So confused!

It doesn't cost alot to feed 50 people. You can serve chicken wings, meat balls, sandwiches and etc.

The answer is yes it is considered rude to not feed people at a reception. However, "what the food is" is a horse of a different color. If it is a very casual wedding here are some cheap food ideas. At least they are cheap in Texas.

1. Pizza party (dominoes or pizza hut for example)
2. Cook out
3. Bbq
4. Brunch
5. Cake and punch (works best if not at meal time reception)
6. Small family owned restaurant
7. Food truck sometimes (it's about 1k to do in Austin so that was nix'ed but it's cheaper other places)
8. Chinese takeout
9. Grocery store sandwich tray and veggie tray.
10. Chipotle / Raising Cane's / Subway or similar fast food limited catering.
11. Starbucks bulk coffee (give baristas a lot of notice on this, it takes a while) and nice grocery store breakfast pastries.

A lot of these options are under $300 for 50 people.

What if you and your hubby get a air BNB? They can be cheaper then hotels. If you make sure it is ok for a party just have cake and punnch maybe a few appetizers if you can afford the add on.

View Quoted Comment Hermione, I second that idea. This'll sound crazy to some. But Everytime I throw a party I buy food from the 99cents only store. 😳🤭 I know Reno has them. I recently threw a send off party for my 30th. I bought meatballs, chicken tenders, BBQ sauce, chips and salsa, cheesy tots, deserts, mixers (soda, juice), decorations all from the 99cents only! Then I got some inexpensive vodka for like $10ea and a 2 tier decorated cake from Sam's club for $40. I think I spent about $150 altogether. Had over 30ppl over my house. Ppl loved the food and there was even leftovers! Friends hate when I tell them the food was from there (it's a running joke amongst my group) but who cares 💁🏽‍♀️ they never complain 😂😂

Sheet cake from Costco is about $20 I think. There could be buttercream flowers. Maybe 2 but I can't remember the servings per cake. 50 cupcakes which run $2-3 on the high end and 25-50¢ on the low end by a grocery store. The cupcakes could be arranged on a tiered cupcake stand.

Then the dominoes is about $5 per 1 topping pizza (cheese, pepperoni, a sausage and a mushroom) with couponing and you would need 15. So if the budget is really tight which I understand. This is how to feed everyone for $100 at a casual wedding.


This a food calculator:
https://calculate-this.com/food

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You could also have a backyard bar be q maybe some of your family (parents) can chip in on supplies. I am doing that for my rehearsal dinner.

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I'm from the Reno area as well! I think some place like Qdoba make a lot of sense. There's lot of parks you could go to that are beautiful (San Rafael is probably my favorite). They even have a gazebo in the park that would make for some really pretty photos after your ceremony at the chapel. I would just do something simple like this, but I definitely wouldn't have your guests pay for their own meal.

It would be very off-putting if you traveled from out of town (or state) for someone's wedding... and then they expected you to pay for the meal you were invited to.

I think Nicole here has it right. A cake and punch or apps and desserts light menu paid for by you would be appropriate.