“A low-budget, elegant wedding is within the reach of every couple.” –Polly Clements

Every couple dreams of a grand and elegant wedding ceremony and reception. More often than not it takes months to plan and coordinate with various wedding vendors and even coordinators just to get a dream wedding. However, financial setbacks would often constrain the couple to settle for something less than they imagined. Worry not, however; you do not have to break the bank in order to have the wedding reception of your dreams. There is no need to test your credit limits and then some, all you would need to do is to come up with a little compromise along the way, be crafty, innovative and creative and then you can still have the wedding reception of your dreams. A beautiful setting coupled with all the decadent, epicurean and tasty dishes is within your reach regardless of whether you have a limitless or little budget. Scour the catering services in Bacoor, Cavite and search for the one that meets your budget, work with them and negotiate on a wedding menu you can afford.

Otherwise, here are some of the handy tips you can use to save on your venue and wedding food budget:

1.) Cull the guest list

Naturally, with a smaller guest list, you would have fewer guests to feed and pay for in the reception area. In your invitation, strictly indicate the number of persons that are to attend to avoid guest extending it to other people you may not know. If you so wish, invite only the parents (there is no absolute need to invite the children as well). Likewise, make your wedding reception an intimate experience by inviting those who you and your husband personally know.

2.) Schedule your wedding day on an off peak day

You have a better chance of scoring a better deal and a more affordable venue price if you schedule it on a day wherein it is not so much in demand. In some cases, it depends on the season or the month, while there is also a handful few that depends on the date. Research and try to find out what these are and schedule your wedding on those particular days.

3.) Consider a plated dinner

While it may not be as grand as a dinner buffet, it would certainly save you a huge amount of money. Buffet dinners tend not only to be expensive, but wasteful. As the food taken from the buffet table is rarely regulated, guests would often take as much as they want without even finishing everything on their plate. By having a plated dinner, everyone has an equal share and there is a rare likelihood of food wastage. Alternatively, you can consider family-style dining as another dining option as this cuts down food waste considering people only take what they want to eat. Sit down with your caterers and decide which is the cheapest and most appropriate option for your wedding dinner reception.

4.) Do not overfeed your guests

While you should never let your guests starved, it would be unwise to overfeed them either. While perusing a wedding reception package, it can be rather easy to get overwhelmed with the options you have. More often than not, you would want a cocktail buffet table available to the guests who arrive early at the reception area to precede the main buffet table. Apart from this, you might also want to have an open liquor bar as well as a dessert station. While all of these may sound excellent, it can easily rack up your total wedding bill. Keep it simple and stick to entrees and appetizers that are both delicious and equally filling.

5.) Simplify your menu

You do not need to come up with an elaborate menu just to wow your guests. Simply having a beautifully tailored menu made with tasty and scrumptious ingredients would be enough. In fact, expensive food and ingredients would hardly appeal to everyone so your money would only go to waste. Instead, carefully select the best-tasting dishes and come up with a menu that is not only tasty but filling as well. Choose skilled chefs and seasonal produce as these will come in cheaper.