A 2pm ceremony means a meal or apps?

How late were you planning on having your reception last? If it's any time past 5, I would expect a meal to be served.

@AwkwardToBe Oh good point. It lasts until 6. That is definitely something to take into consideration

Not serving a full meal would probably save you a lot of money. Maybe consider doing a buffet that includes different types of appetizers and entrees so that the guests are well fed and won't have to worry about dinner afterwards if they don't want to.

@Alforev See? Now I like that, too! Lol

The really good news is I found a fantastic Italian restaurant that's family-owned here in my town. They're catering is a really great price and they also offered 2 of their servers at only $15 per hour each. Can you even believe that?

They do amazing Greek salad, garlic knots to die for and beautiful stuffed shells. They have a ton of other stuff but those are my top 3 favs. But to add the servers on top of that for such a great rate (and of course, they will be tipped heavily). I bet I could combine apps and some buffet style together

I would say meal. By the time pictures are done, it will be 4:30ish, depending on your photographer. I went to a 3:00 wedding and was told the reception wasn't until 5:30. Then got to the reception at 5:30 and groom and bride showed up at 7.

Yikes. Not good

For the timeline you're presenting, it makes sense to just do appetizers. That is a cheaper option but look at what you envision your day to be.

Very heavy apps and maybe a food station. People might not have time to eat lunch before your ceremony . By the time your reception starts I'll be pretty hungry

We had a 2pm ceremony at the reception venue. Bar opened immediately after ceremony and then we had a full-blown buffet.

I'm a 2pm ceremony and were doing both cocktail and dinner. By the time things are going for the reception, it'll be a slightly early dinner. I expect folks will be pretty hungry 4-5pm after the ceremony.

@ChrisM How long are you expecting your reception to go on? At first I thought 6 would be the end of mine. Now I am thinking later so we have more time in case things run over

I'm on team meal, all the time.

If it ends at 6, you probably don't need a full meal, but it's always nice to offer one, especially if people have to travel for your wedding.

@Ella Agreed. Then they don't have to go find dinner later

I've been to 2:00 PM weddings followed by the conventional 4 - 5 hour reception. There have always been meals. Your Italian idea sounds good (stuffed shells are a meal). Pick another entree and you'll be good to go.

Is your ceremony really an hour and a half long? That's insanity!

We're starting out ceremony at 2pm so we're thinking of very heavy appetizers, antipasto station, a couple of meat(shrimp, chicken, steak) stations. It's turning into a buffet honestly which I'm ok with since I love food lol.

Ours is 2 pm wedding 4pm cocktail (catholic wedding will take a while lol) and 5pm east ends at 10 !

@SPG lol, that includes cocktail hour. I would never want an hour and a half ceremony!

JP- we have 40ish close friends, so it could go for a while. :-) We have the venue until 10pm, but there are several people that will need to catch a 9pm ferry.