Recipe ideas for a cheap wedding reception/party

[KatieKat]

So my boyfriend of 9 years and I are leaving for Jamaica in 16 days to get married!

When we get back we are having a VERY casual party for family/close friends at my parents house. There will probably be about 30-ish people there total. We are doing things super low key and casual. (IE CHEAP)

So, I need ideas for food and drinks that can be done CHEAP. So any good punch and appetizer recipes I can use? This party will be at 2 PM so we don't need anything to heavy. THANKS!

 

[Mom2Ben02]

So my boyfriend of 9 years and I are leaving for Jamaica in 16 days to get married!

When we get back we are having a VERY casual party for family/close friends at my parents house. There will probably be about 30-ish people there total. We are doing things super low key and casual. (IE CHEAP)

So, I need ideas for food and drinks that can be done CHEAP. So any good punch and appetizer recipes I can use? This party will be at 2 PM so we don't need anything to heavy. THANKS!

Congrats!!!!

My fave is pulled pork. Buy a cheap cut of pork. Cook it in a crockpot the day before in a can of Coke. Drain liquid. Shred meat, removing fat and bones. The day of, put it back in the crockpot, add another can of Coke and a bottle of BBQ. Serve on slider buns

 

[MSSANDRA]

At 2pm, I would just get a yummy cake, maybe a veggie platter or some fruit, nuts and mints and call it at that. If you really want, some deli sandwiches too.

 

[kirstenb1]

Maybe a taco bar, and a margarita type punch. I have a large glass drink dispenser that holds 3 gallons. I always do a signature drink in that. For instance, at Thanksgiving, I do Cape Cods, for a back to school brunch, I did mimosas, etc.

I also provide wine, beer, and sodas, but the one signature drink knocks out the need to do a full bar. Our home is small, so I'm always looking for a way to provide a drink without doing everything under the sun.

 

[ToddyLu]

Typical fun food for me is fruit with fruit dip
Combine one part 8oz. cream cheeze with marshmellow cream in a jar--easy to double recipe and folks eat it up. Can also color it with food coloring.

I do pinwheels. Use a soft tortilla. spread cream cheese, lay down slice or two of ham, then a green onion, roll up and slice.

Wedding cookies. Take Strawberry Newtons rolled in powdered sugar.

Best punch--1:1 ratio of Sprite and Welch's white grape joice. Easy to place white grapes in mold with punch for ice ring. Has an elegant flavor and is the color of champagne.

Cheese ball (made one tonight for party this weekend)
8 oz cream cheese
3 tbsp mayo
1/8 tsp Worchetershire sauce
3-4 drops hot sauce
2 cups fancy shredded mild cheddar cheese
2 tbsp green onion
1/4 cup bacon bits ( I use the Oscar Mayer packaged bits near the dressing)

Combine cream cheese and mayo first then other things. Chill for at least 2 hours, roll in ball, serve with Wheat Thins. It will feed about 20 people so I would double recipe. Good becasue it can be made ahead of time and you can also roll in almond slivers. It is just as popular as the fruit dip.

 

[crisi]

There is a range of things from kitchy (suburban delight - one can no beans chili, one package velveta, one crockpot - and tortilla chips), to classy (bruschetta - french bread toasted with tomatos) Some are easy (it doesn't get any easier than suburban delight) some are fussy (stuffing dates with cream cheese and then wrapping bacon around them).

 

[Kellydelly]

I guess a 2 pm party would infer lunch (I really think your party time should be adjusted though, why not set it at an actual meal time?) so get lunch stuff. I would do subs, side salads, and chips maybe. Or you could do a hot pasta and salad with fresh bread for lunch. Or if you really don't want to feed people anything more than cake, have the party start at 3 or 8 pm.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

this is my "go-to" Punch, it can be doubled, tripled or divided

1 two liter of lemon lime type soda ( Sprite, Sierra Mist)
2 quarts of pink or strawberry lemonade
1 can of frozen Raspberry or pink lemonade concentrate

Stir together, it's ok to not entirely disolve the frozen concentrate.

I throw in a handful of what-ever frozen berries I have. Sometimes directly into each glass, but usually into the drink pitcher

 

[chris31997]

Sherbert, sprite/7-up and a fruit punch

Depending on where you live, tea(from the south sweet ) and water


Food: get some lunch meat and roll it up with cheese add some cracker, fruit, veggies. Meatballs/lil smokies in bbq sauce.

Don't forget the cake

 

[mom2cookies]

I often cater luncheons for funerals and open house wedding receptions. Usually upwards of 100 people. What we usually do is roll lunch meat ( usually ham, turnkey and roast beef ), stack some american and swiss cheese on a platter. Then slice some tomatoes, break some lettuce and slice some pickles. Buy small kaiser or club rolls. Buy a couple bottles of condiments. Make a pasta salad, a potato salad, and cole slaw, get a bag or two of chips. Serve a simple punch of juice and soda, have ice water, ice tea and coffee available. For dessert simply have cake ( if you plan on having one ) and/or get a cookie tray from a bakery. ( we usually have more desserts as often host families bake some )

 

[Sagginit]

one of the things i saw on 4 weddings once that was super cute that would work for an after noon lunch type thing was a milk and cookie bar. they had people bake them different type of cookies and then put out milk in glass bottles with jars of flavorings. you cold mix your own milk combo and then sample everyone's cookies.

i think cupcakes are also nice if you don't plan on buying a cake b/c you can buy professional looking decorations easily to dress them up.

as for food i say lots of finger foods. pasta is really cheap so if you have access to heat the food up right before hand you may want to make a few trays of pasta, serve with salads, veggies, maybe a meat dish, and bread.

 

[msp2mco]

These are great ideas! If you plan to do a veggie or fruit tray, you will save a lot of money by cleaning the veggies and fruit yourself rather than buying them already prepared. Also, Costco or Sam's Club make great sheet cakes that can
Or, make cupcakes. You'd only need 2 cake mix boxes for 48 cupcakes--2 different flavors. Frost and decorate with some fun sprinkles.

 

[KatieKat]

Thanks everyone for the ideas!!! My sister in law has her own cake shop, so she will be making ours! So that part is done. I will definitely use some of the drink ideas and app ideas! Especially the one for the fruit dip.

Any other recipes? I really appreciate the help!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Thanks everyone for the ideas!!! My sister in law has her own cake shop, so she will be making ours! So that part is done. I will definitely use some of the drink ideas and app ideas! Especially the one for the fruit dip.

Any other recipes? I really appreciate the help!

I see you are in packer country. I don't know if this means ya'll are football fans or not. If so, how about a tailgating reception. You can do a grill out or chili, cornbread and baked potatoes. Have some pictures of your wedding around the tables and a few packers things as well.

OR

Because it is getting chilly especially up in packer country, how about a Jamica themed party. Put out some fresh flowers(purchase in from big box store like Sams) and have fresh fruit, some chilled shrimp or roasted meat, some special salad and a cake.

 

[ENSOCK]

I just did a house warming party with finger foods. What I had was:
sausages in BBQ sauce.
Either cut up sausages or use little smokies. Put into crock pot with a jar of grape jelly and a bottle of BBQ sauce. Heat and serve.

Pork Roast in Crock pot over night. Take the Hawaiian rolls, add a slice of cheese then top with the shredded roast. These were awesome.

Spread a tortilla with the onion cream cheese, top with ham or turkey. roll up then slice. Serve with salsa. I did some of each.

Pasta salad, pizza dip and seven layer dip were also hits at the party.

 

[diamondpixienc]

6 -$5 foot longs from Subway dressed with the basic lettuce, tomato, and pickles only half or 3 with cheese no condiments and cut each one into 4 pieces and put them on a platter. Just remember to put out the condiments next to them and some chips.
Fruit tray with a dip or just strawberries and whipped cream or chocolate fondue.
Veggie tray and a couple of thin crust veggie pizzas (we do Papa John's) cut Chicago style. Oh and a good punch or sodas and bottled water.

Then there is always pasta. Penne tossed in alfredo and one veggie and one meat Stouffer's lasange. Add a ceaser and/or a garden salad with the trimmings and drinks you've got as party.

 

[irishsharon]

I love to do brunch. I get a spiral ham,an egg and cheese bake,croissants,mini muffins,fruit and champne with OJ or raspberry juice.What I love about it is that I am not in the kitchen the whole time.As someone else said pasta is cheap and served with salad and bread your done.If your party is after halloween you can get good deals on candy and do a candy bar.Also there will be good deals going on for turkeys.

 

[DisGeebs]

A really great dip idea for fruit is take cool whip whipped topping and mix in 1 packet of fruit flavored jello (strawberry or raspberry taste the best with a variety of fruit).. Because it is mixed you can actually use store brand jello and store brand whip cream so it can be done really affordably.
I suggest using 1 packet of jello for the large size container of the cool whip.. half a packet for the smaller one.

A few other ideas
meatball subs... premake meatballs (small ones) and get hard rolls or sub rolls and have some cheese..

Chili with toppings such as cheese sour cream and tortilla chip and serve over rice.

hope this helps.. congrats!

 

[AckermanPartyof6]

Ultimate Party Meatballs! Easy to make and inexpensive. Bag of frozen meatballs, 1 bottle of chili sauce and 1 can of jellied cranberries. Mix chili sauce and cranberries. Place the meatball in a crock pot, pour sauce over meatball and cook on low for 6 hrs or high for 3hrs

 

[honeydiane1953]

Delicious Punch 1(46 oz.) can Hawaiian Punch 1(46 oz.) can pineapple juice

1(32 oz.) ginger ale 1/2 gallon of orange or lime sherbet. Combine all ingredients to chill and before serving add the sherbet. Delicious!