Cheapest Way to Feed 100 People: Wedding Catering on a Budget

Feeding 100 people sounds like a massive task, especially when wedding costs already feel out of control. But here's a shocker—catering doesn’t have to swallow your entire budget if you make smart choices from the start.

First thing: nail down how much you can actually spend per person. Most weddings in the U.S. drop $40–$85 or more just on food per guest, but you can feed a big crowd for $5–$10 per head with the right game plan. It all depends on your menu and how much you're willing to DIY.

Here’s the trick nobody tells you: the fewer options you offer, the cheaper things get. Stick to simple mains like pasta, rice dishes, or BBQ—foods you can make in bulk without fancy ingredients. Sides that go far (think roasted veggies, hearty salads, or bread) keep bellies full without costing a fortune. If you’re totally new to feeding crowds, check out websites with bulk recipe calculators—you’ll want to scale up, not just triple your favorite family lasagna.

• Understanding Your Per-Person Food Cost
• DIY vs. Professional Catering
• Budget-Friendly Menu Ideas That Actually Work
• Bulk Buying and Smart Shopping Tips
• Time-Saving Hacks for Large-Scale Events
• Mistakes That Blow Up Your Food Budget

Understanding Your Per-Person Food Cost

If you’re trying to pull off the cheapest way to feed 100 people, the most important number to know is your per-person cost. Every decision—menu, service style, even plates—impacts this. So let’s break it down.

Start by looking at averages. Professional caterers in the U.S. usually charge between $20 and $70 per guest for a decent meal service. That includes everything: food, staff, rentals, even taxes. But, if you go buffet-style, skip the staffed service, or self-cater, you can slice that number way down—sometimes to $5–$10 per person, and yes, that includes sides and a basic dessert.

Before you do anything else, figure out your total food budget. Just multiply your max-per-guest spend by 100—if you have $600 to work with, that’s $6 per head. Make sure to leave wiggle room for drinks, utensils, and extras you might forget (think: condiments, ice, and disposable plates).

• For ultra-cheap meals, plan on 4–5 ounces of protein, 1 cup of main starch (like rice or pasta), and 1–2 simple sides per guest. Don’t go overboard—most guests eat less than you’d expect at big events!
• Be realistic about portions. Overestimating means wasted food and money, underestimating means hangry guests. Use online catering calculators or ask a local chef for advice—they know how much people really eat.

Here’s a side-by-side of average per-person food cost options for weddings:

You can really see how planning, and maybe a little extra work, pays off in giant cost savings. Lock in your food budget before you decide on the menu, or it’ll run away from you fast.

DIY vs. Professional Catering

Here’s where people start stressing: Do you roll up your sleeves and cook, or hand everything over to the pros? Both options have their perks and pitfalls, especially when the goal is to nail the cheapest way to feed 100 people for your wedding.

Professional catering feels less risky. You get experienced staff, supplies (like chafers and serving utensils), and way less panic. On average, a full-service caterer charges $25–$75 per person. Do the quick math—that’s $2,500 to $7,500 for 100 guests! Any menu changes, extra staff, or fancier rentals can bump that up, and gratuity is often not included. The real upside? You get to enjoy your day, not sweat behind the buffet.

DIY catering is how a lot of couples cut costs, but it’s more work than most people realize. If you cook everything yourself, you’ll easily spend $5–$15 per person, especially if you stick to crowd-pleasers like pasta, tacos, or pulled pork. Besides food costs, you need to factor in things like renting equipment, finding enough coolers for storage, and, most importantly, lining up friends or family to help prep, serve, and clean. People often forget that serving hot food safely to 100 people is no small feat.

Check out a side-by-side:

Some couples do a hybrid. They might handle sides or desserts (think self-serve salad and cookie bar), then hire a caterer for the main course. And not every DIY route means full-on cooking. Bulk meals from local restaurants, like Italian or BBQ joints, come ready to serve and often cost less than traditional caterers. Just be sure to ask: are plates and cutlery included? Do you need to return any equipment?

Bottom line? You really can save big with DIY—if you have reliable help, realistic timeline, and keep the menu simple. If not, paying for a pro may be worth the splurge for peace of mind—and a real chance to enjoy your own wedding.

Budget-Friendly Menu Ideas That Actually Work

When you’re wondering about the cheapest way to feed 100 people, simple food wins, hands down. Forget fancy multi-course meals—big batch recipes and comfort food staples keep costs low and guests happy.

A couple of caterers I talked to swear by pasta bars. Why? Pasta is crazy cheap in bulk (about $1 per dry pound), cooks fast, and most people like it. Offer two sauces—maybe a classic marinara (canned tomatoes are your friend) and a creamy alfredo, plus some roasted veggies or grilled chicken if you have wiggle room. Toss in garlic bread and a big green salad, and you’ve just fed a crowd for under $3 a head.

Don’t overlook breakfast-for-dinner, too—scrambled eggs, pancakes, and breakfast sausage make a filling meal that, according to 2024 USDA food price data, averages just $2–$3 per person when you buy in bulk.

Here are some real-world tips to boost your food's impact without blowing the budget:

• Menu planning: One or two main dishes, two sides, and a simple dessert are enough. Skip appetizers—they add extra cost rarely anyone remembers.
• Skip pricey proteins: Chicken thighs, pork shoulder, and beans go way further than steak or shrimp.
• Bulk up with starches: Rice, potatoes, and bread fill plates super cheap. Pair with strong flavors—think garlic or herbs—to keep things interesting.
• Serve buffet-style: Guests take what they want, waste less, and you avoid extra staffing fees.

The bottom line: go for meals that stretch, taste great even after sitting out, and don’t require expensive ingredients. The crowd will eat well, and you’ll save a ton compared to standard catering packages.

Bulk Buying and Smart Shopping Tips

If you’re trying to figure out the cheapest way to feed 100 people, bulk buying is going to be your best friend. You can slash your food costs by shopping at wholesale stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, or Restaurant Depot. Even Walmart's bulk section or a local cash-and-carry supplier can surprise you with deals.

When buying for a crowd, go for foods that are easy to portion and have little waste. For example, dried pasta, rice, canned beans, and frozen veggies keep things simple. Bulk packs of chicken or pork shoulder are usually way cheaper per pound than pre-cooked or pre-sliced options.

• Check unit prices: That giant bag of shredded cheese might look expensive, but per pound, it’s usually half the price of small bags from the regular grocery store.
• Pre-order ahead: Some places let you order trays of food (like deli meats, rolls, or veggies) for pickup or delivery, which can save you hours in prep.
• Don’t ignore store-brand products: Most taste the same as name-brands and cost less, especially for basics like bread, chips, and condiments.

Timing matters, too. Hitting the stores midweek or first thing in the morning gets you the best pick of what’s fresh and fully stocked. If you’re buying produce, ask the manager about discounts on bulk cases or slightly imperfect items—most guests won’t notice wonky carrots in a stew or salad.

Want hard numbers? Here’s what you’ll roughly pay for bulk staples in 2025 at a wholesale store:

Just one last tip: always have a list and stick to it. Browsing kills your budget way faster than you’d think. Whip out your phone calculator, plan meals by portion, and double-check you’re grabbing what you really need—no extras for ‘maybe’ recipes.

Time-Saving Hacks for Large-Scale Events

You’ve got 100 mouths to feed and only so much time before the hangry crowd starts looking for snacks. Saving time isn’t about working faster—it’s about planning smarter. The easiest way to avoid panic? Start your prep days before the big event. Chop veggies, marinate proteins, and pre-cook what you can so you’re not swamped the day of the wedding.

One eye-opener: renting food warmers and big slow cookers from party supply places is often cheaper than hiring extra serving staff. These gadgets do the heavy lifting by keeping large portions of food hot and safe for hours. If you’re making things like pulled pork or pasta, toss them in slow cookers and relax—they’re not going anywhere.

Set up your serving area like a buffet line, not a sit-down dinner. Buffets are quick to move through and way less work for you. “With buffet-style, you can serve everyone in half the time and cut down on the need for servers,” says Nancy Peterson, head of menu planning at Feed a Crowd Events. She adds,

"For weddings over 50 guests, anything but buffet service is asking for chaos unless you’re paying top dollar for staff."

If you’re short on kitchen space, turn to your network. Friends and family are usually happy to help in exchange for being off the hook for a wedding gift—just make a list of tasks so people know exactly what to do. Think: dishwashing, stirring a pot, or even just texting reminders. Don’t underestimate the power of clear delegation.

• Assemble food stations for things like taco bars or baked potato bars—guests help themselves, and you skip plating everything.
• Buy pre-chopped ingredients if you’re really tight on time; they cost a little more, but the hours saved are worth it.
• Stock up on disposable trays and serving utensils. Cleanup becomes a breeze, and you don’t risk anything breaking.
• Write out your timeline. Prep, cook, set up, and serve—schedule everything down to the half-hour on event day.

When it comes to the cheapest way to feed 100 people, time is money too. So making it efficient saves both your sanity and your wallet.

Mistakes That Blow Up Your Food Budget

If you want the cheapest way to feed 100 people, you’ve got to avoid classic budget-busters. People wreck their wallets on food all the time, but it’s usually the same handful of slip-ups—totally preventable if you know where to look.

• Trying to make everyone happy. It’s tempting to offer six mains, tons of sides, and endless dessert options. But every extra dish means more money, more food waste, and a much bigger headache. Two entrée choices and a couple of sides are more than enough for most weddings.
• Ignoring serving sizes. Don’t eyeball portions for a crowd. Use real calculators online (like those from established caterers or the USDA food charts) to figure out exactly how much you need per person. Overestimating leads straight to wasted food and wasted money.
• Going for fancy presentation. Rent those gold-trimmed plates and watch your costs soar. Pretty serving trays, fancy rentals, and real glassware add hundreds to a big event. You don’t need them. Stick to sturdy disposables or borrow platters from friends and family for free.
• Poor timing on food shopping. Last-minute grocery runs force you to pay full price. Bulk stores like Costco or warehouse suppliers usually need advance ordering for big parties, especially if you want the good deals. Check flyers a month out and lock in sales.
• Hiring service staff you don’t need. Buffet and self-serve setups mean you can cut servers or bartenders—even just having a friend refill water jugs saves on service costs. Caterers charge $20–$40 per hour per staff member. That adds up quickly if you’re not careful.
• Hidden costs with food trucks or trendy catering. That Instagram-worthy taco truck isn’t all-inclusive—lots of mobile caterers charge extra for plates, napkins, or keeping food fresh for hours. Always ask for itemized quotes up front.

Check out this breakdown of common wedding food cost drivers:

Sticking to a plan, simplifying your menu, and checking every line of your catering contract can save thousands. If you have questions about how much food you need, most bulk stores or restaurant suppliers will tell you exactly what to order for your guest count. Don’t be shy about asking.