Keeping the price of your food and drinks reasonable

The mere thought of feeding a hundred guests makes some brides feel faint. Not only are there a multitude of decisions to be made, but also pennies to be spent. The truth is a few wise decisions can really cut the cost of your reception food and drinks without sacrificing the taste. Here's a list of tips to help make your reception affordable.


Serve simple foods
Beef and seafood entrees are usually the most expensive, so try chicken or pasta dishes. Watch the ingredient list as well. If you ask for dishes that require expensive or out-of-season ingredients (like asparagus during the fall), you'll jack up your bottom line.


Cut back on options
Choose one popular entree instead of two. This narrows your guests' options, but it is certainly less costly.


Scrap your dinner plans
A brunch or lunch reception can be just as festive at a fraction of the price. And people usually drink less at a morning or afternoon affair, so your bar tab will be significantly smaller.


Request a kid's menu
If you're inviting children to your reception, ask for smaller portions or more kid-friendly (and often less expensive) food. As your underage guests won't be toasting with champagne or downing a scotch on the rocks, ask that your bar bill reflect that as well.


Liquidate your assets
Put your cash into a tea or cocktail reception, elegant late afternoon or evening affairs without the hefty meal. For a tea reception, serve your guests tiny sandwiches, fruit and cheese, assorted desserts, a champagne punch and a variety of teas and coffees. At a cocktail reception, offer an assortment of hearty hors d'oeuvres, cake and fancy drinks.


Choose the right bar
If you're inviting a crowd of light drinkers, a consumption bar will save you money over an open bar (never, ever opt for a cash bar). If you're choosing a consumption bar, ask the waiters not to bus half-full glasses. Your guests won't have to keep going back up for fresh ones every time they rest their glass on a table, and you'll reap the windfall.


Just say no to champagne toasting
Don't serve champagne to everyone at toasting time. A lot of people don't like champagne and will be happy to toast with whatever is in their hand.


Lose the liquor
Cut back on alcohol costs by serving a delicious champagne punch or offering your guests a bar stocked with different types of wine and beer.


Try the short cake
Have your baker create a few simple tiers for the cake cutting, then stock the kitchen with additional sheet cakes.

Lose the sweet tooth
Eliminate the elaborate sweets table. Instead, choose a different flavor for each layer of cake. You can create a great selection of tortes, which you can complement with truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries and a nice fruit display.