Inexpensive Catering Ideas For Your Event

Catering a party can cost a mint or be affordable. It all depends on the choices that are made on a variety of options. Some individuals may hesitate to think in terms of cost cutting measures as they don't want to appear cheap or tight-fisted, especially on a very special occasion such as the marriage of their daughter or their dad's 80th birthday. But let's face it; except for the filthy rich, most individuals are on a budget and must be reasonable with their money expenditures. A party-thrower can still host a lavish shindig without depleting their bank accounts. Here are some ideas:

- The bar: While typical budget mindsets may say to stick to beer and wine to stock the bar, this isn't always true. If a host or hostess serves cocktails at the party, a one liter bottle of liquor can be transformed into twenty-five mixed drinks. A bottle of wine can only be split four or five ways and a bottle of beer can't be split. Having a theme such as "margarita-ville" can keep it simple and everyone happily imbibing who chooses to. Bringing your own liquor and simply paying for bartending service is another way to save cash and still create an ample cocktail hour.

- The appetizers: Having a lovely spread of seasonal veggies and crackers or chips to dip into an array of dips is cost effective, relatively healthy and beautiful. It cuts down on preparation time for the chefs so can save money per guest. Having a waiter walk around with a serving tray of delectable goodies can be a good way of monitoring how much each person eats, too. It looks quite elegant to have a suited up waiter offering tidbits and guests won't likely take a mountain of them in the name of politeness. At a buffet spread, this may not be the case.

- Main dish: A host or hostess doesn't have to serve filet minion for the main dish to create a splashy meal. Having an aromatic BBQ can be a wonderful treat for all the hungry partiers. Serving chicken in an imaginative way such as in puff pastry with sauces and mushrooms can be downright elegant but nowhere near as expensive as some pricier cuts of meat. Having just one choice rather than multiple entree selections will also cut down the cost without appearing chintzy.

- Side dishes: Although pastas and potatoes are fairly expensive, they don't have to appear cheap if they are set up on stations where guests can be creative. A potato bar complete with shredded cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, chopped green onions and some other fanciful garnishes will be a surefire hit. Pastas can be ready to douse with sauces, cheeses and freshly ground pepper. Yum!

When a host or hostess plans a special event but doesn't want to go deeply into debt or wipe out their savings account, there are ways to achieve success. Inexpensive catering can still be done without compromising quality or ambience. All it takes is a bit of creativity and a talented chef to compile the right bar selections, appetizers, main dishes and sides.