The food for your wedding is likely to be your largest expense, so unsurprisingly it's often the first area couples look at when trying to trim costs. There are several budget catering options to consider and you can even prepare some of the food yourself, but if you really want to save on the catering it's probably best to forget a three-course dinner. Here are three cheaper alternatives that will still impress your guests:

Spit Roast

If you're having an outdoor wedding, a spit roast hog with all the trimmings is fun and relatively inexpensive. The spit roast catering company will supply the hog, roasting machine, a member of staff to carve the meat, buns, and sides.

Guests can help themselves to the meat and side dishes throughout the reception, so this option is ideal if you want a hearty meal and laidback atmosphere. If you have vegetarian guests, you could make or buy a nut roast to complement the side dishes.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is easy to prepare yourself or with the help of a few friends. It's ideal if you're having an afternoon reception and as it's served cold you don't need to worry about reheating facilities at your reception venue. Create a sophisticated spread with a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and a variety of teas. If there's room in your budget, hiring some bone china and bunting would create a real tea party atmosphere.

Finger Sandwich Suggestions:

• Chicken and basil pesto
• Brie, fig and walnut
• Poached trout with lemon and dill mayonnaise
• Roquefort, smoked salmon and capers
• Avocado, sprouted greens and salsa
• Roast beef and caramelised onion chutney

Sushi Buffet

Sushi really isn't difficult to make. You probably can't roll and slice it quite as fast as the professionals do, but you'll have plenty of fun trying and so will your guests. Simply provide platters of cooked fish and raw vegetables, sheets of nori seaweed, cooked sushi rice, soy dipping sauce, wasabi, rolling mats, and a few sharp knives, and let your guests have fun making their own meal.

You'll need to ensure your venue has fridges you can store the food in beforehand, and you should have a few large tables set up with the rolling mats and knives. If you want to add a little more substance, consider making a few large bowls of soba noodle salad and tempura vegetables for guests to help themselves to.

Whether you decide to hire a caterer like Victorian Golden Roast or make your own wedding food, these suggestions are sure to save you money when compared to a formal dinner. Keep the food simple, accept offers of help and don't forget to enjoy your big day.