we both have large famiies and lots of friends and not a lot of money. we were thinking of a 5:30 wedding followed by pictures then appetizers, drinks and dancing. i don't want to rip everyone off of a meal but i want the important people in my life to be there.
2007-01-19 09:09:55 · 26 answers · asked by bnannners 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
We did basically the same thing. We rented out a restraunt that had great appetizers, so we had a small buffet area and then it had a large open area and we had a DJ come in and do music. We did start at 6:30 though so people would not be expecting dinner and we also stated in the invite that it would be sans dinner. We also got the place to let us buy a keg and serve it from their bar.
We had a very short ceremony in the place and then it was dancing and talking and it really turned out well, and we spent less than $2500.
2007-01-19 09:22:25 · answer #1 · answered by Rob M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to have a non-meal reception you need to schedule it (AND the wedding) at a non-meal time of day. Otherwise you are being a rude host by taking up people's meal time without serving a meal.
Try having a 2 p.m. wedding, followed by this finger food reception you are mentioning. That would be fine, as it would be between lunch and dinner. You could also just serve cake and punch, or just cake and champagne.
BTW, You don't call it "appetizers" if you are not serving a meal afterwards. You would call it finger foods or canapes or hors d'oevures (sp)....
Depending on the caterer you choose, you can sometimes serve a simple meal (non-meat pasta dish, or simpler types of sandwiches) for the same cost as hors d'oevures would be. Find out what your options are and what the money you have in your budget can actually buy for you.
2007-01-20 10:51:45 · answer #2 · answered by Etiquette Gal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is absolutely ok to just serve appetizers. My only suggestion would be to not have the reception take place at dinner time. Perhaps a 3pm wedding followed by appetizers and cocktails. OR if you really want it to take place in the evening, perhaps do the wedding at 6pm, and state in the invitation that an appetizer reception to follow, so people know to eat dinner beforehand.
It will be wonderful! Congrats to you!
2007-01-19 10:26:54 · answer #3 · answered by jaye 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Generally the dances, and throwing of the bouquet comes AFTER the meal, not before it. Depending on when you are serving the food, as in a buffet, your guests can already start to eat while you are taking the photos, and when you get there you have your meal. Are you not planning on having a long reception? You make it sound like you have to have everything done before 8 pm or something like that. Also, generally people know at evening weddings to have a snack before coming so that they aren't sitting during the wedding with grumbling tummies. If you aren't planning on a meal, you should include that in your invitations, "A Cocktail Reception Will be Following" something like that to indicate to the guests that a full meal will not be served.
2016-05-23 22:32:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is right at dinner time, so change the time and put down appetizers and cocktails served to let people know that they should not come hungry, but I would include finger foods, and if this is all your having...lots of them. I have put on serveral wedding for family and friends and kept the cost down by making much of the food ourselves and then hire someone to serve it buffet style, remember that you can make wonderful pasta salads that dont cost a lot of money and store well a day or so ahead, look at lots of different types of salads and finger foods that you and your large family can do yourself. You have a large family, let them help, it will make them feel important.
2007-01-19 10:15:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An evening wedding is less expensive, however a 530 wedding may have people expecting a meal. You could try going with a desserts and champagne wedding earlier in the day like around 2pm it's after lunch and the festivities could end around 6pm, that way people know they are on their own for dinner. You could also run with appetizers and dessert stations set up around the reception hall for a 7pm wedding. That way people have eaten dinner already and you supply the dessert and drinks and dancing into the night.
2007-01-19 09:15:10 · answer #6 · answered by MZOrr 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My fiance and I are having a cocktail style reception, which is going to be held at 8:00pm. We have servers (I hired five servers from my caterer) and they are going to hand pass the Hors D'oeuvres for about hour and half to two hours. Then place some hor d'oeuvres plated on a reception table so people can party and snack. We actually are having crab, shrimp, and angus beef served so the Hors D'oeuvres are going to be high class, but we aren't going to pay all the money for a sit down dinner.
We have large families too, but the time of day that you have your wedding really sets the tone for what people will expect. If you're having your reception at 5:30pm people are going to be hungry and probably didn't eat dinner because of the time of day. If you want that hor d' oeuvres style reception you need to change the time of day so a reception that ends at 6pm or starts around 8:00pm or so.
If cutting your guest list is not an option, in my case it's not, everyone knows about it. Then you are going to have to cut some corners and change up your reception time to make it work for you and not keep your guest hungry.
2007-01-19 19:53:38 · answer #7 · answered by Know_it_all 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with serving just cocktails and appetizers, but make sure you have a good variety and enough for everyone. You are not "ripping off" anyone. It's a wedding, not a restaurant.
2007-01-19 09:16:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No , it's not cheap, I mean you only have so much money to spend. But you are having it at the wrong time of day. If you are having a cocktail reception you must must do it at a non-meal time. Also, you really can't expect people to stick around more than 3 hours if your only serving appetizers.
2007-01-19 09:15:58 · answer #9 · answered by MelB 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will be MUCH cheaper, and is a great idea, but remember that it must be a lot shorter. You can expect people to stick around for a full-length reception without a meal. Plan on one or two hours for a reception, with people mingling around more than sitting. And on the invitation, be sure to put "A cocktail reception to follow" so they know not to come hungry!
And still have cake! There's an old quote that only two things are needed for a wedding...vows and cake. So true!
2007-01-19 09:15:29 · answer #10 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋