Breaking news: Weddings are expensive! Ok, so it's not breaking in that it's brand new, but it's breaking in that it'll break your heart to know the amount of money that goes in to feeding and liquoring up your guests. In an attempt to help you out with that, we spoke to five wedding caterers and planners about when you can cut costs wisely from some of the most expensive (and important) parts of the evening—the food and drink.
According to these professionals, brides- and grooms-to-be allocate anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of their wedding budget to food alone, which can mean spending anywhere from $80-$250 a person. They want you to know that it doesn't have to be that way. And—and!—that being smart about slashing costs won't compromise the quality of your wedding #eeeats. Mind-blowing, crazy-informative, genius wedding food budget hacks, coming right up.
"Consider spending a little extra on great wine poured table-side at dinner. It’s when you'll have your guests' full attention. It's also fun to be able to buy a bottle on your anniversary and let it take you back to your big day,"
"If you've already had cocktail hour, is it necessary to have an appetizer as a first course? An intermezzo is a nice touch, but certainly not one that will be missed,"
"If a plated meal with a protein is a must, skip the pricier beef and opt for pork, chicken and fish. And limit the size of your protein, even just by an ounce or two,"
"Make dessert the focus instead! Have a small cake to cut for just the two of you, and then surprise guests by treating them to assorted chocolates, s'mores by a roaring fire, or an ice cream station,"
-Paulette Alkire, Lead Wedding Planner at Chalet View Lodge
Read more on delish.com