If you are trying to create your wedding on a budget, saving money on food is one of the biggest expenses you can trim to reign in your costs.

There are plenty of budget food ideas to save money on food without sacrificing style or leaving your guests hungry for more.

Get Married Early

Getting married during the day means you can avoid having to put on a sit down meal. You can cater for your guests with finger food, which could be homemade or sourced from your favourite sushi bar or restaurant. Get all your great aunts to make their best cob dips and lay out some fresh fruit and veggies with cheese. Alternatively serve a buffet breakfast or Devonshire tea at your morning reception and shave thousands off your food bill.

The Great Aussie BBQ

‘I hate BBQ food’ said no Australian, ever. If you’re going with a laid back wedding theme why not put Uncle BBQ King in charge of the cooking and serve your snags, steak, corn and haloumi with a range of fresh salads and crusty bread rolls.

Food Truck Catering

Gourmet food trucks are popping up everywhere and are an affordable catering option for your wedding. Either approach your local favourite or google food truck catering for a wide range of delicious ideas that will come to you.

You Ring, They Bring

Actually, there are no official wedding food rules. If you and your partner love pizza, then tee up the food with your favourite pizzeria. Or Yum Cha. Now we’re talking! That would be the wedding of the year! Most restaurants will be happy to supply platters of food for a wedding. It’s your wedding so serve food you love, and you could save big bucks.

Family and Friends

Are any of your friends or relatives culinary whizzes? Ask them if they would be interested in sharing their amazing skills as a wedding gift to you. Or get together with your family the day before and cook up a storm and serve it up buffet style like it’s Christmas lunch.

Save on Dessert

Have a cupcake display instead of a $400 wedding cake, or have the best cake maker in the family make one as a gift. If you have cupcakes, make double and use them as bombonerrie too. Candy bars are the latest craze for wedding desserts, create your own with glass vases filled with your favourite sweets.

Make sure your select a venue that allows you to provide some of your own food or to bring your own caterer, as some venues require that you use their suppliers or catering which could blow your budget!

Do you have any budget wedding food tips? Would you have take away food at your wedding?