You probably won't get it down to $5 a person, but if you give us a few more details, like when, where, and something specific about you and your intended, like ethnicity or interests, and perhaps we can suggest something thematically appropriate.

$5/person is going to be hard to do, but the first way to save money is to do a brunch instead of a dinner.

I cut my cake costs way low by having them make sheet cake to serve and the bottom layer of the cake was real cake, the other tiers were Styrofoam - which was cheaper to have decorated and easier for the pastry chef as well.

Not only that cutting up and serving sheet cake was more cost effective too.

$5 is pretty low though. Not sure where your venue is, but you may need to check if you have to use an insured caterer or not. I had our food part catered. The cake and main course was catered, but we were able to do our own apps, bring our own bread and do our own cheese platter which saved some $$.

I can tell you what we did and maybe some of it will be useful. But keep in mind we were poooor at the time. If I had it to do over (with a little more cash) I'd sure prefer to hire a caterer.

We decided to do Middle Eastern food and to make it lunch rather than dinner. One good friend made huge bowls of baba ganoush, hummus and couscous. That was her present to us, and it was a wonderful gift. We found a place that made the spanikopita and tiropita that were sold at supermarkets in the area, and we ordered those directly from them. We had to drive over on the morning of the wedding and pick them up, but they were fresh. We cut up pita bread and put it on trays ourselves, and we also made veggie, fruit and cheese trays ourselves (with the help of my best friend). There might have been other things -- I think I got a couple things from a deli (it was 15 years ago!). We ordered cakes from a place that made our favorite carrot cake. I asked for one 10" round cake to be really decked out in fresh flowers -- that was the one we cut -- and then another sheet cake for guests. We also picked that up the morning of the wedding. For booze we served box wine (yup!) and we had planned far enough in advance that we made our own dry sparkling mead for the toast.

I know people who've had big, fancy weddings and had the marriage fall apart after a few years. We spent $1000 on everything, including our clothes, and we're still in love. So don't sweat it too much!

I can tell you what we did and maybe some of it will be useful. But keep in mind we were poooor at the time. If I had it to do over (with a little more cash) I'd sure prefer to hire a caterer.

We decided to do Middle Eastern food and to make it lunch rather than dinner. One good friend made huge bowls of baba ganoush, hummus and couscous. That was her present to us, and it was a wonderful gift. We found a place that made the spanikopita and tiropita that were sold at supermarkets in the area, and we ordered those directly from them. We had to drive over on the morning of the wedding and pick them up, but they were fresh. We cut up pita bread and put it on trays ourselves, and we also made veggie, fruit and cheese trays ourselves (with the help of my best friend). There might have been other things -- I think I got a couple things from a deli (it was 15 years ago!). We ordered cakes from a place that made our favorite carrot cake. I asked for one 10" round cake to be really decked out in fresh flowers -- that was the one we cut -- and then another sheet cake for guests. We also picked that up the morning of the wedding. For booze we served box wine (yup!) and we had planned far enough in advance that we made our own dry sparkling mead for the toast.

I know people who've had big, fancy weddings and had the marriage fall apart after a few years. We spent $1000 on everything, including our clothes, and we're still in love. So don't sweat it too much!

Who said we had to have a cake? Y'all are jumping to a lot of conclusions. LOL

First of all, we're a very non-traditional kinda' couple and going for a non-traditional wedding combining traditions from all over the world.

We love food from all over (although many of our family members and friends aren't so adventurous). Our favorite types of foods include Middle Eastern and Indian, but we're open to every possibility.

Secondly, the $5/person was just an ideal. It's do-able here in Dallas, but we know a lot of folks pay $35/person and more. And no that's not including anything insanely show-off-ish like a stupid tiered cake. LOL

We're talking just about the dinner. And, yes, it HAS to be a dinner. Logistical reasons.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

:)
Feiruz

ELOPE


afterwards....get a keg and have friends over. Potluck party


you spend no money on food...and spend $75 for the keg

Do a cocktail reception with only appetizers, which can usually be cheap.

My advice however, is reduce cost elsewhere, such as decorations, centerpieces, invitations, and favors.

Check out the book Bridal Bargains, they have GREAT tips.

Buffet Style with "party trays" from local deli's/restaurants that you trust would be the most cost effective way to keep your costs down and allow you to serve a variety of foods. If you want hot foods you will need to use chafing dishes and that will increase the cost some. It's the beverages that are really going to get you. But still, even with the cost of the plates, plasic ware, food, beverage, ice... you could probably get away with a self serve no alcohol reception for around $20 per person. And hey, for desert, serve backlava and ice cream.

My sister had a big party for her 20th anniversary last August and they served a side dish of quinoa! I was so happy because I could not eat any other protien that was provided.

My suggestion would be to cook up a few pots of quinoa and add different things to each pot for variety; like veggies, shredded chicken, ground turkey, sun dried tomatoes... Quinoa is a very inexpensive starter.

If you wish to appeal to the palettes of 100 people, I'd like to suggest a Mediterranean theme - the cuisines blend well with each other and you can offer some familiar flavors(Italian, Greek, Spanish) and mix in some of the more exotic(Moroccan, North African, Near/Middle East)

Talk to the the butchers at Costco - they make killer deals on giant orders

And minions. You've GOT to hire minions(aka - those that are not emotionally invested in the ceremony or celebration) if your cooking for 100

My brother and sis-in-law had Noah's Bagels and Safeway cater their wedding. Bagels, lox, shmears from Noahs and fruit platters and meat/cheese platters from Safeway (a local grocery chain).

Of course, they were in college at the time :)

I had the cake place make the really yummy apple spice cake with filling
and everything, but it was like a circular sheet cake, not tiered. And I
had them make like a white checkerboard decoration on it, very simple.
But then I added flowers, specifically sprigs of heather since it was a
Scottish wedding. It was beautiful and tasted delicious and no one
cared that it wasn't multiple tiers and such.

My cake for fifty people was about 60.00. I can't imagine feeding people
a meal for 5.00 a piece. Sounds like you need a potluck. lol

I think a barbeque would be excellent. You can buy a quarter steer. Look on Craigslist for someone to cook it or just hire a spit barbeque for the day. Then have the soft drinks and bread then potluck the rest.

If you want to have some control over what is brought then put out a list for people to choose from . I'd feel uncomfortable bringing something if I didn't know what the couple wanted to eat.

FWIW I got my daughter's wedding cake from a local supermarket that has a bakery. It had buttercream frosting instead ot the marshmallow but they made it lacy and beautiful. We added flowers for the reception. The 3 layer cake cost me $65. They said it would serve 60 but it would have easily served 100. We ate that thing for a week and then finally threw out the rest.

Thanks everyone for your input! :) I think we've got a winner chosen...

We're looking into doing kabobs and vegetable sides for dinner. If we buy three types of kabobs (beef, chicken, and vegetarian) plus three kinds of "salads" and then bake various sweet foods (baklava, etc) that should be good.

My fiance's mom is insisting upon us having a cake so she's offered to make one for the 'head' table. But I told her we'll only serve it to the wedding party. The buffet tables would have little treats like cookies, chocolates, and cupcakes.

We're estimating around $10/person, but it's hard to know this far in advance exactly what prices will be like for meat.

Good thing both families (and us) have Costco and Sam's Club cards!

:)
Feiruz

get your tias to make asado, rice, and beans. you'll be good to go and it'll cost you about $100+/-. you dont like asado? try mole or brisket.