buffet for wedding reception
Whitney
02/11/07 		For a wedding reception at 5:30 p.m. lasting at least three hours, do the following amounts seem correct? We are expecting about 150, mostly adults.

20 lbs of sliced sandwich ham
30 lbs of sliced sandwich turkey (we read the turkey goes faster)
(We are unsure of which is the best way - translated into the most affordable way - to go...sliced deli meat with bread and condiments, or would we be better to have actual sliced turkey breast and sliced spiral ham with some rolls?)
40 lbs of boiled shrimp
25 lbs of meatballs
20 lbs of coctail weiners in the jelly/bbq sauce
480 pigs in the blanket
240 mini quiche
300 ham/cheese/tortilla shell spirals
2 large bowls of spinach dip w/crackers
2 large bowls of tuna spread w/crackers
fresh fruit display with 12 lbs strawberries, approximately 6 lbs of mixed fruit balls, and 6 lbs of various berries (we will supplement all of this with sliced kiwi, pineapple, etc.
a fresh vegetable display with dip (we were thinking mostly broccoli, cauliflower, carrot sticks, celery sticks, olives and cheese

Then, we would have a bride's cake, a groom's cake, about 280 mini cream puffs and about 300 mini eclairs.

Are the quantities correct? Do we have enough of a selection for people to make a meal with? Also, I understand that uneaten food should be taken up after about 2 hours, but I have been told by several people that they just left the food out for the entire reception. We want to do what is safe - we will be inside with airconditioning, meatballs and coctail weiners will be in chafing pans. Thanks in advance for your help. Whitney

ellen
02/11/07 		You did a good job. I amm a little behind on my checkings- moving to a new house this month- I will be checking it ths week. At first glance, may be more than enough.
Whitney Crisp
02/19/07 		Would you suggest we cut back on something? We certainly don't want to have too much, but we want to make sure we have enough. Thanks.
ellen
02/20/07 		Whitney, if you can hold out till March, I will send a full comment- you could probably cut 1/3 of each of the sandwich meats with the shrimp and meatballs available.
Whitney Crisp
03/01/07 		March will be fine...wedding is in April. Thanks you SO much!!!
Whitney
03/14/07 		Ellen, have you had a chance to look over this yet? We want to go ahead and get our amounts finalized for budgeting purposes before the April wedding! Your help is so appreciated.
ellen
03/15/07 		Hi, Whitney

We are expecting about 150, mostly adults.

==Overall, this is a lot of food

20 lbs of sliced sandwich ham
30 lbs of sliced sandwich turkey (we read the turkey goes faster) ==true, good call
(We are unsure of which is the best way - translated into the most affordable way - to go...sliced deli meat with bread and condiments, or would we be better to have actual sliced turkey breast and sliced spiral ham with some rolls?)
==presliced deli type slices you will use about 1/4 less- when people slice their own they use WAY more. I am assuming you don't want to hire a carver? With all the other meats, I would only do 2-3 ounces of meats per person.
40 lbs of boiled shrimp
==beloved- this will be plenty but you will not have any leftovers
25 lbs of meatballs
20 lbs of cocktail weiners in the jelly/bbq sauce
480 pigs in the blanket
240 mini quiche
300 ham/cheese/tortilla shell spirals
==this is a lot of meaty stuff per person- almost a pound- if you are watching costs, you could go with some veggie items such as spinach squares, and stick to "1 each plus 10 %" on the spirals, pigs and quiches, 2 meat balls.

2 large bowls of spinach dip w/crackers
2 large bowls of tuna spread w/crackers
you want 1/4 cup of each dip and spread per person
fresh fruit display with 12 lbs strawberries, approximately 6 lbs of mixed fruit balls, and 6 lbs of various berries (we will supplement all of this with sliced kiwi, pineapple, etc.
a little short on the fruit- you want at least 1 pound edible for each 4 persons, plus dip
a fresh vegetable display with dip (we were thinking mostly broccoli, cauliflower, carrot sticks, celery sticks, olives and cheese
2 ounces per person plus dip. See my veggie tray page. Consider adding some olives and pickles since you have sandwiches.

Then, we would have a bride's cake, a groom's cake, about 280 mini cream puffs and about 300 mini eclairs.
just 1 each of the supplementary desserts- everyone will be having cake also.

ellen
03/15/07 		Do we have enough of a selection for people to make a meal with? Also, I understand that uneaten food should be taken up after about 2 hours,
CORRECTY AND IMPORTANT. Only leave out if above 140 degrees or below 40 degrees. Yes people do otherwise, but having just come through a bout of food poisoning from a friend's party at New Years, I must encourage you to be conservative. Besides, the fresh trays just LOOK better- you will need to have hired helpers- about 10- to set up stock and take down the party. The shrimps, cold spreads and dips are especially high risk...
Whitney
03/16/07 		You are AWESOME. Thank you so much for all of your help!