As vaccination rates rise, weddings, retirement celebrations and other events that were postponed last year are being rescheduled in 2021. But as people cautiously return to larger gatherings, attitudes vary about how to proceed. Some hosts and attendees are comfortable with the old buffet and food-station formats, while others remain concerned about shared-contact service.
Buffet-style catering, though, is a budget-friendly option for many events because it typically needs fewer staff. As a result, caterers and event planners are brainstorming inventive meal solutions as alternatives to the traditional buffet and stations.
We spoke with caterers about economical wedding meal concepts and other practical ways to feed guests affordably during the pandemic.
Inexpensive Wedding Meal Concepts, From Professional Caterers
“Our catering has been scaled back; we’ve only recently resumed,” explained Margaret Ann Burtchaell, proprietor of Margaret Ann’s Gourmet Cookies and Catering in St. Petersburg, Fla. She sustained her business in 2020 by preparing hundreds of takeout meals for households, and she’s now handling a handful of small events.
Most clients will accept a buffet, Burtchaell said, but the clear plastic meal boxes she’s offered for casual breakfasts or lunches have become popular across many event types. They cost roughly 50 cents each and can be assembled several hours in advance with dishes that are fine at room temperature.
“You can remove the lid and it’s sturdy enough to rest on your lap. Utensils go inside, too,” Burtchaell noted, adding she avoids foods that require heavy knife-and-fork cutting.
“One trend some couples choose is individually boxed cupcakes so there’s no communal cake cutting. The couple keeps a smaller ceremonial cake,” said Jill Santa Lucia, owner of Catering Works in Raleigh, N.C. “Boxing is a major trend. … We went from ‘dip, dunk, sprinkle’ to ‘wrap, seal, box.’ ”
She launched a popcorn side business to offset pandemic losses and produced numerous individual meals, and now bookings are picking up again.
“We’re noticing some folks refuse buffets and others don’t mind at all,” she said.
When Catering Works offers buffet service now, a staff member stands behind a protective barrier to plate guests’ food, and the food itself is shielded, rather than letting attendees serve themselves. For those who avoid buffet setups, she suggests a different presentation.
“I source lovely wooden presentation boxes from Canada,” Lucia said. “They include a clear removable cover. You can create a very elegant display.”
The boxes run about $7 and are rolled into the client’s bill. Guests keep them as a memento—useful later as a serving box, shadow box or for other household purposes.
Another budget-friendly idea: single-serve cans of wine, mimosas, margaritas and other ready-to-drink cocktails.
“Just chill them and attendees can grab one themselves,” Lucia said. “That reduces contact compared with sharing a bottle.” It also costs less than hiring a server to pour from large bottles.
Reception Menus That Work Well in Individual Boxes
Burtchaell provided several menu ideas and main-course options that travel well in a box that a guest can hold. Prices assume a minimum of 25 guests.
- Chicken salad. A tarragon-walnut chicken salad on mixed greens with grape tomatoes, fresh grapes and berries, a roll and a cookie is a signature choice Burtchaell offers. She estimated about $12 per box.
- Quiche. “A well-made quiche is delicious at room temperature as well as warm,” she said. Paired with fresh fruit, a Caprese salad and a cookie, this selection is about $17 per box.
- Beef tenderloin with pasta. Include a skewer of grape tomatoes, black olives and fresh buffalo mozzarella, bread and a cookie. Price: $17 per box.
- Artisanal cheese and crackers. For a cocktail reception, she can assemble a box with brie, herb-crusted goat cheese, blue cheese with rosemary, sharp cheddar, fruit and crackers for about $12 a box.
Burtchaell cautioned she’s uncomfortable serving seafood at room temperature, so steer clear of crab cakes and shrimp cocktail.
“Pasta takes up space and looks attractive on the plate,” she added.
Cut Costs and Reduce Contact With Baskets and Bags
Individual portions also work well in decorative baskets for a picnic vibe or in colorful gift bags — a savvy option for couples on a strict budget.
Amazon currently sells eight one-quart berry baskets made of natural unfinished wood for about $15 total, or roughly $1.87 apiece.
Uline carries a broad range of shopping and gift bags in many colors with matte and glossy finishes, ribbon or rope handles and reinforced bottoms; cartons of 100 start near $76 (about 76 cents each).
Kimberly Daniels Taws, who runs a small independent bookstore, has organized countless author events and signings. Most went virtual during the pandemic, but she staged an outdoor gathering that handed out goodies in a bag.
“A gift bag can look charming with tissue and a colorful napkin peeking out,” said Taws, owner of The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, N.C. “Instead of a full bottle of wine, we used single-serve canned wines,” she added. The bags included a salty snack, a clementine, individually wrapped cheese, crackers, hand sanitizer and the book.
Because the event was earlier in the day, she offered light bites. A gift bag can alternatively hold heartier items like wrapped gourmet sandwiches, a small container of green salad, a fruit cup and dessert, plus a sturdy clear plate and utensils.
Extra Tips to Lower Wedding and Party Food Costs
- Smaller plates reduce waste. Using smaller dinnerware—plastic, glass or china—makes portions look more generous.
- Schedule smartly. Avoid the noon–2 p.m. window and late evening after 5 p.m. so guests aren’t expecting a full sit-down meal.
- Earlier events cost less. Morning ceremonies are charming and can feature pastries, fruit and cheese. You can purchase canned cocktails like ready-to-serve Bloody Marys for about $3 each or less.
- Forgo the full dinner. A midafternoon reception with cake and bubbly is timeless. Keep in mind “less is more” and “understated elegance.”
- Opt for pasta. Pasta is among the most economical main courses and can be colorful and eye-catching. You can add a small amount of protein to stretch costs compared with serving a full piece of meat.
The Chicest — and Cheapest — Reception or Party Option
To maximize savings on a wedding or celebration, skip formal catering and invite guests to bring their own picnic. That’s the idea behind one of the most stylish gatherings born in Paris in 1988.
Called “The Dinner in White,” retired French entrepreneur Francois Pasquier asked friends to dress elegantly in white, bring a picnic and convene at the Bois de Boulogne public park in Paris.
The tradition has since spread worldwide and now takes place every spring or summer in more than 80 cities across 35 countries. Click here to view images from events ranging from major metropolitan celebrations to small-town meet-ups. Guests arrive carrying food in woven baskets, canvas totes or rolling suitcases.
Part of the appeal that helped this concept spread is the fun, whimsical tone and an unwritten etiquette that encourages guests to be polite and tidy up after themselves.
Pasquier described the Parisian dinner in a 2018 piece for Forbes.
“The only thing we ask everywhere is to behave well for ourselves, for others and for the place we are using,” he said. “We’ve been accused of being snobby, but it’s the opposite: We simply value good manners, and that costs nothing.”
And remember: good manners don’t require individual boxes—though boxed meals are an excellent, budget-conscious option. If you’re looking for affordable present ideas for guests or wedding party members, consider browsing cheap wedding gifts to pair with your meal choices.
