What time "wedding" are you required to serve a meal at the reception?? In other words at a 3:00 p.m. wedding is a meal required?
2006-11-30 22:05:15 · 14 answers · asked by GFCLAW 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
If the wedding is at 3pm, then usually it takes about an hour for photos and for everybody to get to the reception location. Then you give everybody some time to settle in and mingle a bit. You could serve a meal at about 5pm if you like. It is entirely up to you. BUT on the same note, you must have some sort of food available. Maybe you could just do finger foods, if you don't want to do a whole meal. In regards to the time, personally I would make the ceremony a little later, especially if it is in Summer it would be really hot at that time of day.
2006-11-30 22:22:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
First - a meal is part of the reception - and a reception is NOT required. Yes, you can have a wedding without a reception and NO that is not rude. I have heard some people say that it is rude to invite people to a wedding without a reception because it seems like you just want gifts - but by traditionally wedding ettiquette - a wedding invitation DOES NOT require or imply that a gift is expected.
The reception itself was traditionally put on by family - in honor of the bride and groom to celebrate the ceremony, and was never a required part of the experience.
If you are having a reception, ettiquette dictates that you should provide some form of refreshments - the actually menu depends on the time of day. If the reception takes place from 11-2, lunch menu, 2-5 you can do fruit platters, desserts, punch, 5-7 you should serve a dinner, after 7 you can serve desserts and finger foods, punch, drinks, etc.
SO - for a 3 o'clock wedding - it depends on the time of the reception. If your wedding is only starting at 3, your reception will probably run into a supper time and should have a meal. If you were to get married at 1pm instead, you could have a simple cake/punch reception following and be done before supper time.
2006-12-01 16:43:13 · answer #2 · answered by Chrys 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You have to think of both the time of the wedding AND time of the reception-- that block of time altogether, plus people's likely travel time beforehand.
The only times you don't have to serve a meal is when wedding and reception are between 1-5 (everything over by 5 so they can go home for dinner-- for this afternoon reception it can be just cheese and crackers, or just wine and cheese and fruit platter, or just cake and punch, or other smaller finger foods-- more of a snack than a meal) and when wedding starts at like 8 p.m. you can have a late night dessert reception, becuase people will have eaten dinner before hand (obviously, invite no kids for a late night occasion like that).
Indicate on your invitations the type of reception so people understand not to expect a meal. Something like one of these phrases:
Dessert reception at nine o'clock in the evening
Vanquzzi's Restaurant
Cake and punch reception at three o'clock
Saint Stephen's Church Hall
Wine-and-cheese reception at four o'clock
The Mallory Family Home
We are planning a 1:30 wedding with a 2:30 reception of finger foods, cake, and punch.
2006-12-02 13:55:32 · answer #3 · answered by Etiquette Gal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the reception is at 3:00 and you don't plan on having a dance for long, you could do an appetizer section and no meal... but if you plan to have a long dance after the reception , then you need to feed your guest..... NO room for cheapness in a wedding.
2006-12-01 04:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes...and no.
If you plan on having a long reception (3 or more hours), then a full meal is required for that reception. Really, a full meal is required even if you started much later or earlier.
But if you want a short recpetion (1 hour), then all you need to serve is alcohol, cake, and hordourves. Let guests mingle around for a bit before they leave.
2006-12-01 03:08:29 · answer #5 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the wedding is at 3, so i am guessing the reception is around 4??? that is getting close to eating time. if you are not going to have a full meal you should have a ton of apps for people to gnawl on. people will get hungry and it the reception is 3 hours they will want something.
i would advise that you have a meal.
2006-12-01 01:50:07 · answer #6 · answered by Jenn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES!!! Or you have to let people know that you are Not serving a meal. 1. the gift is suppose to pay for the reception meal and it would be pretty rude to take peoples gifts and not feed them. 2. People will be hungry and excepting a meal.
3. IT"S TACKY NOT TO HAVE A MEAL.
Why even have a wedding if you can't afford to feed people?? it's like having a birthday party and you don't want to give them cake or punch cause your too cheap?? Just elope!!
2006-12-01 01:45:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A meal is never required. But expected. You have many choices of what to serve. Buffet with hors-d oeuvres and drinks. Maybe assortment of salads. Cake and drinks. or a meal served by waiters or they can go thru the Buffet to pick and choose what is being served.A lot depends on your Budject. And how formal your Wedding is going to be. When in doubt check it out. That is what you should pay a Wedding Planner for. The cost is worth your while.
2006-11-30 22:55:27 · answer #8 · answered by sassykat944 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, you are not obligated to serve a meal. You could just have a cake reception for your guests. That way you're still offering something to your guests without spending big bucks on a full buffet or sit-down dinner. Just make sure you let your guests know ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.
2006-12-01 02:44:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you are not obligated to serve a meal, but whats the point of a reception if you arent serving food? Regardless of the time of day a meal is usually expected by the guests.
2006-12-01 03:24:22 · answer #10 · answered by GrnEyedBandita 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋