Planning Tips :: Wedding Budget Breakdown :: Food + Beverage

We're featuring a breakdown of the wedding budget on the blog this week, and we're starting with the largest section of the budget; the food + beverages! Our suggested percentage for food & beverage is 30% of your total budget. If you're budget is $20,000 overall, this means that your total budget for food + beverages would be $6,000.

Guest Count

X charge per person for Food & Beverage

+ Tax

+ Service Charge

+ Gratuity

= Total Food + Beverage Cost

Elmbrook Catering Co.

www.elmbrookcatering.com

Elmbrook Catering Co.

www.elmbrookcatering.com

Elmbrook Catering Co.

www.elmbrookcatering.com

If grabbing the budget by the horns is something you're struggling with as a bride, groom, mother of the bride, etc... please feel free to reach out to us! We offer budget consultations where we quickly help to establish a realistic budget for your event and give you tips and instructions on how to stay within that budget once it's established!

Citrus Events

www.citrus.events

Citrus Events

www.citrus.events

Citrus Events

www.citrus.events

:: TIPS ::

1. Keep in mind that your guest count is what will drive your budget up quicker than anything! The easiest way to remedy being over budget is to cut the guest list. Try to keep your guest list to a minimum from the beginning... 

2. Book your catering and bar service for your minimum guest count. You can always increase the number at your final cut off date, but you can't un-book what you've already contractually reserved.

3. To keep your bar tab down, offer something other than a full open bar. Greet your guests with a signature cocktail as they arrive...then offer a beer and wine bar for dinner and dancing. Signature drinks where you only have certain options available are another way to keep bar costs down. Check out the difference between top shelf and well costs as well for liquor purchases.

4. Remember to budget for service fees, tax and gratuity. Those are charges in addition the per person cost of catering and bar service.

5. Always ask what's included in your per person cost for your catering package. It may include desserts which could allow you to get a smaller cake. It may include fees you weren't aware of which could affect your budget (linen rentals, china rentals, corking fees, cake cutting fees, staffing, etc...). Always ask what the additional charges are beyond the per person cost so you can budget accordingly.


Watch for the next Budget Breakdown post coming up.... Flowers + Décor! Happy wedding planning!


Original Post: Planning Tips :: Budget Breakdown