42 Frugal Wedding Reception Buffet Menu Ideas

Here are 42 wedding reception buffet menu ideas on a budget, grouped by drinks, appetizers, main course, and dessert.

I know what it’s like to plan a wedding on a budget. I remember when I was scrambling to find cheap wedding catering when my wedding was only three weeks away. We were young and had a short engagement. I didn’t know what I was doing — I just new I wanted my wedding guests to be fed good food without spending a fortune!

I was able to find food to serve at my wedding reception, and we only spent around $800 for approximately 100 guests (that’s only $8/person). And our entire wedding was only around $3000 total!

Here is how to decorate a church wedding on a budget!

In this post, I share 42 affordable food ideas for your wedding reception menu, so you have plenty of budget-friendly options to create your perfect wedding menu.

Why Buffet Style?

A buffet is a style of serving food in which guests serve themselves prepared food from various dishes on buffet tables. It is a more informal and affordable option for large gatherings, such as a wedding reception.

Instead of plated or family-style meals where the guests are served a main course at their table, a buffet requires fewer service workers and does not always require hiring a catering service. Therefore, it costs less money. Food stations, food bars, and food trucks provide a similar experience.

Depending on the wedding venue, you may have restrictions on what type of food service you are allowed to have. Some venues require you have a professional buffet service, but if you have your reception in a church or privately-owned location, you may be able to get away with bringing your own food.

Keep your wedding venue in mind as well as the guest list size and your wedding budget as we go through the list of cheap wedding food ideas!

What to Include in the Wedding Reception Meal?

The wedding meal typically includes:

• Drinks
• Appetizers
• Main Course
• Dessert

However, you absolutely do not need to have all four in your wedding menu. You can choose three, two, or even just one to serve your wedding guests. Just be sure to clearly communicate in the wedding invitation details what type of food or meal your guests should expect at the reception if it’s not the normal wedding meal.

Below I listed a variety of wedding menu ideas that includes something to fit every budget!

Keep reading to the end for three complete wedding menu examples.

Frugal Wedding Reception Food Ideas:

Here are the 42 wedding reception buffet menu ideas on a budget:

Drinks

First, let’s start with the drinks! Get a bunch of mason jars and straws, and your guests will feel fancy drinking these sweet treats:

Lemonade Stand

Set up a cute lemonade stand with different types of lemonade. Strawberry lemonade, raspberry lemonade, peach lemonade slush, strawberry lemonade iced tea, and even spiked lemonade for the adults! Serve cookies to round out the sweet icy lemonade taste.

Coffee Bar

​A coffee bar is an exciting and unique experience that guests will rave about. Give your wedding guests the ability to choose their milk, sweetener, coffee syrup, whipped cream, and other toppings.

Hot Chocolate Bar

A yummy drink for a winter wedding is hot chocolate! Don’t forget the marshmallows and peppermint sticks!

Appetizers

Here are some creative appetizer ideas that could be served alone or before a meal at your wedding reception:

Appetizer Trays

Keep it simple with tried & true appetizer trays. Veggie trays, crackers, chips & dips, jalapeño poppers, etc.

Wine & Cheese Station

If you’re having a no-kids wedding, a wine and cheese station might be a fun option for your wedding reception.

Caramel Apple Bar

My mother-in-law created a lovely caramel apple bar for my wedding reception. There was caramel dip, m&ms, nuts, and other fun toppings, so guests could create their own candied apple treat!

S’more Station

A s’more station would be perfect for a cozy fall wedding or late summer wedding! Set out graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows, and roasting sticks!

Gourmet Popcorn Bar

If you’re looking for a salty instead of sweet option, you could have a popcorn bar! Get cute brown paper bags and multiple flavor options for the popcorn.

Fruit Bar

There are many ways to prepare fresh fruit for a party, including:

• Fruit skewers
• Fruit pizza
• Fruit kabobs
• Edible arrangements
• Fruit salad
• Fruit platter

Main Course

Next, I listed the bulk of the budget wedding food ideas. Here are the main entrees:

Loaded Baked Potato Bar

A baked potato bar is a cheap and filling main meal. You will want to include a variety of toppings for baked potatoes, including:

• Butter
• Cheese
• Sour cream
• Bacon
• Green onions

Finger Foods Buffet

Finger foods are a great option because you even get to skip the utensils! Pick a variety of easy bite-sized foods to serve your guests, like mini pigs in a blanket, crab rangoon, taquitos, and deviled eggs.

Kebab Station

You can make a kebab out of almost anything, and they are easy to eat. You could have fruit kebabs, meatball kebabs, desert kebabs, or a combination!

Slider Station

Another form of mini food is the slider! These are mini sandwiches typically on Hawaiian roll buns. My favorite is the ham and cheese slider! You could also do breakfast sliders, pizza sliders, and cheeseburger sliders!

Breakfast for Dinner

​Breakfast for dinner would make a memorable dining experience for a wedding reception. Serve simple breakfast foods, coffee, and orange juice for a budget-friendly buffet.

Pasta Station

Pasta bars are a great way to feed a large guest list. It is affordable, and there are many ways to customize it. Give your guests 2-3 noodle options (include a gluten-free option!), 2-3 sauce options, 2-3 meat options, and 2-3 cheese options for your pasta buffet. Then, your guests can make their own pasta dish.

Taco Bar

A yummy idea is a taco bar! There are even more ways to customize a taco, so everyone can find something they like! You will need taco shell or tortilla choices, meat, cheese, and lots of toppings!

Nachos Bar

Similar to the taco bar, a nacho bar could be cheap and a huge hit! Instead of tortillas or taco shells, have tortilla chips!

BBQ Buffet

A barbeque-style buffet is perfect for a summer backyard wedding. Brisket, sausage, and corn on the cob will produce a pleasant aroma while keeping the food cost low!

Traditional Wedding Dinner Buffet

You can always go with the traditional wedding dinner: chicken, potatoes, salad, and roll! There are ways to save money while keeping it classic. You could order from a restaurant and set out a buffet, rather than hire a catering company.

Food Truck

Food trucks are a popular choice for a small outdoor wedding. They can be cheaper than a traditional catering company, but you will have to seek quotes to see if they fit within your budget.

Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards are a cute wedding reception idea. You just have to be careful because the price of meats and cheeses can add up! Choose cheaper options for the food, and you can make an amazing charcuterie design without the expensive wooden cutting boards!

Tip: Buy thick paper and tape it into a cone shape. Place parchment paper inside and set them out for your wedding guests to fill with the food!

Pizza Buffet

Can’t go wrong with this comfort food! A pizza buffet is an excellent idea if you’re trying to keep your special day casual and affordable.

Picnic Wedding

A picnic-themed buffet is another fun summer wedding idea! Sandwiches, chicken salad, and potato salad would make a delicious outdoor wedding menu.

Hawaiian Luau

Serve a variety of Hawaiian-themed appetizers for a Hawaiian luau buffet! Pineapple and watermelon skewers, Hawaiian roll sandwiches, and seared chicken. A creative idea is to place the food into a carved out pineapple or hollowed out coconut!

Chili Bar

An inexpensive food to feed a large group is chili (and it’s another cozy fall wedding meal idea!). Serve with cheddar cheese, oyster crackers, and corn bread.

Soup & Sandwich Bar

Grilled cheese and tomato soup, ham and cheese sandwiches and chicken noodle soup, or a variety of choices — a soup & sandwich bar is an affordable option for the wedding meal!

Salad Bar

You can do a salad bar for the main course! Include a couple protein options, like chicken and hard-boiled eggs, to make it a full meal.

Sports Themed Buffet

Serve chicken wings, chips & dip, veggie trays, and other appetizers for a sport-themed wedding reception buffet.

Mac & Cheese Bar

YUM alert! You could have a Mac & cheese option at your pasta buffet or just do a Mac and cheese bar on its own! There are several types of Mac & cheese.

Fried Chicken Buffet

Place a big order of fried chicken at your local grocery store. Some grocery stores have a hot foods/deli section that even offers sides like mashed potatoes, corn, & more. This is one cheap option we considered for our wedding!

Potluck Wedding

Have a potluck wedding and enlist family members, church ladies, and friends to prepare a variety of dishes for a potluck buffet reception dinner. This is one of the most budget-friendly wedding reception buffet menu ideas. If you get 5-10 people to pitch in a crockpot or casserole, you could get away with almost $0 food cost on your end! It is also a lovely way for friends and family to show their love and support for the bride and groom.

An informal potluck wedding does not seem common, but it used to be. During certain periods of time, family and community members would help prepare dishes for a couple’s wedding. There is no shame in this, and I have been to a wedding reception like this and had an enjoyable time.

Restaurant Order

The last idea for the main meal is a restaurant order. Rather than pay a catering company to provide everything from the buffet tables to service workers to replace empty trays, you could just place a large food order from a restaurant and do the rest yourself (or with help from family!).

This is actually what my sister and I both did for our weddings. She had a Chipotle buffet. I ordered Italian beef, hoagie buns, and penne pasta from a local restaurant. The delivery driver showed up at the beginning of our wedding reception, and we had family help set it out on tables. This is how we were able to feed over 100 wedding guests for $800 (and we had tons of food leftover!).

Dessert

Lastly, here are several creative and affordable wedding dessert ideas:

Dessert Buffet

Set out a variety of dessert options on tables for your guests to choose from!

Ice Cream Bar

​Ice cream, sprinkles, chocolate sauce — oh my! A cool treat would thrill wedding guests on a hot summer wedding day.

Donut Wall

Donut walls have become a popular dessert choice for parties. You can make a diy donut wall on a budget!

Fondue Station

Have a delectable fondue station at your wedding! Melted chocolate or cheese, skewers, paper plates, and an assortment of food to dip in it is all you need.

Cookie Station

A simple and affordable dessert option are cookies!! 

Tip: Cold milk pairs well with warm cookies!

Candy Buffet

Sugar your guests up with a candy buffet! Have multiple bowls of different types of candy, and provide the guests cups to fill up with their favorites.

Tiered Cupcake Stand

Cupcakes are a go-to wedding dessert! An affordable option for cupcakes is to buy plain cupcakes at a local grocery store.

Mini Cheesecake & Pie Bar

Put pie crust in cupcake liners and give your guests an assortment of pie fillings and toppings to make their own cheesecake or pie dessert!

Cake Pop Stand

Cake pops or cake balls are a unique spin on a classic dessert. These are one of my favorites!

Snow Cone Stand

A super fun summer wedding reception idea is to have a snow cone stand! Ice and flavoring can be very affordable! You just need to find a snow cone machine to borrow or rent.

Allergy Options

Try to consider those with dietary restrictions at your wedding. Many people have food allergies these days, and it is easy to find dairy-free and gluten-free options. As a mom of two kids with food allergies, this is so appreciated!!

You don’t need an expensive vegan or gluten-free menu — offering plain meat, vegetables, and fruit is usually enough to cover most dietary restrictions!

Other Ways to Save Money on Wedding Reception Food

Wedding cake

You don’t have to have a unique dessert at your wedding. A traditional sheet cake is cheaper and just as tasty!

We actually did this — we bought a few plain white sheet cakes and a small tier wedding cake just for us. Then, we had family members help pass out pieces of cake to our guests. Everyone said how yummy our cake was! It was from Walmart!

Have a grazing table.

Another tip is to provide a grazing table with light snacking food. If your guests “graze” on snacks before the main meal, you may be able to get away with providing a smaller main course.

Consider having your wedding earlier in the day.

Dinners are more expensive than breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Also, fewer people will probably be able to attend a brunch wedding, so your overall food cost will be much lower.

Don’t have your wedding on a Saturday.

Saturdays are the most popular wedding day. You can save so much money by having your wedding day on a different day of the week.

Keep it simple.

You don’t need a cocktail hour, three courses, an open bar, or a professional catering company. You do not need anything that does not fit within your wedding budget.

Read: Beautiful Church Wedding Decorations on a Budget

Wedding Reception Buffet Menu on a Budget Examples

Now, let me list three budget-friendly menu examples for you. The idea is to choose 1, 2, or 3 of the options above for your wedding reception and supplement with cheaper food & drinks.

Wedding Menu Example 1:

• Drinks: None (water)
• Appetizers: Fruit bar
• Main course: Barbecue buffet
• Dessert: Cookie station

It is fine to just serve water at your wedding.

Wedding Menu Example 2:

• Drinks: Lemonade stand
• Appetizers: Caramel apple bar
• Main course: Traditional wedding dinner buffet
• Dessert: None

The caramel apple bar is both the appetizer and dessert.

Wedding Menu Example 3:

• Drinks: None (water)
• Appetizers: None
• Main course: Loaded baked potato bar
• Dessert: Cupcake stand

Skip right to the main course and end with delicious cupcakes.

Cheap Wedding Reception Food Conclusion

Is your mouth watering now?? I hope these wedding reception food ideas inspired you to find the perfect wedding menu that fits within your budget! As you can see, there are endless wedding reception buffet menu ideas on a budget.

Pin to your wedding board!