4 Alternatives to a Sit-down Meal for Your Event

By Catering Staff | August 3, 2016

Offbeat weddings have been making a splash online as they offer everyone more options and ideas on how they can go about their own big days. Even if your event isn’t a wedding per se, you can still take some cues from these occasions as they’ll definitely give you a different take on hosting a gathering.

One of the biggest takeaways that you should note from these events is that you don’t always have to swing for a full sit-down meal on your big day. As everyone knows, catering can be one of the biggest costs for celebrations, so, if you’d much rather spend money on other things, here are four alternatives that you can try.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres

Going big on your cocktail hour is a good way to celebrate on a big day. As you don’t have to pay for actual meals, you’ll most likely have to spend less on food. However, since you won’t be feeding your guests that much, they might drink more, so make sure to check your budget for this as well.

Make sure to note that dinner won’t be served at your event, though. It’s also best if you time the occasion earlier in the evening, so guests can still grab some dinner before they go home.

Food trucks

If you want a trendy and laid back way to feed your guests, getting two or three food trucks to your event will surely give them a fun time. However, this isn’t exactly for every kind of event, so make sure to weigh your options wisely. You also have to choose the right vendors for your celebration as you’ll want to also serve mind blowingly good food to guests if you’re trying to wow them with a brand new dining concept.

Family style

This option is actually still a type of a sit down meal but it’s a lot different from the typical plated and buffet dinners that most people know of. Family style meals will provide large servings of food for guests to share in their table. It’s a great option if you wish to serve catering from Cracker Barrel or even if what you have in mind is a simple soiree with Arby’s meat platters.

High tea

A popular option for those who wants a quiet event, high tea is usually done later in the afternoon with a variety of great teas, sandwiches, and desserts. Perfect for romantics, you can skip serving alcohol in your event with this set up, yet still make it meaningful with conversations and a fun program.