Event catering is likely one of your largest costs, but it’s also where you have the most leeway. Here are 25 surefire ways to save money on event catering.
- Snacks and appetizers are cheaper than dinner. Hosting an event in between meals will help you save.
- Host a cash bar or eliminate alcohol altogether.
- Use in-season fruits and vegetables.
- Breakfast is the cheapest meal. Serve it for dinner.
- Host your event outside the most popular season, day, and time.
- Buffets are cheaper than boxed lunches and food bars are very trendy.
- Go for cheaper meat in dishes – like chicken alfredo versus filet.
- Select add-ins instead of the main thing—for instance, shrimp and grits versus shrimp cocktail.
- Splurge on pairings, not the entire menu. One interesting, upgraded appetizer or treatment will upgrade the whole experience for less.
- Ditch the waitstaff (unless you’re using them to control the number of appetizers people eat).
- Serve smaller portions with greater attention to display.
- Re-evaluate the need for four courses. Instead, spend money on fewer items but ones that impress.
- Serve only wine and beer.
- Switch your event to the daytime so you don’t feel the need to have a bar. Serve artisanal lemonades instead.
- Serve a signature drink or two. A limited selection will save you money.
- Shop around for your caterer and pick a venue that allows you to do so.
- Host a grazing table with no formal meal and self-serve food.
- Use smaller plates to limit what people take. Most people will take less and won’t continue repeatedly going to the buffet.
- Understand hidden fees like upgraded linens, glasses etc.
- Cut the amount of hors-d’oeuvres choices you’re serving.
- Individualized servings ready to eat in cups or bites on cutlery are cute unless you’re paying to use the utensils. Be aware that some caterers price with a certain number of cups in mind.
- Remember, set-up equals more money. Whenever you see a staff person set up, you’re paying for it. So, instead of asking them to set up a coffee service in the back of the room for a break, go to an area already set up for the event, like a central break location for all meeting rooms. It’s better to pay for one setup than five.
- Provide snacks in the room. Adding a few snacks to your guests’ rooms at night may be less expensive than having your caterer bring out an end-of-day snack tray.
- Host a dinner away from the venue if it’s a multi-day event. Renting a restaurant is usually cheaper, and you won’t pay for set-up.
- Use one large, impressive decoration on the table instead of many individual pieces that get lost anyway.
Photo credit: Tamara Menzi / Unsplash