Emerging Trends - Heavy Hors D'eouvres in Lieu of Buffet

Hello everyone!

Today I want to discuss some options that I think are a fabulous idea to cut down on catering costs. Of course, the most expensive option for your reception will be to have a plated meal, after that comes the buffet. And then, for some reason, a lot of people skip straight to a cake and champagne event on a Sunday afternoon! Wh

You can still feed your guests and save money. Although the economy is picking up, there are still a lot of engaged couples that are looking at having to either drastically cut their guest list or become creative about food service. As a planner, I know that the most cost effective route is to pair down the invitees. However, this isn't always possible or even desirable.

Therefore, the next best thing you can do to be a little more cost effective is to do heavy Hors D'eouvres in place of a buffet. This means having several stations set up throughout your event space with appetizers that are very filling. Having hosted beer or wine also helps tremendously.

For this type of reception, I recommend doing a variety of dishes! Mini-cheeseburgers (known as sliders) and fries, grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, mashed potato bars with all the yummy fixins' or Asian pot-stickers and rice! Heck, you could do something fancy like mini-Beef Wellington or Mexican Taquitos. Your guests will definitely be fulfilled, especially if they've been imbibing. We often do this for industry events, and trust me, you feel like you've been served a dinner.

Psssstttt. Here's a secret. Later on in the evening, when everyone's starting to get hungry again from all the drinking and dancing...order Pizza's from your favorite Pizzeria. Most catering companies/venues will let you do this. You might incur a minimal service charge either by your caterer or venue, however, it will allow you to have fed your guests during the normal "meal" hour and add some welcomed munchies during the dance portion of your reception!

Nobody will go home feeling deprived and you will have had a fantastic reception with a bevy of different cuisines! How can you go wrong? Personally, I love a grilled cheese sandwhich and some tomato soup, at a wedding or not. :)


Have fun planning!

PHOTO CREDITS: ONEWED.COM (SLIDERS/FRIES), ONEFINEDAY.TYPEPAD (MINI GRILLED CHEESE) HEROLEGALSEAFOODS.COM (MINI BEEF WELLINGTON),MARIE'S GOURMET BAKERY (POTSTICKERS), ATYOURSERVICECATERING (TAQUITOS)