Quick Tips on Cutting the Cost of Kosher Catering

These are some quick and easy tips that can save you money on kosher catering (here are more tips):

• Choose a lighter version of a shmorgishborg, or eliminate a shmorg altogether:
• Not surprising, Kosher caterers will offer their best (and most costly) food selections first. Do not be afraid to ask them to identify less costly shmorg food items.
• Select the less costly foods:
• Since the time period allotted during a shmorg can be quite fast before hustling guests into the ceremony area, choose a shmorg that is not “all out”:
• Negotiate on the number of trays and servers needed
• Dairy versus Meat meal:
• Choosing a Dairy meal over a Meat meal can reduce costs:  
• When I was negotiating costs with an in-house kosher caterer, he reduced the total per person amount by $10/pp if we chose to go with Dairy instead of Meat.
• Kosher caterers will state that the price of catering costs is dictated by the menu items, not by Dairy versus Meat food.
• For either Dairy or Meat, the biggest impact on kosher catering costs is the amount of labor and execution involved.  
• Choosing a lighter fare of menu items for either Dairy or Meat can reduce costs.
• Reception costs:
• Reduce the number of courses
• Do pairings on a plate instead of full plate
• Choose desserts that are less costly
• Have guests fill out which type of food they will want when they send in their reply to the wedding invitation: chicken, steak, vegetarian:
• Providing estimated numbers per type of dish ahead of time to the Kosher caterer will save money
• If there are a high percentage of your guests that are vegan / vegetarian, then construct a menu around their likings, which will significantly cut costs of Kosher catering
• Time of Day: Weddings that start earlier in the day can save you money
• The assortment of foods chosen for the shmorg and reception can be less costly for Day weddings as opposed to Evening weddings.
• Light shmorg for early wedding, with brunch type foods such as bagels, lox and cream cheese, pastries, etc.
• Alcohol can be limited or completely eliminated for Day weddings
• Reception meal can be lighter for Day weddings
• The Alcohol Factor:
• An open bar at a wedding with top shelf liquor, wine, and beer is only one of many ways to offer alcohol to your guests. It is also the most costly option. Here are less expensive options to cut costs:
• Only serve Wine and Beer, and not liquor
• Only have one Alcohol station
• Cap off the number of bottles of wine

Questions?  Feel free to Email me.