Reception with food or reception with desserts?

Question

Our list of invitees is over 250 people. We are trying to keep the budget low. My Fiance says we have to feed them all. I read about having a later wedding like at 5pm and then giving those people time to eat on their own. Then having Dessert and drinks at the reception. That way we don't have to feed so many people. Have any Ideas?

Answer 1

My wedding is coming up in May and I actually considered doing the desert thing too. If you do, make sure to write "Desert served at reception" so people don't come hungry. Here are some things to think about...
Will there be alcohol? If you know you're family/friends will be drinking and partying, not having enough hardy food could be bad. They will get drunk faster without dinner, not wanted at a wedding.
How long will the reception be? Will there be dancing? If you want everyone to party for a while, they will get hungry. Let's say you have the ceremony at 6pm. They have to eat at about 5pm, or 4 to 4:30 if they are coming from out of town and have to go out to eat. By about 8 they will probably be hungry again. If you want everyone to be dancing til 10, that won't work!
What are you giving to them? People are coming from miles away and bringing nice gifts. They will expect to be fed and to not have to buy their own dinner after they bought the plane ticket.
The desert reception sounds pretty and elegant, but it won't work for most weddings, especially those with alcohol and dancing.
In the end, we decided to dinner (and desert). To save money, we are having a voluntary potluck. We didn't say anything about the potluck on the invitation because we didn't want to inconvenience anybody, but we asked people we know who live close. My fiance's mom has a lot of friends in the area who love to cook, and love my fiance. With them and my aunts' help, we are feeding everyone potluck style, but we only have 150 guests.
Whatever you decide will work out, and everyone will love it! Just make sure to not get yourself in debt =)

Answer 2

I, personally, like the idea of a late wedding and a dessert only reception. So many people have the traditional supper, and I think that if you were to make it dessert only it'd definitely stand out in people minds for a long time! If you do plan on going this route you could have your desserts, and perhaps a little champagne and some coffee. I wouldn't go for an open bar as that can be pretty expensive for how many people you have.

If you decide on going this route make sure to include “Cocktails and Dessert” or “Dessert and Coffee will be served” on your wedding invitations so everyone will know what is up!

And congratulations on the engagement!

PS: This is your day to shine. Don't feel pressured into having a giant supper to "feed" everyone. The people who come to your reception are there to help you celebrate. If the only thing they care about is getting "fed"... then they don't need to come. Generally, I've noticed, that if there is a late wedding and supper people will tend eat before hand anyway. If they know that there wont be food there, then they'll go out before hand.

Answer 3

I eat dinner around 5 or 6 pm so I would say people are going to want dinner at that time. You risk people leaving early to go eat dinner. I would do more of a 2 pm wedding after lunch and before dinner. Have light things like veggie platters, cheese and crackers, fruit platters or fruit kabobs. You have wedding cake so therefore no other desserts would be necessary. A lunch wedding can be inexpensive as well. Just add some finger sandwhiches to the items listed above.

Answer 4

I would feed people dinner over desserts. If you're wedding is at 5pm, that prime dinner hour and your guests will be very hungry. Desserts will not fill them up and they are very sugary. A lot less people will eat dessert, if that's all that's offered.

Try cutting your guest list, so that you can serve both dinner and dessert. If that's not an option, look into doing a buffet rather then a sit-down dinner.

I would serve dinner though. I honestly, don't see a dessert reception appropriate at all, ever.

Answer 5

No, dont make people eat on their own in between your wedding and reception, thats extremely tacky! Have the wedding in the afternoon, and the reception can be light snacks, desserts, or cocktail hour (if in late afternoon). People just want to have a good time, no matter what is served.

Answer 6

You are hosting the wedding, and you really should be feeding people an evening meal. It doesn't have to be extravagant at all, just a simple buffet. That way you can have your ceremony early afternoon, have pics done in the afternoon, then have a bit of a break while people have cocktails, you then get there in time for dinner and the program, cutting the cake, the dance, and all the fun!
Better that you cut your numbers down on the guest list to manage your budget.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

My sister in law had an evening wedding and it was beautiful. And it saves a lot of money. If your going to have a reception, I know in Canada it's law that you serve food at around 11 pm when also serving alcohol. So in my opinion that's the way to go. Or you could cut down your guest list for dinner to just immediate family...

Answer 9

Any time you're planning an event, be it a wedding, shower, birthday party, if it is taking place at a time when many people would normally be having a meal, then it is in good taste to give them a meal. If you simply cannot afford this, then I'd advise you to change the time of your wedding to mid afternoon, say around 1:30, so its between normal lunch and dinner times.

Answer 10

If your budget is REALLY tight then how about considering a picnic or high tea style of catering, with sandwiches, scones, cakes, mini bite size sausage rolls, just something a little more substantial that desserts. We're having a BBQ party, this is also an affordable way of catering, but then again I only have 35 guests lol.