How many hor'dourves do I need for about 70 people?

Question

I'm not having dinner, just the hor'dourves!

About how much will we need for 70 people?

My wedding isn't for while, but we are trying to figure out how much money we need to set back towards the food.

Thank you!

My venue only lets you use their food, and they have punch(how many gallons will we need)?, sweet tea, coffee, cheese ball, finger sandwiches, mini-kabobs, topped crackers, fruit&cheese tray, chicken fingers, meatballs, cocktail sausages, garlic shrimp crostini, and possibly some cocktail shrimp.

Those are the items we are going to get, so how many of each do we need?

I have a general idea, but everyone eats different when they go to weddings, like me I hardly eat anything if it's in the afternoon, just cake and maybe one or two hor'dourves.

I haven't decided on a time as of yet, but either way I'll be sure to make it clear that we are only having hor'dourves!!

Again, Thank you!!!

Answer 1

You listed about 10 different appetizers.  The rule of thumb is to have about 2-3 pieces per guest for each appetizer.   So, you'd need 210 meatballs (70x3).  However, I would really say you'd need 4 pieces per guest for each appetizers.   It's better to have more than to run out.  How embarrassing if you don't have enough.

Overall, you should estimate about 30 appetizers per person.  That seems like a lot, but remember meatballs, chicken fingers, crackers, fruit, cheese balls and cocktail sausages are little.  So, they will eat more of those.   I could see someone eating 5 meatballs easily, 5 cheese balls and 6 crackers easily.

Answer 2

I eat mostly vegetarian. We are use to having limited choices. Unless he/she is vegan, they can eat the cheese balls and from the fruit & cheese tray.

Answer 3

For a appetizer only reception i would guess between 10-15 peices per person. alot of it seems like it will be in stations, not passed which will make it easier. When in doubt get a little extra so people dont go hungry.

As for teh vegitarian you have some non meat selections, cheese, fruit but you may want to think of replacing on item with a veggie option, meat eaters like veggies too!

Answer 4

If you are serving near a meal time, 8-14. If serving during an off time, 8-10 should be enough per guest.  If you ask 10 people what you need, you will get 10 different answers!

AS far as vegetarian, I would make certain that there is a fruit and cheese tray as well as a vegetable tray. If you had a group of special food people, then it would make sense to try to get something that will specifically address their needs.  For instance, I will be having 6 orthodox Jews, so I need to accommodate that (no dairy/meet items together and a kosher wine).

Answer 5

I've always heard you need 6-8 per person attending. i think less if you are having a lot of courses in your meal.

Answer 6

from www.atasteful-affair.com

How many hors d'oeuvres should be provided per person?

The number of hors d'oeuvres you need often depends on how long the cocktail "hour" is, the time of day, and if a meal will also be served following the cocktail hour.

For a two hour party plan for:

w 10 -12 bites per person

w 20 bites per person if the hors d’oeuvres replace dinner (e.g. party starts at 7:00 pm)

When hors d’oeuvres are served before a meal plan for:

w 5-7 bites when served before a light meal

w 3-4 bites when served before a full dinner meal

People eat more during the first 90 minutes. After two hours consumption picks up again, especially if hors d’oeuvres replace dinner.

Young people eat more than an older crowd and guests eat more at casual parties than formal functions.

How many different kinds of hors d'oeuvres should be served for an hors d’oeuvre only party?

For 25 guests plan for 5-6 different kinds of hors d'oeuvres

For 25-50 guests, plan for 9-10 different kinds of hors d'oeuvres

For more than 50 guests, plan for 10 or more different kinds of hors d'oeuvres

If hors d’oeuvres take the place of dinner, include some substantial meal type foods that can be served like hors d'oeuvres (for example a carving station).

Remember to provide a variety of foods to please everyone. That means something for the vegetarian as well as the meat eater. Having both hot and cold foods also helps to keep everyone nibbling happily.

If hors d’oeuvres take the place of dinner, also include several bites of sweets per person.

How do you figure how many of each type of hors d'oeuvres to prepare?

A fairly standard formula is used by caterers to figure out how many pieces should be prepared for each kind of hors d'oeuvres being served:

Number of bites desired per person times the number of guests divided by the number of different hors d'oeuvres being served.

Should hors d’oeuvres be served for breakfast or lunch?

Hors d’oeuvres are not needed for breakfast or brunch. However, 2-4 light hors d'oeuvres can be served per person for lunch, if desired.



Beverage Planning

The amount of punch or number of cocktails or beers a guest will drink varies. Allow for the length of the party, the strength of the beverage, the day of the week, the rowdiness of the crowd, or lack thereof, and adjust your figure accordingly. The rules-of-thumb are:

Cocktails: Figure that your guests will consume 2 drinks per person per hour for the first 2 hours and 1 drink per person per hour after that. If you have the budget and inclination, you can stock a full bar. However, a more budget conscious idea is to offer a selection of cocktails that can be made from one or two primary types of liquor. To limit the choices of hard liquor, select vodka because it can be mixed with so many things. If your budget allows, add favorites such as scotch, rye, rum, tequila and one or more sweet drinks such as Amaretto, Frangelico or peach schnapps. Each 750-mil bottle of liquor contains 16 1.5 ounce shots.

Mixers: If you are serving cocktails, don’t forget mixers such as club soda, lime juice and other fruit juices, tonic water, and non-alcoholic beer. Buy them in small bottles so that unopened containers may be used in future.

Beer: Stock 5 six-packs of beer for ten people, based on a twelve-ounce serving.

Wine: Allow roughly half a bottle of wine per guest. The true number of bottles required will also depend upon whether your guests are heavy wine drinkers, or if there is a greater proportion of drivers attending. You should get roughly 5 servings per bottle. Fill glasses 2/3 of the way. White wine (Chablis or Chardonnay) used to be more popular, but lately more people are choosing a red wine (Merlot or Cabernet). On the other hand, if you want to "split the difference," serve a white zinfandel or rosé.

Soft Drinks: If your guests will be dancing the night away make sure you provide plenty of soft drinks to quench their thirst. Providing iced tea, punch or lemonade may cut down on the amount of alcohol drunk, as guests who are thirsty from dancing prefer a refreshing soft drink to a dehydrating alcoholic one. There are about ten 8-ounce glasses of soda in a 2-liter bottle.

Punch: Figure 10 people to the gallon. That's a conservative estimate, assuming your guests will drink about three 4-ounce servings during the party. To avoid youngsters "accidentally" dipping into the "spiked" punch bowl, choose recipes that are two different colors and use see-through drinking glasses. This will tell you at a glance whether you need to make a substitution.

Coffee: Plan on an average of 1 1/2 cups of coffee per person (don't forget the sugar and cream)