Cook Talk

Self-catering afternoon wedding reception for 175
Whitney
04/14/12
Hi Ellen! Thanks so much for your extremely helpful website! I'm getting married in two weeks and planning to cater our own reception with the help of an army of wonderful friends. Would you please check my numbers to make sure I'm planning enough food? I've tried to base them the tables on your website.
2pm outdoor wedding reception for 175 adults

Fruit trays--18 lbs total: strawberries, blackberries, melon, grapes, pinapple

Veggie trays--30 lbs total: snap peas, baby carrots, mini bell peppers, cherry tomatoes

Veggie dips--16 cups total: premade ranch and tomato bacon dressing

Chicken salad croissants--120 small croissants stuffed with 1/3 cup chicken salad each, cut in half to yield 240 servings

Roast Beef sandwiches--360 bite-sized sandwiches

Horseradish sauce for above--11 cups (1T/sandwich)

Ham Rolls--360 bite-sized sandwiches

Honey mustard for above--11 cups (1T/sandwich)

Cheese slaw and crackers--19 pounds slaw, 4 crackers/person

Southern sweet tea--25 gallons (served over ice in 9 oz cups)

Iced water

Thank you so much for your help!

elln
04/15/12
Good work Whitney. Since this is a midafternoon reception, people will eat 1/4 to 1/3 less than at mealtime. Very good budgeting strategy.

175 people
Fruit trays--18 lbs total: strawberries, blackberries, melon, grapes, pinapple
Veggie trays--30 lbs total: snap peas, baby carrots, mini bell peppers, cherry tomatoes
I would probably increase the fruit to 22-25, decrease the veggies to the same amounts 22-25.

Veggie dips--16 cups total: premade ranch and tomato bacon dressing
1/4 cup per person total, please

Chicken salad croissants--120 small croissants stuffed with 1/3 cup chicken salad each, cut in half to yield 240 servings
Looks better if you can get mini croissants, rather than cutting, or do tortilla rollups

Roast Beef sandwiches--360 bite-sized sandwiches
OK

Horseradish sauce for above--11 cups (1T/sandwich) Put on the side, have at least 3 quarts, some will be wasted

Ham Rolls--360 bite-sized sandwiches OK

Honey mustard for above--11 cups (1T/sandwich)Put on the side, have at least 3 quarts, some will be wasted

Cheese slaw and crackers--19 pounds slaw, 4 crackers/person Have available 2 ounces crackers per person

Southern sweet tea--25 gallons (served over ice in 9 oz cups) have at least 1/4 unsweetened, for us diabetics and calorie/carb watchers

Iced water- fine, pitchers on tables if tables are available.

Consider adding 2 of the classic relish trays on the veggie tray page, or at least olives and pickles.

Whitney
04/19/12
Thank you so much, Ellen! I really appreciate your time. You're the best!
ellen
04/20/12
If you can, donate to support the site.
Liz Slater
06/16/15
Self-catering 50th Anniversary reception for 175
Friends are celebrating 50 years of marriage and have asked me to do the food. I am REALLY good up to about 75, but have never had to serve this many. I'm in a panic! This will be a Sunday afternoon reception when most people have had a heavy Sunday lunch. Our menu:

Croquembouche (instead of cake) making 300 two-bite cream puffs
Strawberry/angel food cake skewers - 150
Pressed one-bite cookies - 300
Fruit tray - watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe - 24 lbs

Butter mints - 250
Cheese board with roasted grapes, pickled red onion, olives - 15 lbs cheese
Crackers - 80 oz
Tortilla roll-ups - 240
Nuts - 34 oz

Punch served in 6 oz cups: 350 servings - 35 gals
Also serving water.

As a side note, what is cheese slaw?

ellen
06/16/15
Good work for your friends!

For cheese slaw, put "cheese slaw" into a Google search and you will find recipes and pictures.

Croquembouche (instead of cake) making 300 two-bite cream puffs- good
Strawberry/angel food cake skewers - 150
Pressed one-bite cookies - 300, plenty if all the same flavor

You will probably have leftovers of all the desserts, but you will not run out!

Fruit tray - watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe - 24 lbs, plenty

Butter mints - 250; size?

Cheese board with roasted grapes, pickled red onion, olives - 15 lbs cheese, plenty
Crackers - 80 oz, I usually allow 6 pounds per 100

Tortilla roll-ups - 240, do 2-3 bites per person, most rolls have 5-6 bites

Nuts - 34 oz, I usually do 6 pounds, but in a senior crowd, 4 is OK

Punch served in 6 oz cups: 350 servings - 35 gals
Way too much! 1 quart per 3, 60 quarts is 15 gallons
You will have diabetics and other sugar-free folks in the crowd- so either add reception level coffee for 100, see the beverage planning page, or a few gallons of unsweetened tea with packets of sugar substitutes. Plan for a pound of ice per 3-4 people.

Also serving water. A pint er person.

If this saves you time, trouble, or money, please make a donation, a nickel or dime per guest, to support this site. Thank you.

Re:
Name:
E-Mail: (optional)
 
Message
Body