Appetizer Wedding Reception for 200
Maria
05/31/09 		Hi! I'm doing a wedding reception for someone at work in early October. The menu consists of punch provided by her mother, iced tea by me, buffalo chicken wings, meatballs, chicken salad and tuna salad w/dinner sized type rolls, deviled eggs, garlic cheese ball w/crackers, grapes and cheese chunks (2 kinds)and veggie tray. I've reviewed the buttons above, and I think I'm OK, but I'm getting paranoid that maybe I won't have enough.

I've allotted 2 12-oz drinks for iced tea, since her mother is doing punch.

Garlic cheese ball (18 pounds) - 5 crackers per person

Grape/Cheese tray - 48 pounds of grapes and 14 pounds of cheese chunks.

Veggie Tray - 15# baby carrots, 6 bunches of celery, 8 quartz of grape tomatoes, 8 pounds of broccoli, and 120 oz of ranch dressing as a dip.

100 pounds of chicken wings (4 wings/person)

Meatballs - 42 pounds (5/person)

Deviled Eggs - 200 (2/person)

Chicken Salad - 26# (1/person). I allotted 2 oz. per person because it will be on dinner rolls, but your other info says allot 1/2 cup. Is 2 oz too little for dinner rolls?

Tuna Salad - 28# (1/person). Also allotted 2 oz. per person.

This wedding reception will be held at 5:30 pm, and will be self-serve.

Any assistance/advice you can provide would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

Maria
05/31/09 		I'm sorry. One more thing. How do I determine how much ice I'll need? Is there a set method?
ellen
05/31/09 		Nice job on the estimate. I would go with my numbers on the tuna and chicken salads if you did not also have the chicken wings and meatballs, but you do, so they should be OK. Ice is discussed in some detail on the beverage planning page. Be sure there is an unsweetened choice for the diabetics and other no-sugar folks.

Take a look at the relish tray at the top of my veggie tray page and consider adding some exotics to the veggie tray- artichoke hearts, marinated mushrooms, etc; it IS a party, after all.

ellen
05/31/09 		By the way, some places you say 100 people, some places 200; I assume 100.
Maria
05/31/09 		No, it's 200 people. I just looked back and understand where I messed up and caused your confusion. There will be 400 deviled eggs (2/person). Would you mind looking this over again keeping in mind that its for 200 people? I would certainly appreciate it.

I considered adding marinated mushrooms, etc., however, these people are quite "country", and sticking to the basics would be best. I do appreciate the advice on the drinks. I had forgotten about some not wanting sweet drinks.

Again, thanks for your assistance. This is truly a great site!

ellen
06/01/09 		One of the things I always look for at a catered buffet is something I would not have made myself at home, and this menu is complete, but kind of dull. Consider increasing the cheese balls to 20-22 pounds and doing 2 flavors one garlic cheese and one onion-free, maybe sweet/fruit and nut. Add a heavy salad (I suggest pasta, easier than potato), 6 pounds dry pasta per 100, use bow ties or curly for good hold. This will cover any slight shorts in the meats department easily and at little expense. Get half cauliflower and half boccoli for the veggie tray and at least add a few pounds of those delicious colorful mini-peppers the warehouse stores are stocking now.
If you use bowls of nuts and mints you need 6 pounds each per 100.
Maria
06/01/09 		That sounds great! Thank you so much!