DIY buffet help!!

[mommynwife07]

i am looking to see if anyone can give me some ideas for simple food for a buffet style reception. its mainly close family that isnt too picky!! and i have a few ideas but want some others ideas!!

[WebLady]

Are you wanting a buffet dinner or just finger foods/hor dourves?

[delilah]

Here is a great list of cocktail/finger food, with recipes. Some of them look scrumptious!

YUMMY! (http://www.passionateaboutfood.net/finger.php)

[Panthers Bride]

We had burgers, brats, bbq short ribs, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad and fruit salad. It was yummy, and they were able to keep it warm all through the ceremony and the reception time.

[mommynwife07]

Are you wanting a buffet dinner or just finger foods/hor dourves? either or...i am kinda looking for both as children are involved!!

[WebLady]

either or...i am kinda looking for both as children are involved!!
Well the dinner thing may be a bit more for you. Depending on the type of even you are going for you could go for something like carved ham (or chicken breast or even a roast) and mashed potatoes and veggies, maybe even a salad and bread basket. Or maybe even barbeque for a more laid back outdoor event.

For finger foods/hor dourves there is always chicken fingers, rolled meats, cheese, veggie and fruit trays, meat balls, fancy cookies, etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[heatherh321]

We are having a caterer but we are doing finger foods. I really debated doing it myself to save money but we are just having far too many guests to do that (300).

We are having:
spinach dip (cold)
taco dip
crab dip (hot)
veggie platter
fruit bowl
little weenies (FH's FAVORITE)
cheese
ham biscuits
mini egg rolls
who knows what else....

Sams has lots of stuff thats yummy.
I would suggest cold items, it would be easier than trying to keep it warm.

[sweets4ever]

We did all of our food... appetizers, dinner & drinks.

Do you have GFS (http://www.gfs.com/) near you? If so, they ROCK for catering your own events. There is a computer in the store where you can plug in all of your info as far as type of event, ideal cuisine, number of guests, size of appetite (adult or children). It's free and you can do it all on your own. After you've done all that, you can print it out and it will tell you total cost and how much of each SKU to buy.

We did a buffet with two entrees - pot roast w/mashed potatoes and spaghetti w/meatballs. We also had salad, rolls, corn and green beans. For appetizers we dipped a TON of strawberries and got chocolate filled coffee sticks from the dollar store. We also got frozen cream puffs from GFS...num!

We put our drinks in giant glass containers with ladels for serving.

We bought the metal chafing contraptions from GFS, too. We rented plates & napkins, but we bought the drinking goblets from the dollar store and the tablecloths & flatware from Ebay. Now that the wedding is over, we're reselling all of the flatware, cloths & glasses on Craigslist to recoup some moola.

[samantha01]

My family did my food for my wedding and everyone LOVED it. It was buffet style.
On the chocolate fountain table, I had
fruit dip with
skewers for dipping, pineapples, strawberries, marshmallows, grapes, pretzels
I also had shrimp and meatballs for appetizers

dinner was
stuffed chicken (chicken breast with stuffing and cream of mushroom)
rolls
g. beans
corn

It turned out really good.

[WendyNC]

We are having some of the things mentioned, along with a sandwich station - various breads meats and cheeses. I love sandwiches.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Do you have a Costco near you?

We picked up all the food for our reception there, the ladies of the church served it for us and we saved a bundle. In Quebec, we can buy wine and beer at Costco as well. We served approx. 70 for about $400 including the booze and we had more than enough left over. My brother donated the wine glasses, coffee cups, napkins etc. but we bought the serving platters & bowls etc. from the dollar store.

This is what we had -

To nibble on -

Mini Quiches - frozen 50 pieces
Croissant Sandwiches - we ordered 2 platters of sandwiches ready made and cut each sandwich in half.
Shrimp & Cocktail Sauce - we bought the large shrimp frozen - it was less expensive than their pre-made platters
Assorted Cheese & Cracker Platter - bought everything separate and cut up the cheese ourselves
Veggies and Dip Platter - bought everything separate and cut up the veggies ourselves


To drink -

Sangria - white and red
Rum Punch
Flavoured Water
Regular Water
Pop
Raspberry Lemonade
Tea
Coffee

For Dessert -

Petit Fours
Fresh Fruit
A Chocolate Fountain
and a very small wedding cake

[SerendipityCrafts]

I also found this DIY buffet post by Dereksbride - http://forums.onewed.com/showpost.php?p=137867&postcount=1

[Joe's girl]

I usually have Xmas catered but it really depends what time of the day it is, you could do a brunch or luncheon or if its early in the evening just cocktail food.