My husband's niece is getting married October 15, 2005, she has just informed her grandmother that she is going to take care of the reception. I still have all the decorations from my wedding so we will be using those, but we really need some cheap food ideas. As of now, I don't even know what time of day this wedding is supposed to be taking place. Please help!
Shannon in NC
One of the things we did at our reception last January because there were a lot of kids there was to make a hot dog buffet table away from the regular buffet. We put everything they could possibly want on there including chips, condiments, and bread. This kept them from holding up other line and was very cheap. We provided the meat for the adults, but the rest was a potluck and it went very well plus a wide variety of foods plenty to go around. Good luck. (09/23/2005)
By Christi
I did all the food for our wedding in 1987. I made ribbon sandwiches and tuna triangles, we had a veggie tray and a fruit tray and then bowls of regular potato chips. Then the cake of course.
Ribbon sandwiches are done by going to the bakery and ordering ahead of time, fresh bread loaves and having them cut into 5 stripes horizontally. The top and bottom will be the crusts and those don't get used for the sandwiches.
Then make a ham spread for one layer and an egg salad for another layer. Layers are: bread, ham, bread, egg, bread. Then wrap in Saran wrap and freeze them for a up to a week ahead of time. Take them out the morning of the wedding and they will be firm enough to cut and fresh and soft to serve! The tuna triangles are made on regular sliced bread, however, I also ordered this from the bakery and requested it to be sliced like normal, but no crusts. Again, make the tuna and freeze for up to a week prior. Take out that morning and they are perfect for cutting and serving again too! Just make sure when you freeze them that you wrap tightly! (09/23/2005)
By Rhonda
I fixed a little appetizer for one of my friend's daughter's wedding and it was very cheap and very good! All you need is a couple of loaves of party rye, spread a thin coat of cream cheese with a bit of dry ranch dressing stirred in, top with a thin slice of cucumber and sprinkle with a tiny bit of dill weed. This is a good little tidbit for either a winter wedding or summer one.
You can also make little cream puffs ahead, freeze them, then the day of the reception, fill with tuna, chicken, and/or ham salads.
Make cheese balls from cream cheese and onion, ranch dressing mix, Italian salad dressing mix, etc., and cover with the tube type of crescent roll dough. Be sure the cheese ball is well sealed in the dough, paint with beaten egg and bake till the dough is golden. I would spray the baking dish very well with Pam as egg can stick. When you cut into the ball, the cheese inside is nice and oooey-gooey! Just serve with crackers, etc.
For the entree, try either lemon or five-spice chicken. Both of those are easily seasoned and baked during the wedding and ready to eat at the reception. If you are living in the Midwest, buy chicken at Aldi's. It is pretty inexpensive there. If you are having a large wedding reception, ask a small, local butcher if they can cut you a break if you get a quantity of one thing.
Good luck to you all, and may God bless the happy couple in their lives together. (09/23/2005)
By Margie
Bake wontons in cupcake pan at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Brown sausage and drain. Add remaining ingredients and heat through until cheese is melted. Keep filler in warm container until ready to eat. A decorative basket can hold the wontons.
Add sour cream for a topper.
(09/23/2005)
Do you belong to Costco? You'd be surprised what you can get and how you can stretch it. (09/23/2005)
By Jennifer CA
I just wanted to add that last fall I went to a low budget wedding and the food was great and cheap! They served pasta and salad, the couple went to a discount grocery store (Aldi) and bought pasta and sauce and everyone knows that pasta serves a lot and is relatively cheap for the quality. They had two kinds Alfredo and regular spaghetti type, they served it with a small salad and bread. It filled everyone up and they had cake!
Also just another suggestion that I saw there also, since it was low budget they made it look really nice at the reception by setting the tables with paper plates, not tacky ones, they were a large round burgundy one and a small gold one on top of that. The people just found their seat and when it was time they took their plates to the buffet line and served themselves. This also cut the cost because people only had those plates, so one trip to the line.
By Vickie
How about white beans and rice, jambalaya, or gumbo? (I'm from Louisiana, and we had white beans and rice and fried chicken as the main food at our wedding.) I think any of those can be pretty inexpensive and you can make a lot at once. Good luck! Also, try Sam's for cheap rolls, crackers, and dips.
(10/05/2005)
By Olivia
As I plan my wedding which is in 4 weeks, I plan on having a bit of Italy, pasta salads, crostini, w/ham and cheeses, (which is cheap and very easy, brushetta, (again, cheap and very easy! ) Breads, cheeses, and various pasta salads. Very cheap, easy to actually throw together for as many as you want. My mother is making a 9x13 cake for guests and we will only have a store bakery bought and lightly decorated cake that's a 2 layer w/ topper. Keeping it frugal, but elegant.
(06/28/2008)
By Deana W
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