Every time I consider caving to an unnecessary wedding expense I repeat this phrase to myself, “I want a beach house.” My long term goal is to have a beautiful home on the beach, and the more I spend on my wedding the longer I have to wait to reach that goal.
Currently I am struggling with the cost of wedding food. Most venues want to charge a minimum of $55 a person for food, most reaching up to at least $85 a person not including tax, gratuity or alcohol. To me this is an obscene amount of money for what will likely be an average tasting meal. If I’m going to spend $65 on a dinner I want to go to Louie’s Backyard in Key West, not a wedding. This particular frustration has made me consider hopping a plane and in fact get married at Louie’s backyard instead.
I have come up with several solutions to this problem, including the one above (just kidding, although it would be fun). My first solution is to serve simpler food. My goal is to have easy, delicious beach food like sliders and fish tacos. I want to skip the hors d’oeuvres and salads, and instead serve a couple of stress-free favorites as the main meal. Most places serve items like this at reasonable prices, which can help when negotiating cost.
Another option, which I will be using if we get married at a location where we can choose our own caterer, is a food truck. It’s simple, fun and allows your guests to taste some of your local favorites. Most food trucks have a catering option, just go to their website. My personal local favorite is What’s The Catch. They have amazing shrimp tacos and can easily feed your guests local fare at reasonable prices.
My last suggestion is having your reception at a favorite restaurant. Because you know the food and the prices, you know you will get delicious food for a reasonable price. Many places have separate rooms or outdoor seating that can be used for events.
Happy tasting!
Until next time,
Kaycee