Crawfish Boils for a Wedding Reception/Tacky or Ok? Please help!

I don't think it would be tacky. Crawfish boils are something fun, the only downfall is you can't really dress in fancy clothes and stuff cause of the seasoning. Wouldn't want to spill any juices on yourself because of the clothes, so no one would eat. Unless most are from southern Louisiana, they will just bring a change of clothes if need be for some awesome crawfish.

I'm going to suggest to our guests to wear something comfortable and not dressy for the Crawfish Boil (nice casual) and suggest they bring a change of clothes incase anything spills that way nobody ruins good dressy clothing or spends hundreds of dollars on attire for a crawfish boil and it get ruined. That isn't our intent. I was also thinking of supplying plenty of shout wipes and such if anyone spills, they can get the stains out. Thank you for not thinking it's a tacky idea. I just want our Anniversary/Vow Renewal to be something different, but fun and relaxing.

I think it's a great idea. Something different from the same old stuff and delicious!

Your wedding should be fun and represent who you are, as well. That sounds like a lot of fun and delicious both, besides representing the New Orleans influence on his life. Go For It!

I think its a great idea for a vow renewal celebration!! Sounds like a blast!!!

I am getting married myself in New Orleans in April and can't wait!!! Nola food is the best!!!

I agree that it is a good idea. My fiance' is also from New Orleans and we are having a crawfish boil for our rehearsal dinner. Many blessings!!!

Congratulations to all of you who are getting married who have replied. I thank you for your responses and well wishes. I know we're a more laid back couple and my hubbie is the food expert (I told him he got to choose the cuisine for our vow renewal since he wants to be a Chef someday). The sad thing is I've only been to New Orleans once for a funeral, but still loved it there, even after Hurricane Katrina. Something about it and the atmosphere there. I guess I'm spoiled by wonderful weather originally coming from Florida (that was another option for us, but I really wanted to have my hubby's input and background thrown into where we have our Vow Renewal), but also the liklihood that his family from there would be able to attend would only happen if we had it in New Orleans. Do any of you who are from New Orleans know of any good restaurants that cater Crawfish Boils on their location since this will be a Destination Vow Renewal for us? Thank you for all your help.

This is a hard one! As much as I love crawfish I don't think I would serve it. I agree with everyone that it is something different and it symbolizes something about you and your hubby. But if you really think about it, there are many people who do not like the smell, are allergic to shell fish might be picky to eat with their hands in a big crowd. Or might also think its tacky like you did for a moment. Someone might be unconfortable because they are going to get their clothes dirty or might not go because they can't eat seafood. I think you might want to think about it again. Maybe choose something else that is from New Orleas. Fish might be a better option, you can still have some potatoes that go with the crawfish or maybe a combination that way they can choose. There are people who can eat fish but not shellfish. Good luck.

I don't think it's tacky. I love the idea. I understand where you're coming from where people might not eat Crawfish, but we're also going to make it a BBQ with Chicken, Burgers, Hot Dogs, and for the Vegetarians either Veggie Burgers or Grilled Portabello Mushrooms, so that way we can accomodate everyone and not have separate Entrees and since we are having children, one of them being our own child, we know he'll probably be a picky eater, which throwing in the BBQ (burgers, and hot dogs) the need for a kids menu is eliminated and those who don't eat crawfish have another option, as will the Vegetarians (such as my sister). It's not a formal dinner, but someone else in our family is having a picnic for their reception, so we don't want to repeat their idea, eventhough they are copying our idea of a Cupcake Tower with a small cake just for the cake cutting which is also what my hubby and I are doing.

I've heard of people doing New England Clambakes (which include shell fish and lobsters) as well as serve lobster tails or shrimp as entrees for their choices, and I don't think I've ever heard of anyone saying it's a bad idea, what would make having a Crawfish Boil as one option a bad idea, and offering a BBQ (burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers or grilled portobello mushrooms) as a second option for those who can't eat crawfish or don't care for it. That way nobody is left with only one choice, and that way we have options for even vegetarians and the kids who will be attending, without having to list 4 options on our reply cards and just noting that the BBQed items include options for the Vegetarians and Kids. I can understand guests not wanting to get their clothes messy or eat with their hands, but if wet wipes, shout wipes, stain remover, plenty of paper towels are provided, I don't want to upset my husband who wants to do the Crawfish Boil and give our guests a taste of Louisiana.

We're doing a crawfish boil for our rehearsal supper. having alternatives is a really good idea because sometimes people don't like crawfish (especially small children who don't like food that looks at them lol). and you're gonna be in NOLA so what better way to celebrate?! don't forget the corn, mushrooms, and potatoes!

I had a casual backyard wedding in 2006 with 200 guests. We wanted something fun and fresh and ended up having the wedding catered by a BBQ restaurant. I received so many compliments on the entire setup because the food was plentiful and delicious and the atmosphere was so relaxed.

Even a couple of years later we still get rave reviews on our non-traditional wedding and even managed to convert a few non-BBQ eaters into BBQ-lovers! Honestly, I think people love to go to casual weddings (or vow renewals) because so often weddings are such over-the-top affairs!

I think a crawfish boil sounds amazingly fun, but I do agree with some of the others in having additional options for those who don't eat seafood or have allergies. Good luck!

I've read through searching a lot of caterers for Crawfish Boils will also BBQ as well since they have the equipment, which saves having multiple caterers and there being a variety of food. My sister did a Backyard BBQ for her Rehearsal Dinner and the food was amazing (then again, her caterer our family has done business for years with) and it was relaxed and fun (not to mention it was on the 4th of July). We were thinking of getting a a Traveling Crawfish Boil Caterer to come out here to Northern Virginia for our event, but my hubby insists on the crawfish being as fresh as possible and not to mention it is more affordable in Louisiana than having it shipped. We thought the Crawfish Boil/BBQ might be the most affordable option for us for our Reception given we're paying for the whole event ourselves and can't afford to pay $100+ for 100-200 guests but still doing something nice enough without offending any guest. We're both in our mid to late 20's and parents.

We were considering just doing a cocktail and hors d'oevres and Wedding Cake or a Dessert and cocktail Reception, but I know my hubby wants to serve an actual meal. I just don't know when a reasonable hour is to start a crawfish boil/BBQ reception. I think 5 might be too late, since we want a longer reception. Since I am going to be saving my bridesmaids the time from having to go to a hair salon to have their hair and make up done (I'm letting them wear their hair half up and half down with a hair bow which takes no time at all to do), and since my mom is a wiz with steam curlers, I will let her do my hair which steam curlers don't take more than 20min to 30 min tops. Is 2:00 or 3:00 too early to have a Ceremony and then a longer Reception?

It will be lots of fun and definitely a memory for all. but it will smell bad and everyone will leave, including you, with their fancy clothes smelling like fish. not good.

We're going with a Crawfish Boil as our Rehearsal Dinner now.

Being from New England and LOVING lobster, I absolutely love your idea, and it would be so refreshing to experience something different as a guest at someone's wedding. We are doing a clambake for our rehearsal dinner. The venue our wedding is at is a pretty fancy place, and they offer clambake weddings too (which we may have considered if it were not for the price!)...I don't think it's inappropriate at all.

It's great to get these other opinions from people who might represent those guests who don't have a love for shellfish boils...but don't be discouraged if that's something you really want to do!!

Lauren, I lived in Massachusetts for 10 years and love Clam Bakes. WE did that once at my dad's home and loved it. I think doing a Crawfish Boil as our Rehearsal Dinner will be better since I have my heart set on a Venue that includes the meal in it and Crawfish Boils aren't part of it unfortunately. I love the venue so much since it goes with our Cinderella Theme in Louisiana for a small fraction of the price of Disney. That way if we do a Crawfish Boil as a Rehearsal Dinner, and that way they can get the shellfish smell off of themselves the night before and we can have that more relaxed.

Sounds perfect!

Crawfish Boil Rehearsal Dinner= Hubby being happy. Castle Setting for Vow Renewal and Reception= my happiness with perfect venue for a really great price Both of us happy campers and we both get what we want for our Vow Renewal.