Food/Beverage Minimum??

[sandk]

Hi Everyone! My reception will be at the Grand Floridian, so the food/beverage minimum is 125. I reeeeally want to try to stick to that price and not go over. I know this can include pre-reception, dinner, cake, and beverages. We want a beer/wine bar, small cake, not very fancy pre-reception, and of course, dinner (but we aren't picky about what kind)...do you think it will be possible to stick to this 125 price with all this stuff? Are there any dinners that do not cost that much? (around $60-$70?) Thanks for any help/advice!

 

[Cinderella22]

I can't say from experience, but I can say that, when I was there my WC told me the usually the dinner prices alone usually start around 125 and go up from there. Don't quote me because I may have misunderstood, but that was the reason we chose to have our reception else where.

 

[pooh98378]

Our minimum is $100. At first, I thought that we would try to stick as close to the minimum as possible because I thought $100 was a lot per person. Now, DF and I have come to the realization that we think Disney has minimums not because people have to reach them, but because it gives people more of a realistic expectation of what they will be spending. You might be better off than us with the $125 amount, but there is no way that we are sticking to $100 -- not when it is nearly $20 per person just for water and soda!! But then again, I haven't received a BEO yet so I might be surprised. Good Luck!

 

[autumnbride2B]

Sticking to just the minimum for food and drinks is really difficult. With our simple pre-reception food, the dinner (a buffet), cake and drinks we are close to $150/person. If you are having a dinner reception it is tough to get much under that.

 

[jmmastra]

here is the break down of what our food and beverage cost were, maybe this will help

4 1/2 hour call brands bar $37 per person

Pre-reception $9.00 Cheese and Cracker Display
$8.50 Crudit
$8.50 Fruit and Yogurt
Reception $72 Oak Grilled Tenderloin
$63 Tilapia with Manog Salsa
$62 Parmasean Crusted Chicken
our guest chose their entree before the reception price included penne ala vodka and a garden salad

Cake $11.50 per person

Champagne $5.00 per person (they charge per table but I figured out the break down)

Kids plate $19.99 per person

Soda package $23.50 (5 hours)

Vendor meal $17.50

It came to approx. $155 per erson including tax and gratuity.

 

[Laurafoster]

It is possible to stick pretty close to that minimum!! Before my parents offered to pay for the wedding we were on a tight budget and wanted to stick to our $100 minimum and we were going to go for -

Beer and Wine Bar - $28.00 per Adult
Pre Reception= $18.00
Domestic+Imported Cheese Display with gormet crackers, breadsticks and baguettes.
Seasonal Fruit Display with yoghurt.

Reception = $66.25
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer
Caesar Salad or Soup
Filet Mignon with a cabernet sauce

Cake - $9.50

So our menu came to $112.25
We were going to save on dessert as we were having a dessert party and cake.


When my parents offered to pay for the wedding and gave me a set budget this is what we went for -

Beer and Wine Bar - $28.00 per Adult

Pre Reception= $18.00
Domestic+Imported Cheese Display with gormet crackers, breadsticks and baguettes.
Seasonal Fruit Display with yoghurt.

Reception = $84.00
Jumbo Shrimp Appetizer with cocktail Sauce
Caesar Salad tossed tableside with Garlic croutons
Cinderellas Ice Slipper Intermezzo with champagne infused Sorbet
Duo plate of onion crusted chicken, Beef Medallion in a pinot noir sauce, baby vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes.

Cake = $9.50

That came to $139.50 which wasnt too bad!

 

[disprincessatheart]

It also depends on if you want a buffet or a plated dinner. We were going to do our reception in EPCOT at FI, so our only choice was buffet, which is a lot more reasonably priced. We were right at $100 ppn. We chose to be billed per drink instead of open bar because we had a lot of people who wouldn't have more than a drink or 2, so it was less expensive for us. We were going to have cake, additional desserts, several appetizers - hot and cold, as well as chicken, fish, roast beef, potatoes, vegetables, caesar salad and a pasta.
So, depending on the choices you make, it's entirely possible.

 

[pixie08]

FYI for the convention centers Buffet does not wind up cheaper than plated! Usually it comes out about the same.

The best way to keep it in check is have a light coctail hour (veggies and fruit) , serve beer and wine and let the guests choose their meals (duo plates and crown service get more expensive) If you want limit the plated to chicken and fish. Also stay away from fresh fruit in the cake...that raise the price $1-2 per person!

 

[holidaybride]

It is totally possible to stay at the $125 range. I got married at the GF in December and I had a great menu..I went with the Cinderella package which includes the cocktail hour, seated dinner and dessert (starts at $105 pp). What really helped us stay on budget was to go with one of the packages because it was easier and you can also change things if you don't like them. One thing that I will add is that you also have to add 20% gratuity and 6.5% sales tax to the $125 or whatever your per person amount is. One way that we saved was to have the dreaded cash bar! It was just too expensive to pay thousands of dollars when I knew that my guests would never drink that much. I also talked with my WP to keep the costs down and she was really helpful!
Good luck!
Jillian