This might be a thought, it's something hubby and I have about twice a month. French bread pizzas. Could be made ahead of time and frozen. All sorts of different combinations can be made. The shapes would also allow for many to go in the oven at the same time and small enough that the cooking could be continuous avoiding the need for keeping things warms. Try some out for yourselves, test the different combinations of food and freeze them uncooked. 50 people would make this pretty easy.

I love low-budget weddings! They can be so unique and creative. How about a make-your-own grilled pizza bar? You could put out dough (shaped or not) sauces and toppings and let everyone have fun and grill their own. I've never done this, but I'll bet you could cook the pizza on the gas griddles if you had no regular grills, although you might want to partially pre-bake the individual doughs ahead; that might make everything easier anyway.

Sounds like fun! And doable. Like Linda i've done it as well...for more than 50.

She spelled out the process and details...similar to my method.

Do a trial run for fun with your daughter if possible. Decide what different toppings she would like to serve and make a listed plan. It is a great do-ahead party food. Pre-made dough from a pizza place or store bought. Maybe trial three and pre-bake, then freeze the day before. Prep your toppings ahead as well and have ready in containers. A trial run will let you see and calculate how much of everything you need. Heavy freezer zip-locks work well for ingredients as they flat-pack nicely in the fridge.

I have a ton of the aluminum pizza pans but four should be fine. And i have four of the Ikea 20inch cutting boards...10 dollars. I use a big chef knife for cutting but i also have a couple good wheels so others can cut as i usually head the assembly line and oven. Pre-baking does give a head start....i only did a bit more than half as, as Linda pointed out, once the first 1/2 dozen are out, the production slows down a bit. Usually someone likes to get involved and wants to attempt to toss and form some crusts. (i did not have a ton of freezer space back then).

I only bake two at a time...using the two middle positions for the racks....start the first on the lower middle 5min, move to the top to bubble, and add the second below, take out the first, move the bottom one up, while prepping the next....

Every oven is different, even set at 500...with heat escape and shifting, mine take 10-12min.

I overdo the topping varieties as everyone here likes it. But i start with a couple simple ones, just sauce and cheese, then one with a meat, then the vegetarian, then get fancy and see how it goes. Some kids like it simple.

I also make printed cardstock labels folded like a tent so the veg and the others are on the correct serving board.

And I get a small pack of gluten-free tortillas and the big 12inch flour tortillas for the 'adult' thin crust i make.

My cuisinart is small but has a side shoot attachment that goes right into a bowl on the side....it just has a grate and a slicer disc but that does me fine.

Another quick easy snack...a popcorn bar. Made ahead with sides of a butter warmer and bowls of parm, a spicy mix, and a sweet cinnamon one, (yuck, but kids like it)...i have a stack of those folded popcorn boxes but have used brown paper sandwich bags with the top folded a bit...(that was a barn setting and we printed the wedding couples design on them). cute and cheap.

My only thought on this is it is your daughter's wedding. I think you are going to want to enjoy it, not back in the kitchen the whole time. If you have volunteers to bake the pizzas I think it sounds like fun; my kind of wedding. However, if the pizza baking will be up to you, make it simple so you can share in the memories.

Everyone, thank you! What terrific ideas and experiences and creativity! And quite frankly, I will even hire folks to help if need be so I can enjoy! You are all wonderful.

Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! , "That's Amore".

Don't forget to play this in the party.

"(In Napoli where love is king
When boy meets girl here's what they say)

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore
When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella

dcarch

Oh, yes, yes and yes on the song!

I also like low budget weddings, they seem much more personal than the catered affairs where everything is like the last wedding, from the food to the decorations.

Elery and I did the food for both of my daughter's and my stepson and the three were married within a year's time. Definitely hire help and do as much prep ahead of time as you can.

We have taken to having pizza at the family Christmas party, and there are anywhere from 25 to 40 people at those. Pre-baking the crust is a good idea and does speed things up, and I always make one just cheese and one pepperoni and cheese before I start adding toppings, but I have children that attend, so it depends on your guest list.

Even the old cheap electric stove at the Townhall will bake two pizzas in the middle racks, and I have half sheet pans from Sam's Club, 2 of them cost less than $10, and they fit in nicely, so you could turn out at least two pizzas at a time. The griddles might be a nice way to keep them warm, though, until you have enough to start serving everyone.

Congratulations to the bride and groom and family. Have fun! Oh, and post pictures!

Annie

It sounds wonderful. I hope you have a fabulous day!