, and of course champagne! Think "Tea and the Ritz" it is a lot less expensive than a full sit down meal. You could try something really simple, like soup (carrot and coriander is always a favourite) followed by roasted chickens with baked potatoes and salad and fresh strawberries and cream.

Answer 13

I have been to a few wedding where the reception was just a cocktail hour. Of course it was more than an hour i'd say about 3 housrs or so, but they had all cocktail hour food, so it was some passed food like pigs in a blanket or chicken satay then they had a buffet of hot and cold food like pasta, cheese and meat platter, calamari, fruit platter, and that was it. I have to say it was very tasteful and nice.

Answer 14

Without planning your whole menu start with appetizers, veggie treys, sliced deli meats etc. then for the meal green salad with a choice of dressings, then pasta make or serve a couple of types include two different sauces in addition a hot meat ie chicken breast, Don't forget to serve steamed veggies as well last but not least Breads minimum 2 types Serving 100 people would probably cost around 200 bucks.Most important thing do not run out of anything. Oh yeah dessert, Wedding cake if money is a consideration have a small wedding cake Then have a couple of sheet cakes made at your local grocery store with a bakery. congrats and best of luck and love BDS

P.S. donate left overs to local shelters Peace out

Answer 15

When my friend got married she did sandwich trays and fruit and veggie trays. She went to a local grocery store deli and had them made. They were very inexpensive and very good! And her wedding was an evening wedding. So just because there are "general rules" on what kind of food should be served when, you don't have to follow them. It's your wedding. Do what you want.

good luck!

Answer 16

u can try indian food it will be cheaper and gave some diffrent looks

Answer 17

Have differnt kinds of foods

Answer 18

Meatloaf, chicken, pork roast these are all cheap things but even cheaper if you don't have them catered.