Wedding Budget – The Wedding Reception

As you’ll probably spend at least 40% of your total wedding budget on your wedding reception, advance research and planning is vital to avoid a major budget blow-out. The overall price you can expect to pay for catering will depend on the menu you select, food preparation, the equipment required and the number of staff you’ll need.

Comparing the cost of wedding venues and different catering options can be confusing and time consuming as the packages venues offer vary considerably. Some include everything, while others have separate room-hire costs and, in the case of hiring a marquee, everything is itemized down to the last chair and spoon.

Most often, the decision you make comes down to your budget. To help you work out what that is, first establish the maximum amount you want to spend on your wedding  reception. Then, work out the total all-inclusive figure you can spend per head. For example, if you have $8,000 to spend on a reception with 90 guests, you’ll be spending around $88 per head.

Next, compare wedding packages. The easiest way is to add up all the costs involved. Factor in everything, including the average menu price, all beverages and corkage costs, plus venue-hire fees and furniture. For marquee weddings, also include toilets, lighting and flooring, crockery, cutlery and linen hire, and anything else. Now divide each final figure by your total number of guests and you’ll have your cost per head. Then, you will be able to tell whether you can afford that package.

There are various ways of cutting costs, if you need to. For example, go for cheaper ingredients, such as chicken instead of seafood, or change the menu options, say from a set menu to a buffet, if it works out to be less expensive. Have your wedding reception as a less costly breakfast rather than a dinner, or hold your wedding on a weekday, instead of the more popular weekend. Just remember to consider all your options carefully before booking a wedding venue and paying out a deposit.