Wedding Blog

Catering always eats up a huge portion of any wedding’s budget! See how the bees fed their guests within their budgets. Be sure to check out the rest of the posts in this Real Bee Budgets series!

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Mrs. Avocado’s Caterer

Caterer: Hotel 1000, Seattle WA, 2008
Cost: $86.70/person, 76 guests and 4 vendor meals, for a total of $6936 (including taxes and gratuities).

Included: Tray passed appetizers (average of $44.75/dozen), onion soup (a custom item made with my dad’s organic onions at no extra cost!), an absolutely amazing cucumber melon sorbet intermezzo, pasta/beef/halibut entrees (average of $39/plate), sparkling cider ($12/bottle), strawberry lemonade ($45/gallon), coffee and tea service at the end of the meal (no charge), and vendor meals ($27/average).

“We were required to use Hotel 1000 for our catering and I ended up having to add extra appetizers at the last minute because we weren’t going to meet our $4500 minimum. They didn’t blink an eye when I asked them to cut up 8 cakes we were bringing in from an outside bakery (they don’t do wedding cakes). The places where we got gouged were on the crazy expensive appetizers (although they were incredibly beautiful) and the strawberry lemonade (but we didn’t want to only serve our guests water and I don’t like soda).

The service during the meal was impeccable, but they cleared out the room before our guests had even finished eating dessert (we brought in gluten-free desserts for my dad and they threw them away without asking if he was finished!). Even with the pricey meals and the early clearing of the room I would have my wedding at Hotel 1000 all over again in a heartbeat. The food was delicious and the service really set the tone for the kind of wedding we had envisioned.”

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Mrs. Butterfly’s Caterer

Caterer: Twenty-Four Fifth, New York, NY
Cost: $22,000 for approx 90 people

“Holy moly - these people seriously know what they are doing. I could not have picked a better space for my wedding, and their service was superb. The only thing was that I paid 500 bucks for the hot chocolate service at the end of the night, but I don’t think many people saw it. It could have been more prominent. Then again, everyone was apparently drunk which is why they didn’t see it. Alexis, the woman I had been working with, was there almost the entire time. She was amazing. When I got nervous before walking down the aisle, she was the one looking into my face going “Breathe, it’s okay, just breathe and smile.” When my husband (husband!!!! :D) and I wanted to rush off to make our rounds, she was the one who made us sit and eat our food. When I got agitated because I didn’t want people to tip the bar, she was the one who reassured me that her staff knows not to take tips. When I wasn’t satisfied, she let me put up signs that said “Gratuities have been paid for…” She and her staff scheduled the entire night, so I didn’t have to worry about things being on time. I have been to weddings where the cake wasn’t cut until way past 11pm, so timing is everything. The tipping scale at the end of the night was a bit steep compared to other venues, but I felt like I paid for a day of coordinator. That is exactly what she and her staff were. So the money was totally worth it!”
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Mrs. Kiwi’s Caterer
Caterer: Radisson Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Venue Fee: $7,910.91, for 145 people
Includes: Catering and cake

“We decided NOT to have an open bar, as from a poll amongst family and friends led to the discovery that not one person expected it or actually wanted it. That was a lucky break, since I’m sure it would have been a lot more. Our meal consisted of chicken piccata, roasted red potatoes, some kind of vegetable and rolls. The rolls were actually super good—since that’s basically the only thing I ate while I was there. I heard great things about the chicken, and I know for a fact the sauce was fantastic. The food was steaming hot when it arrived, and it couldn’t have been better.

The four tiered cake was included in our package, from Torrance Bakery. It was SO GOOD. I can’t wait to thaw out the top tier in a few months.”

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Mrs. Penguin’s Caterer
Caterer: Villa Toscano Winery (catered by venue), Northern California
Cost: $100 per person, 120 people total, $12,000

Included in cost: 5 appetizers, salad, main course (side-by-side salmon and filet mignon), 1/2 bottle of wine per person, iced tea, cake cutting, all wait staff

Source

“We had no choice but to use our venue’s catering. The food was good, but I definitely wish we had considered finding a venue where we could have more control over the food (mainly because of the cost).
(No pictures of our food were taken!)”

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Miss Joey’s Venue

Caterer: Lake Union Cafe, Seattle
Cost: 121 guests @ $34.95 per person (not including tax and tip), plus $125 for a bartender (5 hours of work) = total $4353.95 (plus 20% tip and 10% tax ~ $5560.13)

Source

“We had no choice in Catering. Lake Union Cafe has their own in house catering team. Lucky for us the menu sounded great and we had also heard great things about the food from friends.

What’s included: We can bring our own alcohol and cake (no cutting fee). All the food is included and they even said that if we wanted, we could bring in some homemade Filipino and Sri-Lankan appitizers. My aunts have generously offer to make and pay for these themselves. The per person fee also includes all linens, tables, chairs and glass, silver and dishware.”

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Mrs. Peep Toe’s Caterer

Caterer: Americano Restaurant, using a Friends and Family discount.
Venue: Hotel Vitale, San Francisco
Cost: $125/per person (plus 21% service and 9.5% CA sales tax) for 61 people. Plus, three kids meals at $21 per kid. The per person charge included: Four appetizers per person during the cocktail hour, salad, two entree choices and they waived the cake cutting fee (we brought in cupcakes). Beer, wine, and sparkling champagne for the cocktail hour (although we brought in our own), wine service during dinner, and two hours of an open beer, wine and spakling champagne bar after dinner during dancing.
Total: $10,032.
With venue rental: $11,032.

“Only one word can describe the service: PERFECT. When we went to talk to everyone during dinner they were licking their plates.

From day one we knew that we were going to go slightly over budget by choosing the Vitale, but even Mama Peep realized we were getting an amazing deal and that it was well worth it. I’d choose the Vitale again in a heartbeat!!”

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Mrs. Bee’s Caterer
Caterer: James Catering
Venue: Westside Loft, New York, NY
Cost: $15,500 for approx 98 guests ($158/guest)

Catering Package:

• $140pp for two entree sit down dinner, 3 side dishes
• 1 appetizer salad
• 9 hors d’oeurves (15 pp)
• Stationary hors d’oeurves (crudites, cheese, fruit, crackers, pate, biscuits)
• All staffing (1 per 8 guests), china, silverware, glassware, tables
• All gratuity
• Dinner free for vendors
• Bar set-ups and bartenders (we provide liquor)
• Custom wedding cake

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Miss Gloss’s Caterer

Caterer: DKB Catering, Greenville, Maine
Cost: $28pp + 7% sales tax + $125 staff + tip. We don’t have all our RSVPs back yet, so it depends how many people come!

Served Buffet, 2 Salads, 2 Sides, 3 Entrees, Bread, Coffee and Cake Cutting

“We haven’t gotten married or had a tasting yet, so nothing really to report, but others who have attended catered events of hers previously gave rave reviews! She provides the serving dishes only. All our plates, flatware, glasses were rented separately.”

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Miss Bruschetta’s Caterer

Caterer: Laurent Leveque, Fleur De Lys Catering
Cost: $4,800

“Our venue has a list of preferred caterers, and in early 2008, it included six professionals. Laurent quickly rose to our top spot, and, when we inquired about his style of cooking, offered to come make dinner for us, waving his $350 personal chef fee, and chatting happily while preparing one of the tastiest meals we’ve ever had — and as self-confessed foodies, Mr. Bruschetta and I are quite particular.

What sealed the deal for us — besides his stellar pricing — was Laurent’s passion for food. He’s as into an amazingly plated dish as we are, and prides himself on creating a restaurant-like experience in unique settings — which is precisely what we were hoping to achieve when we reserved the F.U.E.L. House!

Laurent also embraced our desire for the freshest local ingredients, and will be preparing a summery — and super colorful! — menu. A salad garnished with mango, manchego and walnuts… a blood orange sorbet intermezzo course…and the choice (to be selected on our invitation) of a pork, cod or vegetarian entree. Laurent won’t be doing our cake, but we’re perfectly fine with him focusing on the cocktail hour and dinner! And our original estimate — which was for 100 guests (and obviously we’re going to be revising this as the wedding approaches) was a steal at $4,800 — which was really important, given the fact that we have to rent every piece of furniture and tableware. But again, Laurent’s been a tremendous help, and is working as the liaison between the rental company and us, to ensure the order is perfect.”

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Miss Mascara’s Caterer

Caterer: Elks Lodge, Upper Michigan
Cost: $13.50 per person x 325 guests, total = $4387.50

“Our catering costs include a plated salad, Italian bread, and a buffet including homemade ravioli, gnocchi, and fettuccine with three homemade sauces (meat sauce, marinara sauce, and alfredo sauce), baked chicken, Italian sausage and meatballs. Servers and serving dishes for buffet are also included, but we have to provide all of the plates, utensils, etc.

Our caterer is a family friend and because of that is giving us pricing that is $.50 per person cheaper than his 2004 rates, and for more than is typically included (usually only one choice of sauce is provided). He makes AMAZING food and you can’t beat the price! Our wedding is his last “hurrah”– he is retiring after the last plate of food is served at our wedding!”

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Miss Bunny’s Caterer

Caterer: Perfect Plate Catering, and Columbus, OH
Cost: $8.25/person, prices based on 175 guests, Total: $1,967.00
Cost Breakdown:

• Servers and Labor (2 for 5 hours at $20 an hour – Estimate on Hrs.): $200.00
• Delivery and Equipment: $100.00
• Table Linens (10 Tables): $50.00 (this will end up being higher because we added several tables
• Catering Fee (12% of Food): $173.25 (this gets paid to our venue)

Catering Package:

• Mini Cheese Burgers and Mini Chicken Sandwiches (2.5 per person)
• Kettle Chips and Dip
• Fruit Display
• Vegetable Display with Dip
• Pink Lemonade and Ice Tea
• Plates, forks, napkins and cups

“Ish from Perfect Plate was only the second caterer we met with and the only one to offer a tasting. We knew exactly what we wanted, and Ish delivered. His food was delicious and his attitude proved to us that he would do whatever it took to give us excellent service! He’s lived up to that since then. He was very receptive when I approached him about my desire to steer away from plastics for our disposables. We’ll be using Ecoware biodegradable wooden cutlery for no extra charge!”

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Miss Cherry Pie’s Caterer

Caterer: The Northern Lights Saloon

Cost: $3,300

Service style: Self-serve buffet

“The Northern Lights Saloon in Polebridge provided all of our reception catering. Our menu featured wine-marinated buffalo tri-tip, ruby trout with pecans, buttery mashed potatoes, garlic noodles, green salad, roasted veggies, and fresh-baked bread, all made from local and organic ingredients. The food was amazingly delicious and straight from the grill.

We originally entertained the idea of another, more responsive caterer from Columbia Falls, MT, who could have provided a great meal in addition to rentals (Polebridge didn’t have sufficient materials for our event). However, given the remoteness of our venue, we wanted to support local Polebridge businesses as much as possible. The Northern Lights saloon makes incredible food and the Bakery makes incredible breads. We decided to forgo the more conventional caterer’s “complete package” to have the local experience and we were not at all disappointed. Polebridge delivered a great dinner made from the finest ingredients we would otherwise have had to pay a premium to get!”

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Mrs. Pineapple’s Caterer

Caterer: The Rivers Club
Cost: $5,750 (including tax and gratuity for 74 guests)

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Mrs. Plumeria’s Caterer

Caterer: DoubleTree Hotel, Berkeley Marina. We had the entire Islands ballroom for our reception.
Cost: $20000 — about $50 a head for ~400 people

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Mrs. Corn’s Caterer

Caterer: McGrath Clambakes
Cost: $16,171 (includes full clambake, full bar, upgraded floor length linens, and all dinnerware)

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Miss Beagle’s Caterer

Caterer: Laura, Classic Catering and Events
Cost: $25 PP/ for 250 guests: $6250

Cost Breakdown:

• Tax
• Set-up
• Clean-up
• BBQ buffet dinner w/ Iced Tea
• Cocktail Hour hors d’oeurves
• Coffee (served w/ cake)
• Silverware and plastic dinnerware for dinner
• Cocktail hour
• Cake

“We knew we wanted BBQ, so Laura pieced together a menu that met all our needs. I have enjoyed working with our caterer so far and look forward to tasting their yummy food at our wedding!“