How Much Food Do You Need for a Wedding?

Catering quantities come down to per-person portions: a set amount of protein, sides, salad, and bread for each guest, plus appetizers scaled to how long the cocktail hour runs. Buffet and family-style service need a little more than plated, because guests serve themselves.

Standard portions per guest

Item	Per guest
Appetizers	~5 pieces per hour of cocktail hour
Main protein	6 oz plated · 8 oz buffet · 7 oz family style
Each side dish	~4 oz
Salad / greens	~2 oz
Dinner rolls	1–2

For 100 buffet guests that works out to roughly 50 lbs of protein, 25 lbs per side, 13 lbs of salad, about 150 rolls, and ~500 appetizer pieces for a one-hour cocktail hour. Set your own numbers for an exact quantity list and cost estimate:

Number of guests Service style BuffetPlated / servedFamily style Cocktail hour: 1 hr

Appetizer types Side dishes

Food for

100 guests

Estimated catering cost

$3,000–$5,500

$30–$55 per guest

Item	Amount
Appetizers ≈ 125 of each across 4 types	500 pieces
Main protein 8 oz per guest (buffet)	50 lbs
Side dishes 2 sides × 4 oz per guest	25 lbs each
Salad / greens	13 lbs
Dinner rolls	150 rolls

CSV PDF Print

Quantities use standard per-person portions and assume most guests eat a full meal. Add ~10% if you have a hungry crowd or teens. Cost is a national food-plus-service estimate.

Service style changes the math

• Buffet — most food, fewest staff. Guests take generous portions, so pad protein.
• Plated — controlled portions, less food waste, but more waitstaff and a higher per-head cost.
• Family style — platters shared per table; portions land between buffet and plated.

Rough cost per head

Including food and service, a buffet typically runs about $30–$55 per guest, plated $45–$75, and family style $40–$65. Bar, rentals, cake, and staffing gratuity are usually separate — the alcohol calculator and cake calculator cover those.