The catering cost will be one of the main expenses of your
wedding. Many weddings have a set formula of pre-reception
drinks and snacks followed by a three-course sit-down meal.
Although you never want to run out of food, there are ways
to cut back catering costs and save money whilst still having
great food.
Here are a couple of tips for cutting your catering costs.
Keep your menu simple
One of the best ways to reduce your costs is by simplifying
your menu. Think of economical dishes and ingredients that
are in season and available locally. Consider serving up soup
and classic Mielie Bread for starters, traditional South African
Potjiekos for mains and Milk Tart for dessert. This is simple,
tasty and local. Stews and casseroles are usually cost effective
meals and easy to prepare for large groups of people.
Opt for smaller companies
Large professional catering companies tend to be more expensive
than smaller catering companies. Many small restaurants or
small, local catering businesses are able to provide food
for medium to large events, including weddings. Going local
and small may work out cheaper than a large catering company
with high overheads.
Research
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a suitable caterer.
Ask friends or business colleagues whom they have used in
the past. If your friends can't suggest anyone, then turn
to magazines and food websites. Ask caterers for references
from recent events. Schedule interviews with each caterer
and assess whether they would be able to create something
special for the budget that you have and the number of guests
attending your wedding.
Do it yourself
This certainly isn't for everyone but if you are confident
in your cooking and you have family and friends to help then
consider catering youself. It will require a fair amount of
planning but if you create a simple buffet menu then it will
make things a lot easier. Select dishes that are simple and
delicious - a classic lasagne, a chicken curry, a beef casserole
and a vegetarian pasta dish offer a great variety. Add some
salads and rolls to that and wallah! Preparation is the key
here - prepare as much as you can beforehand.
Think differently about your food
There are plenty of food options available, so you don’t
have to go down the route of a traditional sit-down meal.
Consider providing snacks or plenty of canapés for
a champagne reception. For a spring or summer garden reception
a spit-braai would go down well or even a picnic baskets and
blankets for a more casual affair.
Don’t order more food than you need.
You do not want to run out of food but you also don't want
to have tons of food leftover! Your caterer should help you
determine correct portion sizes and amounts to avoid a huge
surplus. Remember that ordering two or three types of canapés
as opposed to 6 different types, will help to reduce your
catering bill. Different kinds of foods will increase the
bill, so keep it simple but tasty. If you are having a large
wedding cake, you may want to only serve a small dessert.
Plated meals may also be more cost effective as opposed to
a large elaborate buffet because the caterer can estimate
food portion sizes and cost per person more accurately and
therefore order the correct amount of food.
Pay attention to the types of foods you order.
There are some foods that are always going to be expensive,
even if you only order small amounts. These foods inlude things
like like shrimp, lobster, salmon and fillet. These foods
will make your food cost significantly higher so if you are
intent of having them, possibly consider including them as
part of the canapés or starters to save money.
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