Food.....When is the timelines for you have a appetizer reception??

Is it tacky to have meat trays, chicken trays, veggie trays for a casual wedding of about 50 people....???

Yes on the timeline- 6pm is too early. I would push the ceremony back to 7pm and start the reception at 8pm.

No on the trays.....not tacky at all! I think that amount of food sounds great. Are you having a cake or dessert?

I was thinking about that but wasnt sure if that would be too late for the older people....

What time would be a good time to just have a dessert reception???Is that tacky?

Wait maybe I'm confused.......are the meat/chicken/veggie trays meant to be dinner portions? Or appetizer portions?

I think appetizer/dessert only receptions are totally great! Not tacky at all! Just have to be timed right. I would say either an afternoon ceremony starting at 2pm, or an evening ceremony starting at 7pm would be perfect for either of those options.

And I don't think 7pm is too late for older people. If your reception begins at 8pm and you cut the cake by 9pm, they can be in bed by 10pm. Otherwise- if you begin at 6pm, everyone else has to eat dinner at 4:30. Obviously your guests will have time to plan ahead, but I'd try to make it easy on them so they're ready to party with you.

No your not confused, it is so me....I was looking in to catering but now with the prices I am trying to find a better way to save money. So I am just throwing ideas out there. I think I will most likely change it to 7pm then reception at 8pm then done at midnight....I am so overwhelmed with all this right Now...SO thanks a lot for your input...

I can relate to being overwhelmed with wedding stuff. If you're worried about the evening dessert/app reception going to late, why not do it in the afternoon?

2pm- ceremony

3pm-5pm- dessert/apps reception

I think that sounds lovely, and you might get a discount on a venue fee if you schedule it in the afternoon vs. evening. My parents had a cake and punch reception.....I think it's only a recent thing that people have sit-down dinner weddings.

Oh another thing, you might change your avatar....it doesn't have to be a photo of you, but something unique will help people remember who you are and you're likely to get more responses.

Good luck!

I think that you need to look at your guests. Do they normally eat early, or later?

In my circle, if a ceremony started at 7 and the reception started at 8PM, I am going to expect to be fed dinner.

In other circles, people may eat at 6PM, and therefore grab a bite before the wedding.

I think that you will need to be pretty open, on your invitations, that it will be "appetizers only" so that guests are not expecting a full meal.

^agree 100%.

HI Dawn ~ Welcome to WW

I'm with Kathy ~ if I was invited to a ceremony at 7pm, I would think I was getting a full meal. I think dessert receptions or cocktail receptions should start later.

Is the ceremony and reception at the same place?

If yes, the ceremony usually doesn't last longer than 20 min, 30 min tops.

I would suggest 8pm ceremony, 8:30 reception begins.

So just be sure to word your reception cards Very carefully so that people know to go eat first.

~ happy planning