to feed or not to feed??? - Wedding Forum

joey77 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 11:28 AM

I know that i am starting to sound like i have an awful lot of problems but.........

I am at the start of the planning stages, and i am trying to decide whether to have food at the evening reception or not??

There would be about 150 extra guests at £6 a head, i know that you budget for 70-80% but i hate the way that food stops the party from getting to full swing and therefore means that the entertainment will have to try to get it all going again. The other thing is that we are on such a budget that it may mean the difference between a honeymoon or none at all.

At the same time don't want to appear rude.

Decisions, Decisions

#2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 12:02 PM

Well......you sound like we were....

We ended up having the Wedding Breakfast at 6pm till 8pm then the evening guests arrived.

We stated on the invites there would be a pay bar and light snacks and bascially had some crisps and nuts etc out but no buffet.

No-one minded (I think) and like you it meant a honeymoon or not at all!

At the end of the day, when money is tight you have to cut back. We thought this was one area as they didn't notice and we cetainly would have noticed not having a honeymoon!!

As long as you maybe say something on the invites so people don't expect food? Or pass the word around.....

Its up to you though-hope this helps?

Teresa · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 12:20 PM

Its up to you really but if you aren't going to have anything in the evening then I think you need to say so on the invites or let people know by word of mouth otherwise people might turn up expecting there to be a buffet and then starving.

If you have your wedding later and then your sit down meal (or whatever you are having) timed to finish about 7ish, those people won't want anything else to eat and you can just serve something light like crisps and nuts. Just make sure you make people aware of what you are doing though and I'm sure no one will mind.

Lo · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 02:15 PM

I definately think what Decords and Teresa have suggested is the way to go

If you're on a budget, something has to give, and why should it be your honeymoon? I think having a later service, then a "tea-time" meal is a good way to cut back, your day guests get time to have lunch so won't starve, and your evening guests can have a biggish meal beforehand.

Put together an "Order of the Day" advising, like Decords, that only light snack will be available, it's a polite but informal way, and nobody can accuse you of not telling them then

Good luck with what you decide,

Lo x

Kezzer · #5 (**permalink**) 09-01-2004, 06:12 AM

We're having a later wedding so we can have a later meal for the day guests. We're not having any buffet & we did state that no food would be served on the invitations. I think the evening guests (mostly the older ones) usually expect a buffet so it's definitely worth mentioning in advance. The last thing we wanted was to overhear people mumbling about when the food was coming out!!!
I have been to too many weddings where there are ridiculous amounts of food left over and it seems such a waste, especially if it's not in your budget.
Go for the honeymoon

Laura · #6 (**permalink**) 09-01-2004, 06:37 AM

We are having a later wedding too so that we don't have to do an evening buffet. I'm not sure if we will be inviting any evening guests so hopefully everyone there will still be stuffed from the meal and not want anything anyway!

#7 (**permalink**) 09-01-2004, 08:57 AM

Excellent advice from the girls (as usual!) and id agree that having a later sit down meal and letting everyone know that theres no evening buffet id your best bet. Then they all know whats going on and you get a honeymoon!

P xxx

KM · #8 (**permalink**) 09-01-2004, 02:47 PM

I second everything that everyone has said really ~ I just hope that everything works out well for you..

Love Karen xx

Heather · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2004, 07:22 AM

We had a late wedding, and no evening do to speak of, just people "milling" around & chilling out in the bar!

By the time we sat down to eat etc it was about 5ish, so no one was really hungry (well I certainly wasn't) and if people did fancy something there was always the bar menu!

H

stack · #10 (**permalink**) 12-01-2004, 04:57 PM

i wish i hadnt and let my guests know i paid £300 for a buffet that was scoffed in mins. we had lots to eat and it was gone there was ahuge queue waiting on cake in the end up.

i wish id spent it other places, we didnt have enough to have a honeymoon so were planning on takingit some time soon when we have money again