Wedding Reception/Food

**Saule** · 03-12-2011, 11:47 AM

I think that you set a budget for the wedding, tell DD what it is and stick to it. I have gone to several weddings that were appetizers and desserts, and they were lovely. I have been to the $50,000 weddings too and to weddings with over 400 guests (that one was very impersonal even though I knew both bride and groom and both sets of parents very well). I hope you are right about only half the invited guests attending - I could not imagine even that many people in my home, the most I ever had was about 40 for a bridal shower, and that was just appetizers and desserts, so I was able to pull it off.

I've been to very formal weddings and weddings where they used nice paper/plastic plates, and you know what? It's the occassion, not the food, that matters most.

Good luck to you!

**flashyMcGee** · 03-12-2011, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by emily_hope

We have found a caterer. We are going to have the wedding ceremony at 7:30 in the evening and a dessert reception with cheese trays and fresh veggies with dip. On the wedding invitation we have written: dessert and dancing to follow under the stars. The wedding and reception are outdoors and we wanted to make sure everyone knew we were not serving a 'dinner'. I think the caterer is reasonable. She is going to do the food, bring all the tables and chairs, do the set up and take down. There will also be a candy buffet with little bags for people to take treats home which will be our wedding favors, so that takes care of that for me, too.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas and helpful and encouraging words.

I love your solution! I'm currently planning my own wedding. I agree, the cost of caterering is outrageous! Have a fabulous event!

**henrysmom** · 03-13-2011, 03:25 AM

I went to a very nice wedding last summer which was held at 8pm in a backyard. It was very pretty, they hang those little white christmas lights all around the trees and paper lanterns. They had a great dessert bar and some small sandwiches and the like. A chocolate fountain with fruit to dip They had wine and champage and served every thing with the high quality plastic glasses, etc. Very pretty and probably not costly.

I also went to a morning wedding a few years ago. It was held in a church and the reception was in the church hall. They served quiches, salads and bacon/sausages, fruit. Mimosa and cake Very tasty and all prepared by the bride's family. The best part was that it was a relatively short reception! I get tired of the whole afternoon affairs that go in the evening that I've been invited to lately.

**ubumartin** · 03-13-2011, 04:55 AM

I had mine at a VFW hall, cash bar and we had a catered buffet style dinner. Much cheaper and the food was wonderful. Plates cleared and food kept replenished by caterers. The caterer also provided all the table linens and dishes etc. It was lovely and it was stress free. You wouldn't have to worry about weather, tables, dishes etc. If you had to rent a tent it could be more expensive than a VFW hall or a church hall. you could also do just cocktails and apps. Honestly I have eaten a lot of bad expensive food at weddings. Good music, good people, good drinks thats all you need. Best wishes to your dd.