5 Ways to Save Money on Reception Appetizers

5 Ways to Save Money on Reception Appetizers!
Here are 5 ways to save money on your Cocktail Hour food! I culled some from personal experience (20 years!), but mostly I stole them from caterers who told me these precious secrets “on the sly”! Either way, I’d like to share these fantastic ideas... 1) Hand-Pass Your Appetizers – Let’s face it, guests see an open appetizer table and two things happen: a) Their basic stuff-their-face instincts roar in, and it’s like opening the trough at a pig farm, and b) they leap past the pigs in a blanket and dive right into the most expensive hors d'oeuvres! An Easy way to prevent this disgusting action is to hand-serve your cocktail appetizers (especially the more elaborate ones). This way YOU control the amount of food disappearing from the caterers trays. If you put out a basket of shrimp everyone will pile Shrimp on a plate and devour it. If you pass it around they’ll only take one or two! 2) Eliminate the Cocktail Appetizers Course - Save Money by cutting back on the Cocktail Hour. You’ll pay less at the bar, and save quite a bit of cash on snacks. Arrange to have your pictures done before the Reception begins (not during Cocktail hour). That way, if your reception starts at 5, you are Announced In at 5, and move right to dinner and dancing. Few will miss the appetizers, and many will appreciate you “Getting on with it!”! 3) MORE Appetizers! – Sounds crazy, but the Main Plate is always more expensive. Think about having elaborate Cocktail Buffet (but with only 1 or 2 expensive snacks). Keep a main table with loads of Cheeses and Breads, then have 2 other stations with small quiches or quesadillas. Stuff guests before dinner, then serve a small, reasonably priced plate of the same old Chicken or Beef, maybe served in a unique way (Coq au Vin, Medallions with Mushroom Sauce – ask the chef to create unique sauces for inexpensive plates). And make sure he adds lots of nutritious inexpensive Veggies and Rice to those plates! 4) Make the Cocktail Hour Unique with a Theme – You can serve cheaper but unique appetizers that suit the theme. If your Irish maybe you can serve Mashed Potatoes in Martini Glasses with an elaborate fixins’ station on the side (cheeses, chives, etc.)! Or maybe you can go Mexican and have guests create their own fajitas! This also works well with Far-East Foods (low-mein and noodles are cheap but fun and filling!) The guests will love the personal touches, and you’ll save money! PS…I’ve seen the Mashed Potatoes Cocktails, and they were AWESOME! Thanks Jessica Ferguson! 5) Comfort Foods – Americans love their Comfort Foods, so who wouldn’t love a buffet fully stocked with delicacies from Pigs-in-a-blanket to Mini-Meatballs and tiny sausages! Get creative! Even finger sandwiches work well here, and nobody will complain. Just be sure to set these platters up in a unique way (try a “Picnic” themed cocktail hour complete with fake trees, blankets and picnic basket decorations). I promise you, people will always remember Unique style or events within the Reception, and no one will call you Cheap! (home)

5 Ways to Save Money on Reception Appetizers!

Here are 5 ways to save money on your Cocktail Hour food! I culled some from personal experience (20 years!),

but mostly I stole them from caterers who told me these precious secrets “on the sly”!

Either way, I’d like to share these fantastic ideas...

1) Hand-Pass Your Appetizers – Let’s face it, guests see an open appetizer table and two things happen: a) Their basic stuff-their-face instincts roar in, and it’s like opening the trough at a pig farm, and b) they leap past the pigs in a blanket and dive right into the most expensive hors d'oeuvres!

An Easy way to prevent this disgusting action is to hand-serve your cocktail appetizers (especially the more elaborate ones). This way YOU control the amount of food disappearing from the caterers trays. If you put out a basket of shrimp everyone will pile Shrimp on a plate and devour it. If you pass it around they’ll only take one or two!

2) Eliminate the Cocktail Appetizers Course - Save Money by cutting back on the Cocktail Hour. You’ll pay less at the bar, and save quite a bit of cash on snacks. Arrange to have your pictures done before the Reception begins (not during Cocktail hour). That way, if your reception starts at 5, you are Announced In at 5, and move right to dinner and dancing. Few will miss the appetizers, and many will appreciate you “Getting on with it!”!

3) MORE Appetizers! – Sounds crazy, but the Main Plate is always more expensive. Think about having elaborate Cocktail Buffet (but with only 1 or 2 expensive snacks). Keep a main table with loads of Cheeses and Breads, then have 2 other stations with small quiches or quesadillas.

Stuff guests before dinner, then serve a small, reasonably priced plate of the same old Chicken or Beef, maybe served in a unique way (Coq au Vin, Medallions with Mushroom Sauce – ask the chef to create unique sauces for inexpensive plates). And make sure he adds lots of nutritious inexpensive Veggies and Rice to those plates!

4) Make the Cocktail Hour Unique with a Theme – You can serve cheaper but unique appetizers that suit the theme. If your Irish maybe you can serve Mashed Potatoes in Martini Glasses with an elaborate fixins’ station on the side (cheeses, chives, etc.)! Or maybe you can go Mexican and have guests create their own fajitas! This also works well with Far-East Foods (low-mein and noodles are cheap but fun and filling!) The guests will love the personal touches, and you’ll save money!

PS…I’ve seen the Mashed Potatoes Cocktails, and they were AWESOME! Thanks Jessica Ferguson!

5) Comfort Foods – Americans love their Comfort Foods, so who wouldn’t love a buffet fully stocked with delicacies from Pigs-in-a-blanket to Mini-Meatballs and tiny sausages! Get creative! Even finger sandwiches work well here, and nobody will complain. Just be sure to set these platters up in a unique way (try a “Picnic” themed cocktail hour complete with fake trees, blankets and picnic basket decorations). I promise you, people will always remember Unique style or events within the Reception, and no one will call you Cheap!

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