Wedding Food Budget: How to Feed Guests Well Without Overspending
When you think about your wedding food budget, the portion of your total wedding spending allocated to meals and drinks for guests. Also known as wedding catering budget, it’s often the second-largest expense after the venue—and the one most couples regret overspending on. You don’t need a five-course meal to make your reception feel special. What matters is that your guests leave full, happy, and feeling like they were part of something meaningful—not like they paid for a corporate banquet.
Most couples spend between £3,000 and £8,000 on food and drinks for 100 guests, but that number can drop fast with smart choices. Swap out lobster for chicken, skip the open bar in favor of beer, wine, and a signature cocktail, and choose seasonal, local ingredients. A budget wedding reception, a celebration planned with clear spending limits to avoid debt. Also known as affordable wedding food, it’s not about cutting corners—it’s about cutting waste. Think buffet over plated meals. Think family-style serving instead of individual portions. Think cake instead of a dozen dessert tables. These aren’t just savings—they’re smarter experiences. A buffet lets guests eat what they like, reduces server costs, and creates a more relaxed vibe. And guess what? No one remembers if the chicken was roasted or grilled. They remember if the music was good, the dance floor was packed, and the cake tasted amazing.
Who pays for the food? That’s another thing to clarify early. Traditionally, the bride’s family covered it, but today, most couples pay themselves—or split it with parents. If you’re asking for help, be clear about your numbers. Show them your wedding reception cost, the total amount spent on food, drinks, service, and rentals for the post-ceremony celebration. Also known as wedding catering budget, it’s not just the food—it’s the plates, the staff, the rentals, the tips. A $50 per person menu with a $10 per person bar adds up fast. But if you cap drinks at three per guest or offer a cash bar for spirits, you can save thousands. And don’t forget the cake. A simple, beautiful cake for cutting and a sheet cake in the back for serving? That’s a classic move that works.
You’ll find real examples below: how one couple fed 100 people for under £4,000 using a local caterer and seasonal veggies. How another saved on drinks by switching to a wine-only bar. How a DIY dessert table beat a professional pastry chef by a mile. These aren’t outliers. They’re everyday brides and grooms who planned smart, stayed honest with their numbers, and still had the wedding they dreamed of.
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