Money Monday: How to Save on Late Night Reception Snacks

Dancing the night away can work up an appetite! If you’re worried about guests needing some late-night fuel during your wedding reception, provide them with an easy, low-budget snack. Food trucks are a trendy, fun way to feed your guests towards the middle or end of your reception, but not every couple will have the budget to rent a food truck or supply an additional full meal. However, that doesn’t mean you have to completely forget about any spur-of-the-moment ideas you have for late-night reception snacks. Here are a few ways to treat your guests at the end of the night without adding hundreds of dollars to your catering budget!

Order Less

If you’re planning to work late-night reception snacks into your catering budget, don’t order enough for every guest you have invited to your reception. Not every guest will want to eat post-dinner or some guests may choose to leave your reception early. To cut down on costs and potential waste, only order reception snacks for about 70% of your guest count. This way, you are less likely to end up with tons of extra food and will only see a slight increase in your catering budget.

Make It Yourself

If you’re already working with a small budget, you might not have the ability to factor late-night snacks into your catering budget. But, you can still treat your guests if you are willing to make the snacks yourself! Just stick to something simple like cookies or brownies that can be made in bulk with a few ingredients. Recruit your maid of honor or partner to help you make the snacks to save on time.

Think Bite Size

Not all late-night fuel has to be an extra meal! You will be serving a meal at the beginning of your reception, so any late-night snacks are just to give your guests a little extra treat after being on the dance floor or for sticking around for the whole reception. Go bite-size for a less expensive option that you can order more of. You can pick something that matches your wedding theme or go with a more universal snack like popcorn, doughnut holes, or sliders.