What Experts Want You to Know *Before* You DIY Your Wedding Food

The wedding planning process can come with major sticker shock. Everything costs more than you expect, and you're in good company if that leads you to start looking for places to cut expenses. DIY wedding food might be one of the suggestions that comes up, but is that a good idea?

Whether you're a foodie who has incredible wedding food ideas that you want to try to execute yourself or you're not a foodie and would rather spend your money elsewhere, do-it-yourself wedding food might seem doable. Also, who hasn't had their grandmother tell them, "Back in my day, we came together the day before the wedding to cook the entire meal and bake the cake ourselves"?

But cooking for a group, whether it's a guest list of 20 or 200, is a different animal than making dinner at home. From navigating quantities to keeping food warm for an extended period of time to avoiding kicking off your marriage with a food poisoning outbreak from the worst wedding food of all time, the DIY food game is more complicated than it might seem.

Luckily, we asked the experts for all the details on what you should consider before you decide to DIY your own wedding food and whether there's anything that's easier to DIY than the main meal. Three wedding planning veterans shared their insights, which can save you money and help you avoid serving a burnt chicken dish at your celebration.

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And if you decide to hire a caterer to handle your wedding food and are wondering how to find a caterer that's within budget? Use The Knot Budget Tool to get an idea of the average wedding catering cost in your area. Then, turn to The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find local vendors at all price points. You can even filter by average cost, looking for vendors that are on the more affordable end.

In this article:

• Is It Cheaper to Make Your Own Food for a Wedding?
• Why You Should Consider Not DIYing Your Wedding Food
• DIY Wedding Food Ideas for Pre-wedding Events

Is It Cheaper to Make Your Own Food for a Wedding?

Is it cheaper to make your own food for your wedding? Yes, if you consider only the cost of food. The ingredients themselves are always going to be less expensive than hiring someone else to make and serve the food, but that doesn't mean it's cheaper when you consider everything else that goes into catering. There's time, energy and, of course, the expertise that all drives up the cost of a caterer and, as they say, time is money.

"DIYing food for a wedding may seem like a cost-effective idea, but it's usually not advisable," says Chelyse Harp, owner of Intrigue Design + Events based in Charleston, South Carolina. "Preparing food for a large group requires professional-level experience and equipment, not to mention the hours of work it demands in the days leading up to the event."

Danielle Rothweiler, owner and lead planner at Rothweiler Event Design in Verona, New Jersey, explains that cooking for a small wedding is different than cooking for a large holiday meal, and it's that false confidence that comes from previous hosting that can mislead a couple. "Couples should never DIY their own food because, like with all wedding-related things, they don't know what they don't know."

There's also the cost of the supplies necessary to cook for a group—this quickly adds up and, often, couples don't account for it in their initial budgeting. A typical at-home oven is not equipped to handle cooking at scale, and keeping the food warm and ready to serve is a skill that requires specialty equipment.

"Caterers and wedding planners will work together on all of the rentals that are needed, and those rentals extend past plates and glassware; I'm talking about ovens, chafing trays and everything that a professional caterer would know that they need," Rothweiler says.

Why You Should Consider Not DIYing Your Wedding Food

To make sure you don't fall victim to DIY wedding dos and don'ts, here's exactly why the experts say you should not try to DIY your wedding food.

You Don't Want to Handle Coordination and Logistics

Wedding planners, coordinators and caterers work closely together to execute the wedding meal, and they do it beautifully and seamlessly. You often won't even notice all the hustle and bustle happening behind the scenes—which is exactly why some couples might think it's easy to handle themselves. But there's so much that goes into the coordination and logistics of planning, plating, serving and cleaning up wedding food.

"Catering is an art form in itself—it's a fine dance where all the right moves have to come together for that perfect experience. A couple should be sitting back, looking out at the faces of their loved ones, not running back and forth to the kitchen to instruct when each dish should be served because it has to be eaten at a specific temperature," says Jumi Aluko, owner and lead wedding planner at DUNNI | Weddings + Events in Los Angeles.

Harp adds, "Couples taking on the task themselves would be sacrificing precious time better spent on finalizing details or enjoying family and friends."

You May Need a License to Serve Food and Alcohol

Commercial food preparation and alcohol service are both regulated, and caterers have specific licenses that allow them to prepare and serve food to groups. If you're cooking DIY wedding food for your family and friends, then you will probably have to be the one to serve it—another wedding day vendor can't step in.

As Rothweiler explains, she once had a couple hire a restaurant without wedding experience to cater their wedding. Her team tried to step in to help when the execution and service fell apart, but they couldn't even pour wine because they didn't have the license to do so.

Serving Food to a Large Group Is Complicated

From keeping the food warm to knowing how to plate it correctly to making sure everyone gets their meal at the same time, serving food to a large group requires skill and expertise that the average person does not have. Even a family-style wedding dinner comes with its fair share of complications, especially since someone has to be ready to refill dishes at all times.

"A professional catering company will provide staff to set the tables, serve the food, clear the tables and then break everything down at the end of the night," Rothweiler says. Find professionals by searching the catering section of The Knot Vendor Marketplace—filter by different cuisines and price points, including inexpensive and affordable.

Navigating Dietary Restrictions is Tricky

Do you have vegetarian guests? Guests with peanut or shellfish allergies? Unless you're well-versed in knowing exactly what's in every ingredient, this is an area you want to leave to the professionals.

"I once had a wedding where many guests had food allergies and dietary restrictions, and as someone with several allergies myself, I know it can be a serious liability. It's risky to promise guests that they'll have safe options if you DIY the food and don't know how to properly accommodate dietary needs, like those for nut, gluten or vegan restrictions," Aluko says.

One Wrong Move Can Be a Food Safety Disaster

Chicken served at the wrong temperature or fish left out too long can spell disaster quickly. A professional caterer knows exactly how to keep food safe to prevent your wedding from turning into a food poisoning outbreak—and that's a risk you definitely don't want hanging over your head while you're saying "I do."

DIY Wedding Food Ideas for Pre-wedding Events

Even though you shouldn't DIY your wedding day food, there are still wedding food ideas on a budget that you can implement during your wedding weekend to save money.

Set Up a Dessert Table

A dessert table is a classic wedding tradition in some regions, and you can set up one for everything from the wedding shower to the wedding day luncheon.

"For events like bridal showers, consider a DIY dessert table with a variety of treats like cupcakes, cookies or even a candy bar. You could bake items yourself or buy a mix of desserts to create a beautiful spread that's easy for guests to enjoy," Harp says.

Put Out a Grazing Board

If you or a family member or friend has a talent for putting together elaborate charcuterie or grazing boards, use one as the showstopper for a cocktail hour during your pre-wedding celebrations. Harp explains, "They're simple to prepare, visually stunning and can cater to a variety of tastes. Include cheeses, meats, fruits, crackers and spreads for an elegant spread guests can graze on throughout the event."

Try a Rehearsal Buffet

While you shouldn't try wedding buffet ideas on the big day, you can set up a buffet for the rehearsal or other pre-wedding events. For this DIY catering idea, Harp suggests a DIY taco bar, pasta bar or other budget-friendly meal that allows guests to customize their own meals. "These options are easy to prepare ahead and can accommodate dietary preferences with gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options," Harp says.