Over the last 10 years, food trucks have become mainstays in the downtown dining scenes of major cities like Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York. More recently, they’ve begun showing up at weddings and other events that used to be reserved for more traditional catering services. In fact, food trucks are quickly becoming one of the main go-to sources for food at weddings. Here are a few reasons why you may want to incorporate a food truck into your Big Day...Reduce Your Budget
Weddings are expensive. The typical wedding in the USA costs about $25,000. Hiring a traditional catering service to provide food at a wedding can cost thousands of dollars. With the average cost falling somewhere between $20 and $40 per person, traditional services can seem out of reach for many young couples. A food truck, however, can cost significantly less, with most hovering near the $10 per person range. Because food trucks bring the kitchen to the wedding, the food offered is often times a lot fresher than food that was prepared elsewhere. There also isn’t nearly as much cleanup needed as there is with a traditional sit-down meal, and the amount of food that goes to waste is nearly non-existent.
Enhance the Menu Options
Unlike traditional catering services, food trucks will often offer a more specialized menu. Each truck typically has a theme (Mexican food, sea food, Thai food, etc.) and only offers food that fits within their theme. If you’re seeking a variety of food for your wedding, the best method is to reserve several trucks that offer different kinds of food, but this practice is only recommended for weddings larger than 200 people. Another wonderful benefit to food truck catering is that they offer your guests the ability to order something that fits their mood. Plus, they’re able to order larger or smaller portions depending on how hungry they are or what they feel like. This will help cut down on food waste, which is a big plus when you’re footing the bill!
More Things to Consider
When deciding whether or not a food truck is the right option for your wedding, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. The first is weather. By nature, a food truck will provide service to an outdoors location, and although summer may seem like the ideal time to host a food truck wedding, it could also result in guests having to stand in line under a hot summer sun. When planning to hire a food truck, make sure accommodations are made in advance so that guests remain out of the sun while waiting in line. You may need to discuss additional concerns with the venue coordinator, like a paved surface for the truck to park as well as electrical, water and sewer hookups for the truck’s kitchen. If you’re planning on having a lot of guests attend your wedding, you’ll want to be sure you hire enough trucks. A general rule of thumb that I’d suggest is one truck for every 70-80 people. Food trucks are usually pretty quick with the service and are able to serve a lot of people in a short amount of time, but this will ensure that all your guests get fed quickly. You’ll also want to consider how your guests will feel. Is your food choice the right choice for the guests you’ve invited? Are your guests expecting a traditional sit-down meal with a set start time? Does the theme of the truck fit within the weddings theme, or does it detract from the wedding? By considering these issues in advance, you can save yourself a lot of last-minute stress.
My Final Thoughts
Although there is no “one-size-fits-all” option for every wedding, a food truck certainly offers a good alternative to the traditional catered meal. This will free up funds to do something fun like go on an extended honeymoon and it’ll give your guests the opportunity to experience something truly unique and memorable at your wedding!
--Trisha Jefford has worked a variety of jobs across the food service industry, from waiting tables to being a personal chef. Trisha currently produces food-related content for EZ Cater, a site that specializes in finding local catering or the perfect corporate caterer.[Photos via We Heart It]
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