Non-alcoholic Drinks/daytime Wedding

I do think it would be rather nice if there was light appetizers . Could be super simple too like crudite and fruit because that's a rather long waiting period.

I'm going dry as well!
We are doing appitizers for the photos, known as cocktail hour, and a nacho bar. Honestly soda and juice is all were serving as well and the caterer said appitizers and food were more important overall especially because people are hungry after the ceremony

People will get to your wedding early, so even though they’ll likely eat breakfast before starting to get ready, they’ll probably be hungry when your ceremony is over. Cocktail hour is really big in my social circle so I’d say you absolutely need to feed your guests some kind of appetizers when you’re doing pictures.

I think some light appetizers would be a nice addition.

Since you are getting married in September, what about apple cider?

Since you are serving such a pretty decent lunch you don't have to make the appetizers real heavy. They could be very basic but just something for people to munch on while they wait for you to arrive and the meal to be served.

View Quoted Comment

Right? that's my thought as well. Granted, I'm not having bridesmaids, but I know when I was a bridesmaids at the first wedding I was so hungry and hot I almost passed out in the church during the ceremony.

I'm just thinking hungry kids don't behave as well as they would otherwise either. We do have access to a playground at the venue though so I'm hoping that helps to keep them entertained.

Her concern is that if I offer something to eat between 11:30 - 1:30 people are not going to want to eat lunch.

Your guests’ problems are your problems at an event you are hosting. I don’t think you need to go crazy while you’re doing photos, but a simple stationary snack would go a long way for keeping guests happy and entertained. Even just to do a fruit/cheese/cracker platter will ensure no one is getting hangry. You don’t have to fill anyone up at this time, and you don’t have to bother with passed apps if you don’t want to.

Regarding beverages— what do you like to drink ? It’s your wedding day. Get that thing and serve it! We had big dispensers of iced tea and lemonade out in addition to water (with soft drinks and juice available at the bar) . If there’s something more fun that you like, it’s relatively easy to put together a dispenser full. You can also get some sparkling cider or something if you’re looking for celebratory!

I would offer appetizers so your guests aren't just waiting. Even if it's simple like fruit & veggies or crackers.

You certainly don't need alcohol if you don't want it, but it would be a nice addition. Maybe even one beer, one red, one white. Or only mimosas or another premade cocktail. Again, no need to provide that, but it may make it feel less anti-climactic.

If you don't drink soda, then maybe add iced tea, lemonade, or flavored/infused water - I recently went to a wedding that had 3 different flavors of infused water in huge self poor containers and it was a hit (mint, cucumber, citrus, rosemary, etc).

I also think you need to provide drinks and light snacks during your "picture" hour. Popcorn, snack mixes, cheese and crackers, fruit trays would all be easy but nice things to have.

I agree with some PPs that sweet/unsweet tea and lemonade are other good options to offer! Nearly every time I’ve been to wedding or banquet style dinners, tea is a standard offering. You could also consider hot drinks as an after dinner thing, maybe coffee, hot tea, cider, or cocoa?

View Quoted Comment

Can't do alcohol though :/

1. Venue doesn't allow it.

2. Family members with alcohol problem

3. We can't afford it

I might do some infused water instead of plain, but she is just offering the drinks in cans and bottles kept in a cooler. I'm not sure how to do separate drinks in dispensers and make sure that I have enough for everyone.

I suggested pop-corn since my fiance is a manager at a movie theater. I'm sure it'd be super simple to get and probably free for us. My fiance seems to be in agreement with the his mom and the family friend, that is not necessary to provide anything.

View Quoted Comment

How did you make sure you didn't run out and that it kept cool?

I agree that it IS our problem, considering cranky kids and hangry parents are no fun. I know I'm definitely not.

View Quoted Comment Well, our caterers took care of it so I don’t totally know 😱, haha— but I see 2 options: some of the big dispensers I’ve seen have a “core” piece that you can take out and freeze and then put in when you put the beverage in....but, those are big and fancy and I’m sure cost a premium!
if you just got a normal one, instead of trying to really *keep* them cold, have an ice bucket next to it, so that people can fill their glasses with fresh ice when they pour their drinks. The dispensers can be large enough that I wouldn’t worry about running out— just, when it’s out, you’re out— as long as it holds a couple gallons.

We bought 5 of these 5 gallon vitroleros (beverage containers) from walmart to use for our drinks.

Vitrolero

You need 4 gallons of drinks per 25 guests. Everything I’ve read said that on average a person has two drinks during the first hour of a party and then they slow down.

Drink cheat sheet

To make our non alcoholic drinks fun we are serving aguas frescas in our vitroleros. At least one will be lemonade and one will be tea. The other flavors will probably be horchata, melon and strawberry or pineapple coconut.

Aguas frescasAguas frescas

View Quoted Comment

Thank you, that's super helpful!

I will present the idea to the F

Your wedding sounds a lot like our wedding although our ceremony was at 11 and we were eating by around 12:15/12:30 - our ceremony was super short! I would put out some light snacks like some trail mix, some fruit, cheese and crackers but nothing heavy. If I attend an afternoon wedding (and we have one Saturday at 2!) I have zero expectation of alcohol at a wedding.

View Quoted Comment

This is exactly what that wedding had! These big self serve containers with ice, water, and an assortment of herbs/fruit in each one!

View Quoted Comment

FH and I served drinks with this set up for our baby shower last year and it was a big hit with both sides of our families.

View Quoted Comment

You’re welcome. There are tons of aguas frescas video recipes on youtube if you need some inspiration for flavors.

I would do cheese, crackers and fruit/veggies for appetizers! It's inexpensive and gives guests something to munch on. As for the drinks, maybe some fun lemonades and limeades with different flavors? Also inexpensive, but very refreshing and fun! There are lots of sugar free varieties of lemonades and limeades too!