....so, I am thinking I am going to get married within the next year and a half? And I have always thought about the "plans for my wedding....come on, what girl hasn't?? Anyway, I have always wanted a reception with no dinner, I wanted hors'd ovres (spelling) and cocktails with dancing and celebration....is that tacky? and what time would a wedding be for a reception with no dinner to allow the guests to have dinner BEFORE the wedding??? Any thoughts ? We have been discussing getting married, and I would rather have developed an opinion about this before we discuss any further......Serious answers only please.
2007-08-01 11:46:47 · 16 answers · asked by Princess_Baby_Bird 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I think that is perfectly fine not to serve dinner. I only served chicken wings and cake, the other two weddings I attended only had cake and punch.
I would say 7 pm would be a great time, gives them time to eat and get to the reception.
2007-08-01 11:52:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I work at an event facility and we have had a few couples do Hors d'Oeuvres and cocktails. And they have gone perfectly fine. Just make sure you have enough Hors d'Oeuvres per person to keep them satisfied for however many hours you intend on having the reception. I would recommend doing the reception before 4pm. And I would also reccommend not having an extremely long reception. The more people drink and the less they've had to eat, might lead to some pretty tipsy dancers.
It is also customary to inform guest that no dinner will be served. You can do this by including on the invitation:
"Hors d'Oeuvres and Cocktail Reception Following the Ceremony."
That way guest know it won't be a full dinner and can grab a bite before they head out.
2007-08-01 12:06:00 · answer #2 · answered by Mrs. Bass 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think about 7:00 would allow time for the guests to eat dinner before the wedding. Be sure and state somehow that there will be no dinner served in the invitation, something like, "Please join us for a cocktail reception and dancing after the ceremony." Best wishes!
2007-08-03 07:38:33 · answer #3 · answered by LoveWithNoBoundaries 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest an afternoon wedding so guests can leave before dinner. Have the service around 1, and that way you would have all day to party before anyone was hungery for dinner. Anything later than 3 will shorten your reception and anything after 5, people will expect a meal.
2007-08-01 11:54:25 · answer #4 · answered by Rixie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have seen plenty of weddings where there is just a 'cocktail' reception. it is not tacky it is good common sense and a lot less waist of money.
don't worry about guests having dinner they will never make the wedding!!!
Here is a good timeline for you that won't keep your guests hungry and waiting
Getting ready 2pm
bride and groom special meeting moment 4pm
bridal party and family pics 4:15 - 5:30
Ceremony 6:00 - 6:30
Receiving line, post ceremony pics 6:30 - 7:00
Wine and Hors d'ourve passing 6:30 - 7:00
Hors 'd ourve table open 7:00
Bride and groom mix and greet 7:30 - 8:00
Toasts, Cake, First dance, family dances, Bouquet and garter toss:
Time to Party Down for the rest of the evening....
2007-08-01 11:59:31 · answer #5 · answered by just me 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have never been to a wedding where they served dinner. Most weddings I've been to just have fruit and veggie trays. Everyone is there for the cake anyway. We had some croissant sandwiches, with fruit and veggie trays. That way if anyone did need a meal, they could fill up on the sandwiches. We had our wedding at 2:00. That way they could do lunch before they came but were done in time to go to dinner.
2007-08-01 12:19:41 · answer #6 · answered by PhantomRN 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went to one with heavy hors-doeuvres or however you spell it. Anyways they served like these cheese and deli meat type wraps and pasta etc. you know light table fare I thought it was different but definitely not tacky. I would suggest an early wedding ceremony and reception. That way your hungrier guests have time to go out and have dinner on their own and you will have time for pictures. If you have the ceremony and then go out for pictures and then have a later reception with no 'real food' then the guests may be kinda let down and may be hungry and you may start to intrude on their personal normal dinner times. just my 2c. Good luck and enjoy yourselves.
2007-08-01 12:00:53 · answer #7 · answered by Cip 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My wedding was someting like that. I had a buffet style dinner. Nothing off the chain, just salads, pastas and stuff like that. Poeple could pick at it if they wanted...if not that was ok too. My wedding was later in the evening 5:00pm and by 7:00 the older people were gone and the party could start. As much as this wedding is for you, its about the guest as well.
2007-08-01 12:05:04 · answer #8 · answered by SS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this would be a perfect situation to have a sunset candlelight wedding. It would be late enough that everyone will have eaten dinner on their own (you may still want to provide something for the wedding party to insure no one goes without). For an elegant evening you can do something like a wine tasting and cheese buffet, with other appetizers (I can't and won't spell that word, lol) thrown in but keep it simple and elegant. Set the mood with tons of candles and twinkle lights.
Good Luck
2007-08-01 13:14:51 · answer #9 · answered by Cory C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you could do a really elegant evening wedding, I would say about 7PM. That would give guests plenty of time to have eaten before hand. I don't think it's tacky at all, it sounds like fun. Lots of people opt to do hor deourves (sp?) instead of a full meal.
You could also do a day wedding maybe a 2PM, but I personally like the evening idea better.
Good luck!
2007-08-01 11:59:48 · answer #10 · answered by Reba 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋