okay- is this tacky for a wedding- a "potluck"?

Question

okay- we are young- im 21 and he is 26- we have a baby, is it tacky to have a wedding on the beach- and reception at a park with everyone bringing pot luvk (although some people are traveling 5 hours)

Answer 1

Providing and paying for the food and drink is the responsibility of the hosts, not the guests. Also, people travelling will not be able to travel with food!

Try to get boxed sandwich lunches from your local deli or upscale supermarket, for all the guests. You have to feed them something, but it does not have to be fancy, especially on the beach!

Answer 2

Beach wedding - great idea. Potluck reception - extremely impractical for the guests and not a good idea. The people who are traveling 5 hours to be there might not show up for a pot luck because they will feel they have no way of contributing something. Chances are, wherever they are staying won't have facilities they can cook in when they get here and no one really likes traveling long distances with food sitting on their laps.

It sounds like you have a definite budget so my suggestion is, still have it in the park, or someone's back yard but order trays of food from a local grocery store or order food to be delivered (i.e. KFC, Pizza, maybe Chinese)

Answer 3

Honestly, my first response was if you have to ask this the question then youu already know the answer. Although, I started thinking a little more and thought I guess you are just getting married to get married? not because you have the money to do it- and there have been all kinds of weddings in the history of time. I think you need to put yourself in the place of your guests, would you be able to afford a gift plus have the time to drive 5 hours and make something for a potluck. Maybe you and your fiance just need to plan this out a little better. Besides, why are you rushing in to getting married if you already had the baby out of wed-lock, that can't be it. I'm sure whatever you decide everything will workout, just keep everything simple. You will remember this day for the rest of your life so, relax and have fun, regardless of how you go about the food :-)

Answer 4

Good idea for the beach but a very very tacky idea for pot luck. I would be insulted that I would have to not only bring a gift but my own food also. These people are making an effort to be a GUEST at your wedding you should treat them like one. My only suggestion is that your mom or his mom make the food. If you don't have the money. Or find someone who belongs to costco (or go and get a one day membership) and buy some food there. There is tons of pre made food and it will be cost effective. You can at least afford the 200 dollars that it will cost to feed your guests. Otherwise don't have them.

Answer 5

I've been to one potluck wedding and it was a disaster, they are tacky and many people don't bring food so you run out. If you want to save money, ask specific family members and friends to bring a different dish for a set amount of people. Try to ask people who don't have to travel as far. Offer to pay for the groceries if they give you the receipt. (Most people don't ask for reimbursement) Just because you are on a budget, it doesn't mean you can't have a nice meal, but you have to be more organized than "potluck" because that can turn disasterous.

Answer 6

why not? i assume this is only family and friends, so if you can pull it off, great. go for it. these people traveling five hours might be a problem, but nothing that can't be worked out. this is a very unconventional treatment in modern america. you sound like the sort who probably won't even buy a $2ooo gown and no tux rental. this is sounding better all the time. pay no attention to those above who think it's tacky. remember this is YOUR wedding, not theirs. i might suggest that you provide a main course kinda thing. i mean get out the barbeque and buy a case of ribs. or since it's the beach....crabs, shellfish, etc. (bride and groom should not do the cooking tho').

o yeh congratulations, have a lotta fun

Answer 7

A potluck would not normally be tacky for a beach wedding. It will be very difficult for the people traveling for 5 hours though. Try and see if the local people (friends and family) could handle the potluck part of it.

Answer 8

I personally don't think it is wrong. If I get married again that is what I will do.
As long as your family & and friends are cool with it, I say go for it.

We are in a world where there aren't so many "rules" of that to do and what not to do. There might be some sobs who think we all need to do things a certian way.

But I have a feeling that you are cool with this, your firends and family will be too.

The people traveling 5 hours ....ask them to bring a pack of paper plates or some bottles of soda. Have a game plan of what to do if somone doesn't like the idea.

Best wishes for a happy ever after!

Answer 9

For a family reunion its not at all tacky. For a wedding a little on the tacky side if you let EVERYONE know its pot luck. Your closest friends and family should help provide food if you want to do it that way. Guests you are inviting should not have to bring food for everyone at the recpetion, a gift is optional but that is for the bride and groom only. Its ok if family has agreed to help supply the food pot luck style but its very tacky to inform guests they will need to bring a food item. Its not PTA meeting or a soccer mom get together.

Answer 10

Potluck is an awful idea. DO NOT DO THIS!! A cheap way to go is to set your wedding in the afternoon after lunch and way before dinner. Just have some appetizers and it will be fine. No one will expect a meal if it is timed correctly or have a desert reception and have like different cakes, pies,etc.