Appetizers/Snacks?

Your cake and punch reception is enough. I would avoid deli platters and any cold or hot food that needs to be kept at a certain temperature.

If you absolutely cannot afford a caterer to come and take care of your food you should consider something like a dessert/treat display. Baked goods and candy won't give people food poisoning. Buy them from a bakery or a grocery store.

I have a fully catered reception, but the dessert/cookie/candy bar will be DIY using stuff that will not go bad easily, and sourced from professional bakeries.

I think mom is right. And also you need something more in a time period of 4 hours. I don't think punch and cake cuts it really. But doing some sort of catering would be better.

I think if you are expecting people to stay until/around 6, you need to serve a meal of some sort!!

Hmm okay. We've looked into some catering so we'll keep researching. I think the dessert bar sounds fun!! We might just do that anyway since neither of us like cake very much.

Cake and punch receptions usually don't last that long. Chances are most of your guest will be super hungry and not stay until 6pm.

I don't see a problem with doing a cake and punch reception with a dessert bar starting at 2pm as long as you understand that people probably won't stay until 6pm. If you are able to afford to have catered snacks or a meal though, I would definetly do so, especially if you want you reception to last past 5pm.

You have some options if you don't have a huge budget. I'm not sure on pricing, but I know food trucks are pretty popular these days, so that could be something to look into. Or look into getting BBQ or italian from a favorite restaurant. Those tend to be less money than a traditional caterer. With an Italian restaurant, if you didn't want a full meal you could go for heavy apps (bruchetta, zucchini sticks, eggplant rollitini, meatballs, fried calamari, etc). Or maybe look into grocery store catering. I know people have recommended publix in the past for this. I think you would have to hire servers if you go this route.

Look in to catering like Boston Market or a place that can give dinner

Agreed with PP that it will be difficult to keep people around until 6 with just cake, punch, and deli platters. If you're okay with people leaving around 4, there's nothing wrong with doing just desserts for a 2 pm reception. Although, it would be nice to offer a bit more. I went to a wedding this summer that had fruit and cheese plates, chips and various dips/salsas, hummus, olives, etc. Just enough for everyone to get a substantial snack before their cake. They used a professional caterer and it was lovely. If you don't have room for that in the budget, you can definitely stick with cake. But people probably won't stay for the full 4 hours.

We're doing something similar, but our reception will be over by 5. If you're just doing cake and punch (even with some apps) 2 hours is plenty long. What else are you planning on doing at your reception? We're doing the traditional stuff (cake cutting, first dance, parent dances, throwing the bouquet, giving people time to go through the food and mingle a little) as well as 10 more songs for dancing. Unless you're planning something extra 2-2.5 hours should be plenty. Unless the extra time is for the ceremony... pleeease don't make anyone sit through more than 45minutes or so of a ceremony. If you cut it back to end by 5:30 or earlier then you shouldn't need any apps and such. But if you go any longer and DEFINITELY if you are going as late as 6 then you definitely need dinner of some kind.

Thanks for your input! It's really helpful. I've never been to a wedding(well I went to some as a kid but I obviously didn't pay attention) so I honestly have no concept of how long things take. Our invite time is 2 with the ceremony starting around 2:15 and we want it to be short and sweet. We want to do a first dance, parent dances, and cake cutting. We're not doing the bouquet or garter toss. I figure if we do have apps then people will have time to mingle and eat while we do a few more pictures with family after the ceremony (we'll be dong a first look and photos with the bridal party before), and then we can come in and do the dances, and then move into toasts/cake cutting. It sounds like after all of that we should still have time for people to mingle and we can play music and have dancing if people want and everyone can be out by 5/5:30. I just said 6 because that's the time I want to be going home lol but if things end a little earlier I definitely don't mind.

I wouldn't get into hot food or a full meal; I'd do platters of wrap sandwiches cut small, dips like hummus/bruscetta/pesto with veggies and chips, cheese and fruit. Keep it finger food, invite people for 'light refreshments" and keep it to 3 hours at the most (after the ceremony)

I agree with light refreshments and finger food type options. You do not need to serve a full meal from 2-6. However, most people will probably only stay 2-3 hours for this type of reception, rather than the full 4 hours.

There is nothing wrong with grocery store platters. This is not the same as "self-catering". The platters can be stored in the fridge at your venue until it's time to serve them. Finger sandwiches, wraps, cheese and cracker trays, fruit platters, veggies and dip, etc, are all good options. Plus cake and punch and a couple of wines. It will be fine.

I'm with your mom. You need definitely something or people will start to leave around 4:30.

Cake and punch is good for a few hours but a little snack will be good if your event is 4 hours. My sister is getting married a few months after me and she is doing a slider platter from Hyvee since it will be a small reception.

I'd do platters or perhaps order appetizers and have them delivered from a local restaurant.

We are doing a cake and punch reception and serving apps. We have allotted 1.5 hours after the ceremony for it.

I'm with @celia and I think light refreshments are the way to go. This is definitely not the same as self-catering! Finger foods like small wraps/ finger sandwiches, dips, fruit platter, cheese and crackers, veggie tray, etc. are all great options. I also like the idea of some additional desserts (maybe mini cheese cakes, cookies, brownies, etc?). All of those things can be stored in the kitchen until its time to serve them and will be fine left out for a few hours.