Did anyone have a Small/Cocktail Reception?

K

Oh, there it is...."if they really love us"......

followed by, "They'll get over it."

For the record I'm not trying to be rude. My questions was for those who had a similar reception. Not for people to critique or jump to conclusions. My family and friends know me all to well. Trust they are use to my blunt personality. I am open to having buffet it all falls on budget. I will keep your concerns in mind. Honestly this is one of the reasons why I wanted small wedding to avoid people always having complaint about food etc. The way I look at it everyone wont be happy either they don't get invited cause we cant afford to feed everyone or they get invited and its not enough food for them. Promise who is meant to be there will be there.

I get it @hisbelovedabi. Weddings used to be just cake and punch receptions anyways, but that being said most people didn't come from out of town for them. While I think meals are nice, and we are having one, I don't think they are mandatory. If you can do it by cutting guest list, then do so. But if you are already struggling to afford it on a small guest list, then you are stuck (and I think it's better to do light apps than cater yourself or friend cater- WW hates those too). So you do you, just make sure people know what the reception style will be before they decide to travel and don't be upset if you don't get many out-of-towners then.

Also, I'm getting married in ATL suburbs too but I live in Ohio! It's my hometown, so twinsies!

I'm in Atlanta suburb and am doing a 3 course dinner. all said and done for $6000 after entire wedding. My guest list is only 50. So location isn't always the issue

Rusty, it's not that WW hates self catering; it's a just a terrible idea in many ways.

Love the dog pix though.

@CeliaMilton agreed, it's a terrible idea. I also personally hate it so maybe that came off a little there. Thanks, that's my dog, Rusty. He's the greatest.

@Elphaba I loved that history lesson.

We are a doing a brunch specifically for the reason of a less expensive reception. Our caterer is going to able to do a really nice brunch for $20pp. I am adding a mimosa/bloody Mary bar for just $7pp. With some other extras it's probably going to be closer to $40pp. Which is still very reasonable. You are hosting your guests as much as you would in your own home. Maybe a 2pm time would be better and do a cake/punch reception. I can't imagine asking people to travel from out of state to witness my marriage ceremony and not feeding them. I would feel awful. Having a blunt personality does not excuse rudeness. Figure out your budget and then find out how much it would cost to be a good host. Then limit your guest list to what you can afford.

I don't think there is anything wrong with light appetizers and foregoing a formal meal if that is what you can afford and what you wish to do. However, it's important that you time your reception accordingly (in between meal times) and clearly communicate this on invites (so guest expectations are set).

If you are doing morning I would plan a 9:30 or 10 AM ceremony with light apps immediately following. I would have everything wrapped up by noon, no later. Extending the reception any longer than this will go into meal time and IMO is bad hosting.

Glad to see that you are open to options. As a PP said, you may find that a brunch buffet may actually be more cost friendly than apps.

Edited: spelling

@Elphaba, I get that people did have full meals at weddings, certainly if you had money you did. But in the 40s and 50s (which was NOT the Great Depression) up to even still the 70s and 80s (when my parents and aunts and uncles got married), a lot of weddings were traditionally cake and punch and light finger food at the reception hall of a church or close by. The huge wedding industry is a fairly new invention. Certainly people with money still had big affairs with full meals, but that was not the average, even 30 years ago. I am having a full, big meal with high end catering, appetizers, multi course stations, etc. because I agree it is the norm now and we are having lots of out of towners. But I'm just saying that it wasn't always the expectation that weddings were that way for the majority of people. As I said, the "cake and punch" reception was also more common when you didn't travel for weddings. For example, my parents had about 350 guests at their wedding in the 70s, but only my dad's parents were from out of town. So people in the church just stopped by for cake and punch and light sandwiches, they weren't traveling from other states, etc. If she wants to do it this way she just needs to inform her guests to decide if they want to travel that far for light apps. Close family likely will, others probably not.

I do like the idea of brunch buffet as more food for your money though

I have been catering weddings since the 80's; yep, I'm that old. Never in my career have I done a cake and punch reception except as the 'church family' reception on the way to the formal reception.

Again I'm not trying to be rude. A lot get lost in text when you can't hear a person voice. I am blunt I speak my mind I don't allow people to walk over me at the same time I try to respect other people and their views. I re-read my initial post no where did I say I was not feeding anyone, nor did I go into detail what I had in mind for the menu. I intend on having many different options even to traditional Caribbean breakfast dishes.

I'm looking for examples of how it normally flows. For those who did give that Thank you. Whatever we decide on trust that those who choose to celebrate this wonderful occasion will be blessed. I look to sharing how it turns out.