No Food at a Wedding reception?

Question

I'm in a wedding and there will be no dinner provided for the reception. Only the wedding party and some close family will be provided dinner. Issues are starting like after the ceremony the guest will have to leave and come back. And other issues are some family wondering why there weren't invited to this special dinner. I'm just afraid that some people won't come back after they just found out they have to leave to get dinner then come back. I've never heard of a wedding with out food!! PLEASE HELP

Answer 1

This sounds weird. I've been to receptions without food, just cake, but I've never had to leave and come back later. It seems rude for the bride and groom to invite a select few to eat, and then go to the reception. Couldn't the meal be before the wedding or after the reception?

Answer 2

I've never heard of this before either. If it was a question of finances then the bride and groom should of opted to do a cocktail reception or perhaps a dessert reception only. I think the other guests will have ill feelings having to leave the wedding festivities (to get their own meals) then come back for the "party" portion of the wedding. I for see a lot of guests not returning after the wedding parties "special meal".

I went to a wedding once that (a very expensive wedding) had guests literally sitting in another room other than the bride, groom and the family. We might as well had been in a restaurant somewhere because several tables where unable to see ANY of the festivities going on. We had to get up from our seats and stand in the doorway to see the first dance etc. All of the guests in the "Other" room felt alienated. Unfortunately I think the guests at this wedding will feel the same way. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Wow. That is inappropriate and rude. I've never heard of this. What did they write on the invites? Why are they expecting guests to come back? You're right-many guests will leave for dinner and not come back. In addition after they find out about the lack of food, they'll take their gift too.

If there's still time consider asking the bride and groom to provide appetizers for the guests-many couples do this and make the entire wedding a cocktail hour. Your special dinner can be held afterwards.

If the wedding is soon and you can't arrange that maybe someone can arrange for dinner at a restaurant for all the guests.

I don't think anything can salvage this though. If the couple expects the guests to return to take part in the fun without serving them food, they will be disappointed.

Answer 4

What exactly are people coming back for? Cake and champagne only right? Because that wouldn't be out of the ordinary. What is out of the ordinary is a huge gap between ceremony and reception while you're supplying dinner for a select few and everyone else knowing about it. I totally understand why there might be some hurt feelings.

If I were that bride and couldn't afford a full scale dinner reception I would have the cake and champagne immediately after the ceremony, thank everyone for coming, and send them on their merry way. THEN I would sneak off to have a private dinner with family and wedding party... that no one else has to know about. OR I'd have my special dinner the night before like most people do anyways.

Answer 5

I think you're right. The dinner for the family and wedding party is suppose to be the night before. I think it's rude to have a ceremony, have the guests leave, then come back later. Some of the guests could be out of town and unfamiliar with the area.
It's perfectly appropriate not to have a dinner served (just fruit and veggies) most people are just there for the cake. But chances are, if they are asked to come back at a later time, a lot are not going to show up at the reception.

Answer 6

This will confuse & offend guest. First, I understand not everyone can provide guest with a full plated, served meal. But if it's a wedding time dinner & reception, people WILL expect a meal. People will not return because some will just assume it's over, others won't because it's rude to be expected to come to a wedding ,then not be invited to dinner, but expected to come back. I personally would go out to dinner, but wouldn't return to the reception.

Answer 7

It sounds like the bride, or whoever is planning the wedding has no money to do so, yet wants a wedding bigger than they can afford and found a real halfass middle ground.

I bet most will not come back.

I went to a wedding once where the reception started at 4pm and the food wasn't served until 9pm. Almost everyone left due to hunger by then. None came back after they left to get something to eat.

There are some things that you just can't cut corners on and a wedding reception is one of them.. It is insulting to your guests when the make time to come and you do not give them a great meal for their presence

Answer 8

This is a disaster waiting to happen. This is really tacky of the bride and groom to do this. When you invite guests to any occasion, normally you provide them with some kind of food and drink. After the ceremony, if the guests know that there won't be any food served, they might not attend the reception. Also, the bride and groom should not expect generous monetary gifts from invited guests. Very tacky and not good etiquette.

Answer 9

That is so strange. I've been to a wedding in the afternoon that had only a few hordevours served and that was ok but I think it's so rude to feed some people and not others! If the reception is during dinner hours, it is completely inappropriate not to provide dinner. I wouldn't even go to a reception like that.

Answer 10

I've been to cake and punch receptions. I've been to a finger foods receptions. I've been to full course meal receptions. I've never been to a reception where nothing was served or (more specifically) food only served to a select few. That is very odd.

I'll be honest. If I was at a reception and then had to leave to go get dinner, I wouldn't come back. Not out of malice, I would just think the reception was over.