Plasticwear at a wedding?

Question

My boyfriend and I aren't exactly "formal" people, but the site of our wedding is very beautiful and it costs a pretty penny. We are prioritizing the site and the food over some other things like flowers and decor and legions of bridesmaids. Even so, we are on a budget.

We were looking at the pricing for the caterer we want to use. If we use high-quality plasticwear instead of traditional china, we can save $10 per head -- which is over $1,500 when it all adds up.

My question is, will our guests find this tacky? If our wedding were in a backyard, I'm sure they wouldn't object to plasticwear, but since we're having it in a beautiful mansion it seems as though it might be out of place.

Thoughts? Advice?

Answer 1

ask your caterer for samples of the plasric wear and try eating the food you intend to serve with it.. gauge the difficulty..

then see what a table there looks like set with this plasticwear..

Answer 2

Hi. Wow....this is really a hard one! $1500 is a lot of money that can go elsewhere. But, I can't believe a caterer will be charging you $10 per head for china? Yikes!

I do agree...a backyard would be one thing...but a beautiful mansion? I'm really at a loss. Is there a way to negotiate this or to bring in another company that would be cheaper?

If not....in the end...I would save the money and not worry about what others think.

Good luck with your decision!

Answer 3

I do think the plastic ware is out of character with your setting. I'm all for saving money, but you don't want to announce it.

People are going to know you spent a pretty penny on the mansion and the food; which might lead them to chuckle a bit when they realize they're eating off plastic plates.

They had a show on that channel E! once. It was called the Glamour "Do's and Don'ts" of weddings. One example of a "don't" was a bride with a 5K dress and cash bar.

This si similar. Your guests are going to realize that your venue was beyond what you could really comfortable afford (which isn't any of their business, but people do talk) and as a result, people are eating off of plastic. It just doesn't add up with the formality of your wedding.

The plasticware might come across as poor planning, rather then money saving on your part.

Personally, I would find another way to save money. For example, don't rent a limo or have top shelf open bar. Maybe just have house brands for open bar.

Answer 4

Hmmm. I see your point, we are having plasticware 9really nice white square plates etc) but we are also having a backyard wedding.
But then $1,500 is the difference between an awesome honeymoon and a blah one.
As a guest attending your wedding, I would probably notice and wonder about it but it wouldn't bother me too much.
It is the food that is the important part. I have been to a wedding where the settings were gorgeous but the meals small and ordinary......people will notice and complain more if the food is substandard. If you have a delicious meal, people will remember that more than what it was served on.
Good luck.

Answer 5

Plasticwear in a mansion is probably going to raise some eyebrows. As you said it would be one thing at a backyard BBQ or a casual location outdoors....but serving a high end meal at a high end location people expect real silverware.

For $10 a head you can BUY place settings. They won't be china but they will at least be real silverware. Pretty much all the box stores like Walmart/Target and discount stores like Dollar General sell forks, spoons, and knives like 3/$1 if you want plain ones or if you want something "nicer" you can get place setting for 8 for like $15.

Answer 6

Ask yourself this: what would you think if you were a guest to such a wedding?

Everything is expectation, and if you raise people's expectations with a mansion, then of course people expect you to live up to it.
I personally feel that there is nothing wrong with eating off of paper plates, if that is the expectation you have set up in advance. I think the best thing here is to figure out what is priority for you on this day, and what is really important, and what you are celebrating. I shot one of the most lovely weddings ever--in a backyard. The decorations were beautiful, candles hanging from trees and lining the driveway, and the live stringed instruements were just wondeful and cozy. It was wonderful, because it was personal, warm, inviting, and fell perfectly within expectation...

Answer 7

I think if china rental is that high that you should examine other rental options. If the caterer won't let you use outside china, get a new caterer. That's an exorbitant amount for an hour rental of a plate and glass. I do think plastic's a little tacky but if you are settled on this caterer then realize, it's family and friends. Are they really judging?

Answer 8

It's definitely out of place in this situation, especially if the plates and cups you're using are china or something. Serving food on nice plates with plastic utensils would look wildly tacky. You need to find a different place to cut. For instance, I chose a caterer who included all his own china and silverware. He brought everything so we didn't have to rent it separately.

Answer 9

If you're booking a place that is up to par then i would suggest cutlery that is up to par. Yes its only for a day but thats the point you only have this one day to show people how much you value your marriage and that every aspect of your wedding should exude this enthusiam. If push comes to shove there have been instances when guests are asked to help with the expenses. You could include a donation envelope in each invitation so that even if you spend the 1500, you'll receive discretionary monies as well as gifts. Congragulations

Answer 10

plastic plates and bowls is 100% fine.

a lot of people find plastic knives and forks tacky however. Try to find a cheap "find" at a second hand store or ebay. and supply your own if you can.

i personally think that glassware should be glass if you are in a mansion. Plastic cups will stand out like a sore thumb.

HOWEVER. your friends and family are there purely to celebrate the love you and your husband share, so why would they care what the crockery was made out of?

Answer 11

If it saves you money do it who cares what others think? Nobody I know ever raved or made a fuss on how beatuiful the china was for someone wedding to eat with, plates are for eating whether formal or plastic. Do everything you can to save money that is a good thing:)