Catering Under $1000? Is it possible??

It can be work look into your local restaurants. I'm using a restaurant and it's like $10.00 a head for one entree and sides .

Boston Market

Black Eyed Pea

Jason's Deli

Or like others mention you can always get a BBQ place to do the meats . And buy the fixins yourself. Here is a example breakdown, I would hook it up for that $1k.

Bushs Baked Beans (Gallon at Walmart $6.00)

2x6.00 = 12.00 (Foil Pan with burners $3.00)

Walmart Potato Salad ( Gallon $4.00 )

3x4.00 = 12.00 ( Foil Pan $1.00)

Corn on the Cob (12 pk $3.00)

10 pks x 3.00 = 30.00 ( Foil Pan with burners $3.00)

Also another suggestion a co-worker of mine did her wedding for the low. She bought a bunch of the Party Size Stouffer's . I just asked her and she had Meat ,Chicken and Vegetable Lasagna , garlic bread, salad $800 for 125 guest.

I wouldn't mind fun messy foods. lol. I'm great with a napkin.

No offense but if I was served frozen dinners at a wedding I'd probably leave.

While our budget is low out of choice, not necessity, we will want this to be nice event. So something classy, no frozen dinners, and something quantity, while not cooking the food ourselves.

I think that a Pig Roast with China can still be very classy and BBQ themed matching the outdoor venue.

I am located in Metro-Detroit and we are doing bbq. Our caterer is costing $7k. Just because it's bbq doesn't mean it'll be cheap, or good for that matter. Be careful which caterer you choose especially with bbq... after all, you get what you pay for. They could end up giving you fatty meat, or over/under seasoned... etc.

We also checked out a Pig Roast for 150 people, it was like $2500.00. You had to add in the grill rentals, the grill guys, the actual pig, the time they'd be spending there roasting it, 6-8 hours, set-up and tear-down, etc. We didn't end up going with a pig roast, but the food we chose was AMAZING!

I'm not sure if you are within this caterers limits, but they have a $9.50/pp meal. Its called the "Gary's Backyard BBQ Buffet."

http://www.garyscatering.com/bbq-catering-barbecue-caterers-mi-michigan.html

Our friends are going with a chain Italian restaurant – presto pasta – not sure if you have them in your area…but they are only paying like $5 per head and get a meat dish, veggie dish, salad, and bread! Try some of the casual chain restaurants in your area, they might offer some good deals.

If you are in west Michigan I would recommend a pig roast...Earl's Meat out of Holland, or Blue star Meats out of Holland both may have options in the price range you are hoping.

It is really hard to stay in the price range with any of the other vendors that I am aware of in this area. There is Catering concepts on Lincoln street in Holland, that may have some pricing in that range as well...but I have not yet had the pleasure of working with them.

Hope that helps!

I am lucky enough to have a loving work family who has volunteered to make food for our wedding. So far we have lasagna from a mother of 13 who knows how to feed lots of people, a spinach salad, a green salad, kahlua pork, bacon wrapped bananas from my future sister in law, and sparkling cider from our roommate due to having a dry wedding. Just have to figure out a few other things, especially the cake and all the food is done.

I don't think you an even go to McDonalds for that little.

After lots of research on this, we will come in a little over (around $1400), dinner, A pig Roast, non alcoholic drinks, with China and service, and pie for dessert (which was my preference!).

A wedding doesn't have to cost you $20,000 and still be a GREAT event! Don't let wedding planners, caterers, and venues tell you different!

That's just my general rant about the wedding industry taking advantage of people just because your event has a W in front of it.

It depends how particular you are on the food. I've seen people pick up food from Kroger, Bob Evans, Fazolis, etc and then put it on different dishes to serve. I've also seen a lot with fried chicken and mashed potatoes which seems to be the least expensive.

I also live near Grand Rapids Mi and I came across Branns being pretty cheap. Take a look at their menu and prices. http://www.brannscatering.com/pdf/BrannsCateringMenuOffPremise_9_2012.pdf

Lots of good food trucks, may be an affordable and fun, yet good option....or as others have said, BBQ!!

The cheapest i have gotten is 1400 for 100 people. and i live in Alabama....from what i noticed the prices down here tend to be WAYY less that what all the other ladies are paying!

I would put an add on thumbtack I'm in the Washington, D.C. Area and one local resturant catering Company told me they could do it for 9.99/ person but I considered it since we are also on a budget but luckily his godfather owns a catering company is willing to help us out we just have to purchase the food. Ask at church many functions are catered by someone in the church they might can do it for a lower over head cost. Go check out thumbtack.com and put your pricing in the quote and I'm sure someone will be able to help you out!!! Good luck and happy planning

I am dealing with the same exact budget here in Oregon. I have 110 guests and $1000 or less to spend on food. My mom and her friend are catering my wedding with a bunch of my favorite comfort foods. When my mom catered my graduation party a few years ago (There were 85 people invited) she said that it only cost her about $600.

I found a local BBQ chain (about 4 locations in the area and they're VERY well known around here) and they've cut me and AMAZING deal...first they priced matched another restaurant I'd never heard of. At the tasting, we talked about how they dont do kids meals, and there will be a few kids, he threw in mac & chz for free, AND FH and I couldnt decide on dessert, so he offered to do half & half of what we both wanted!! Since they're really a restaurant, and not really a catering company, they are able to do so much more for me and they are extremely personable. Based on their regular catering prices, what I'm getting should cost roughly $16-$17 per person, plus a $200 charge for staff. All in all I'm paying $8.50pp for my 100-120 guests. This includes 2 meats, 4 sides, dessert, tea & lemonade, utensils, etc AND 4 staff members!! Moral of the story: TALK to people, explain your situations and it never hurts to ask for price matching/discounts/etc!!!

As for other caterers in the grand rapids area...Gilmore Collection, and Adeline Leigh both have done excellent with our out wedding venue. They offer china and silverware...but you are going to go up in price. Realize you are still going to have to have them serve the food...whether it is buffet or table service, and that will also affect the price.

Just be careful it has to be the total cost (cups, plates, delivery, tips, servers, ect) for $10/pp It is all of those other cost that will add up!

Our $11/pp dinner for 100 adults/9 kids is now costing us just over $2400.

So if you can find a way to keep those other cost down you might be able to, but it may not be a catering company. You may have to pick it up and serve it yourself (or family member)