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Dedicated February 2016

Cake and Punch Reception Etiquette

FaerieTroupeLeader, on August 16, 2015 at 3:09 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 10

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Hello,

I am new to this forum, but I've been reading the content for awhile. Everyone has such good advice! So, I'd like some opinions on this: my FH and I have set a total budget of $5k for our wedding/reception. We reserved the Maitland Art and History Museum (Mayan chapel and courtyard) for the ceremony/reception. We plan on having cake and punch since the ceremony will start at 2, while the reception will go from 2:20 until about 4.

We will be inviting 85 people max, but anticipate less since many people are OOT. FH and I live in Tallahassee, so Maitland is an easy drive for us. It's the best venue in all of Florida for us. It's not really a destination wedding since we live here in FL. Anyhow, is it bad form to only serve "cake and punch" with so many OOT guests? We will have cupcakes, deserts, drinks, a candy cart, and some appetizers ideally. We will of course let people know this is "cake and punch" so they can eat a meal elsewhere. Our families are all over the US...sigh.

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10 Comments

Latest activity by Brittany, on August 16, 2015 at 5:44 PM

VIP October 2016
HoneyLife · on August 16, 2015 at 3:17 PM
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If I was a guest and you told me ahead of time, I would be perfectly fine. It's only 2 hours long so cake, punch, appetizers should do.
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Master October 2015
MrsA · on August 16, 2015 at 3:19 PM
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Nothing wrong with it at all. Making them aware of it before hand is all you need.
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Master July 2015
annakay511 · on August 16, 2015 at 3:35 PM
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I think because of the timing, guests would not expect a full meal!
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Dedicated February 2016
FaerieTroupeLeader · on August 16, 2015 at 4:13 PM
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Thank you, all We will say in the invitations that it's "cake and punch" so people will not expect a meal. It will also be rather low key. I'm not wearing a traditional, expensive wedding dress, and I'm having a "faerie troupe" instead of a bridal party so my nieces can wear their favorite dress up costumes and butterfly wings. In other words, people can wear what they want.

I did want to ask about etiquette since 80% of our family guests are from other areas of the country (New England, Tennessee area, mid-Atlantic states, Oregon, etc.). On the other hand, there's no way to do a "local" wedding for family since local is Florida for us. My FH's cousin had a similar quick ceremony and dessert/hor d'oeuvre reception a little over a year ago and it was very nice. People commented on how relaxed and fun it was. Thanks again!
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VIP October 2016
HoneyLife · on August 16, 2015 at 4:27 PM
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If it were me, I would put "Light refreshments to follow" so guests know not to expect a full meal
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Master August 2013
OMW · on August 16, 2015 at 4:31 PM
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I think it sounds great. What you might want to do, though, is give your OOT guests a list of awesome restaurants around so they can grab some food before or after.
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Master July 2016
Delisa · on August 16, 2015 at 4:34 PM
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Due to the timing I think it's fine and if people want to eat afterwards there are plenty of options in the Maitland area.
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Dedicated February 2016
FaerieTroupeLeader · on August 16, 2015 at 5:30 PM
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Thank you. E-Tex, I will give them a list of restaurants and such in the area. On the plus side, this venue is very close to Orlando, so OOT guests can turn their trip into a weekend of fun for themselves and according to their preferences.
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Master August 2013
OMW · on August 16, 2015 at 5:40 PM
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I would totally go to an OOT cake and punch wedding if I could take some extra days off and go to Disneyworld. :-)
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Super September 2015
Brittany · on August 16, 2015 at 5:44 PM
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Since you are letting people know what to expect and you aren't doing the reception at a time where people usually eat lunch or dinner, you're totally fine. Nothing says you have to serve a full meal. You've expressed that you are concerned for those traveling, but since they will know in advance, they can choose not to come or eat beforehand if they want.
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