How to tell guest to bring food?

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How casual is your wedding going to be? I've never heard or been to a wedding with a potluck but if you're going for a really low key casual wedding like an outdoor or backyard type wedding I really don't see the issue. It's also a know your crowd type of deal - if you know your family and friends and they would be totally down for this idea go for it! I know its not conventional but only you know how your guests would take it

I think there are a lot of traditions that have died out. My own mom said my invites didn't look formal enough because they weren't folded, yet most invites these days are one sheet of cardstock. I had to explain that to her. I think if you really can afford to get a bunch of variety of foods like you seemed to intend to then it's okay to tell them no and that you prefer to provide the food. I don't think there's anything wrong with saying no. It's yours and your FH's wedding. I would just be concerned about the quality of food people bring and the fact that it just doesn't seem special. Pot luck seems like a 4th of july party or birthday party. Your wedding should feel more special. That's just my view on it.

I like what others mentioned. But I think if they gave to bring a dish, then a gift should not be required

View Quoted Comment I was thinking the same thing! Instead of a cards and gifts, food would be a good replacement but we’re still juggling even the thought of it right now. But, thank you!

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Agreeing with Caytlyn. Please don't do this. There are so many issues with a potluck reception. I would either cut back on other costs so you can afford to provide the food, do a cake and punch reception, or postpone the wedding reception until you can save more money. If I was invited to a wedding where I had to provide the food, I would not attend.

View Quoted Comment Having worked as a caterer at MANY wedding, I can see all of the logistical issues with potlucks. And as someone who has been a guest at weddings and also been married, I would never want to have or attend a wedding potluck.

But if they are really as common in your circle as you say, then why don't you just plan it the same way others have done? Copy what others have said on their invites or websites and go with that. If your friends and family are used to attending wedding potlucks, then nothing anyone outside your culture can say really matters.

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If you're families, friends, and community supports the potluck then do it! It'll be those people who are attending, not the people on this message board.

I'm not trying to make you feel bad, do what you want, but I am so sick of potluck weddings. I have seen a few and it just feels like a thrown together way for the couple to hurry up and get married, not plan a special day. If it's just about being married, rethink having a reception or just have desserts with coffee and tea. It was the first thing my FW and I said we absolutely did not want. I want to celebrate with my guests, not put them to work because we all know you can't just set it and forget it in a long line of people with crock pots, unidentifiable dishes, and 4 versions of the same salad. And when you rely on unpaid friends to bring food you end up with not enough or too many of those crappy cookies from the grocery store.

I have been to many LDS weddings, not one was potluck. Most were cake and punch, a few were trays of food (Costco sandwiches, fruit, veg) and several full meals.

I would just skip the potluck and do cake and punch.

Somehow my response to a post about Azazie ended up here, so sorry!