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Savvy October 2019

Ice-cream Wedding

Hannah, on August 13, 2019 at 12:57 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 18

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I posted here last week about a small budget. I am taking my 44 guests (destination wedding) to a seafood house after the ceremony for appetizers and salads. The entrees are not included but after talking with numerous family members I have found that they were willing to pitch in to cover the entrees. We are having an alcohol free wedding due to family requests on both sides. However, dinner will be over by about 7:30-7:45ish. We have nothing else planned for the wedding. So my question is- should we rent out an ice-cream parlor to serve cake, ice-cream, and coffee to the guest? This would also give us space to mingle and walk around and we don’t have a lot of space during dinner and everyone will be seated. Do you think renting an ice cream parlor is too much of a birthday party idea? Or with the right decorations could this say wedding?

note: I do not have an alternative location for ice-cream and cake. So either cake would be served at the seafood place and then guests would end the night early or we go on to the parlor.

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18 Comments

Latest activity by Hannah, on August 13, 2019 at 6:00 PM

VIP September 2019
Yam · on August 13, 2019 at 1:03 PM
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I’m on the fence. Do you know any cute ice cream parlors? The ones near me are covered in huge awful murals of a smiling sun and I honestly hate how they’re decorated. No way I’d use mine! If yours however is adorable or even a blank slate then go for it.
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Savvy October 2019
Hannah · on August 13, 2019 at 1:10 PM
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Is there a way to add pictures on this website?
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on August 13, 2019 at 1:25 PM
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If you have any extra money, I'd put it towards feeding people an actual meal or alcohol and just spend more time in the restaurant.
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Savvy October 2019
Hannah · on August 13, 2019 at 1:29 PM
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With the amount I have $500- it wouldn’t be enough to for entrees for 44 at a seafood place, but family is helping us cover those cost & our family has requested no alcohol be present during any wedding events. So would you just do cake at the restaurant and end the night early?
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on August 13, 2019 at 1:30 PM
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I would just stay at the restaurant then!
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Master September 2019
Sarah · on August 13, 2019 at 1:30 PM
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I agree with this. It wouldn’t really make sense to me that you can’t pay for my dinner but you somehow afforded to rent out an ice cream parlor.
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Champion November 2016
LB · on August 13, 2019 at 1:33 PM
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Agree with this. Especially with a DW.
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on August 13, 2019 at 1:34 PM
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Right, and I'm sure you already are but I'd include on the invite & website that the hosted aspect only covers apps & salads but no entrees or alcohol.
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Savvy October 2019
Hannah · on August 13, 2019 at 1:37 PM
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The entrees at the place are more expensive, with a $500 budget that would leave roughly $11 pp & that just doesn’t work at a seafood restaurant- however family is willing to pitch in for the cost of entrees. So this would just be an added thing for the evening to give us the chance to mingle with our guests since we don’t have room to do that in the restaurant so much. Essentially everyone is getting appetizers, salads, entrees, and cake- just trying to decide if I should end the night at 7:30 or stretch dessert out serve with ice-cream at a different location and have that extra time to mingle with everyone or if the parlor seems juvenile.
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Dedicated September 2019
allisonrose · on August 13, 2019 at 1:50 PM
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I think what everyone is trying to say is that guests should not be paying for their meal. You should have done something within your budget.
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Savvy October 2019
Hannah · on August 13, 2019 at 1:52 PM
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I must keep wording this incorrectly, my fiancé's parents & grandparents along with my parents are paying for entrees. So that doesn't affect my budget. So I have an additional $500.
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January 2019
MOB So Cal · on August 13, 2019 at 1:54 PM
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Obviously, I'm not familiar with the venue you're considering, but I've never been in an ice cream parlor that had room for 44 people to comfortably hang around and mingle. (The ones I've been to the seating is usually fairly congested, with a lot of small tables and uncomfortable chairs.) I think in an earlier post you said something about everyone staying in condos. If that's the case, I'd probably just go back there and provide additional snacks so people can hang out together and visit. I wouldn't see moving from a restaurant to an ice cream parlor for dessert as an advantage. I'd do cake at the restaurant (it's a nice way to "officially" conclude the meal), then maybe have an informal gathering where you and/or the guests are staying.
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Expert November 2019
Keri · on August 13, 2019 at 1:54 PM
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Stay at the restaurant. I think it would be confusing for guests to know what is included and what isn't. Skip the ice cream parlor and use the money to feed your guests.
Correction: Meals are being covered. I'd still keep it in same location. Glad to hear guests aren't footing the bill.
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Dedicated September 2019
allisonrose · on August 13, 2019 at 1:55 PM
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Okay, yes. Haha. That makes much more sense. Then, that’s up to you. If you want to do more for your guests and you have the money for it, why not? I know I wouldn’t complain about free ice cream.
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VIP October 2019
Ivy ORP · on August 13, 2019 at 2:23 PM
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I don't see the advantage of going from venue to dinner to dessert. I think a nice dinner and then maybe gather together later at the resort or wherever you are staying. It just feels like a lot of travel unless everything is walking distance in a cute area that your guests might enjoy wandering around.
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Dedicated September 2019
Teresa · on August 13, 2019 at 3:10 PM
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Does the restaurant have a back room that you can use to serve cake?
If not, and since you're budget conscious, I don't think it's necessary to rent out another room. I would either serve a cake or dessert at the restaurant of your choice. Maybe something that you purchase for your guests so they feel like they're being taken care of. Let people talk at the table and enjoy their dessert.
What you can do is come up with an after party of sorts at a coffee shop or someone's house or even a fun place like a late night arcade or park and have snacks and refreshments. Some place where you don't have to rent out a room but you can reserve a table and people can easily be entertained.
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VIP December 2019
Michelle · on August 13, 2019 at 5:50 PM
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Family is helping but the $500 can go to the food
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Savvy October 2019
Hannah · on August 13, 2019 at 6:00 PM
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I must keep wording this incorrectly, my fiancé's parents & grandparents along with my parents are paying for entrees. So that doesn't affect my budget. So I have an additional $500.
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