? For those who have used buffet food for cocktail hr

[MiaSRN62]

Hello.....
I believe Carrie and a someone else mentioned that in order to save on budget and food, an option would be to use food from our buffet for the cocktail hour.

So my daughter emailed her planner and we're not quite understanding the response??? Does anyone understand what she is saying??? Our cocktail hour for 50 guests price is now at about $1600. We just feel this is probably able to be trimmed as we will have a good amount of food at the buffet. Here was the planner's response (Martha's Vineyard for cocktail hr and Ariel's for reception):

4) We are considering cutting out the pre-reception menu items and then having the seafood salad and the chicken fingers from the buffet served at pre-reception. Would this be possible? We are worried that it is going to be way too much food for 50 people and a lot of it will go to waste. Also, that would help us save money. REPLY: You can but it actually cost more to separate them out since they will consume more in that hour of just offering those items.

 

[lurkyloo]

She's saying that she thinks people will eat more of those items if they are offered solo at the pre-reception than if they are on the buffet, so you will end up paying more. I'd be interested to see if they couldn't just serve the same amount that they'd otherwise put out out on the buffet. Surely it would be enough for everyone to have at least one serving of each, and then they won't spoil their appetites for dinner.

Alternatively, you could just cut them from the buffet altogether to save money and tummy space and then serve something cheaper during the cocktail hour, like crudités or cheese and crackers (fancy cheese and crackers!).

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thank you Carrie. I was trying to get what she was saying and now I do with your explanation. I appreciate your input as always. Yes....we are looking at what we can move around/change.

 

[rrali33tt]

I don't understand why you would pay more for the items to be removed from your buffet?

If you pay a certain amount of money per person. I don't see why it would matter if you moved one thing to cocktail hour or not.

If it is a buffet shouldn't they keep refilling the stations if they run out so it shouldn't matter if they eat more? if that is hte planners logic, maybe you can ask for smaller portion sizes?

 

[MiaSRN62]

I don't understand why you would pay more for the items to be removed from your buffet?

If you pay a certain amount of money per person. I don't see why it would matter if you moved one thing to cocktail hour or not.

If it is a buffet shouldn't they keep refilling the stations if they run out so it shouldn't matter if they eat more? if that is hte planners logic, maybe you can ask for smaller portion sizes?

Thanks. I agree. My husband is wondering the same thing as you.
I think we definitely need to talk more about this with the planner.
Also wondering what the shooters are like---see them on the menus we received. They are not too expensive for cocktail hour but wonder if they are good. Our tasting was limited to 8 items. Wish we would have sampled one of these.