Saving Big on Food & Beverage

Congratulations on your engagement! Are you a budget savvy couple in need of ideas of where you can save money? I know firsthand that planning a wedding with a small budget is overwhelming. The expense that can really take your budget over the top is the food & beverage portion of your reception bill which is already taking up to 40-45% of your overall wedding budget. That’s why I’m offering you my top 7 budget friendly wedding dinner reception ideas, to help inspire you to think creatively and trim some of your wedding costs.

1. Limit the Open Bar – offer your guests various options of beer, white and red wine, and a signature drink themed around your wedding. Mixed drinks and top shelf selections can be made available via a cash bar for your guests as an option. Another budget trimming option is to set a time limit for the open bar.

2. Bring Your Own Alcohol – You can find great bargains by purchasing your alcohol from wine and spirit wholesalers and pay a corkage fee.

3. Have a Cocktail Reception – Consider having a cocktail reception serving up your signature drinks, food stations, and/or passed hors’ deourves.

4. Pass the Shrimp and Prime Meats – During the cocktail hour portion of your reception, have light buffet options and serve the expensive menu options like shrimp and prime meats as passed hors’ deourves.

5. Local Farmers Market – Use ingredients that are grown locally. Not only are they the freshest but they are the least expensive option than using ingredients grown elsewhere.

6. Beef & Pork Options – When selecting your meat options for the entrée, ask your caterer about which cut of the meat they will be serving and opt for the least expensive cut.

7. Chicken is Budget Friendly – Chicken can go a long way and a skill caterer can turn chicken into a work of art. Consider serving a variety of chicken options with different sauces, textures, and etc.

Sit down with your caterer or banquet manager and discuss these money saving ideas.

A Stylish Wedding Awaits you!

Your Friend and Wedding Planner,

Sherries

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Sherries Pritchard CEO and President is the founding member of Stylish Weddings & Things, LLC as well as the Executive Planner and main writer to the & More Things Blog. With a specialty in planning weddings with below average wedding budgets, she strives to provide helpful and inspirational content that is current, relevant, and budget friendly. Stylish Weddings & Things is a boutique wedding planning and management company based in Pompton Lakes, NJ, serving the NJ tri-state area. For questions, please visit www.stylishweddingsandthings.com or contact Sherries Pritchard at info@stylishweddingsandthings.com or (862)248-2555.