Potluck reception dinner

Lol, nothing about that was rude.
And yes, the couple is liable for medical bills arising from a potluck, including food poisoning and death.
Just google “potluck deaths.” There’s some great articles to read.

Quite honestly the only way to do it is to tell people I have X amount of people attending but make sure that number is actually higher because you won’t have enough because not everyone portions their food the same. Some people eat a tiny bit of something and think one pan will feed 50 so they’ll be good when in reality the pan feeds 25. And then you and FS need to provide 2 main dishes one for Vegetarians and one for Non-Vegetarian unless the main is like pasta w/no meat.
I probably wouldn’t go unless I knew that the couple was providing at least the main dish because what if I get there and 80 of the 150 people brought mashed potatoes or rolls!? Also I wouldn’t want to pay and cook for 146 people I didn’t know.... what if someone got sick because of me or what if I got sick because of someone else?! I’d pass on this invite if it were me even if I knew there would be a main I guess because of this. I would be taking way more time to get everything and make it I’d probably just stop off and get some of those cookie trays from Costco or safeway.
I’d call around and find an Italian or Mexican restaurant that can cater for inexpensive.

View Quoted Comment Lol the funniest thing ever but true I know people who let their pets do that

View Quoted Comment The funniest thing about to me is the idea that one "lets" a cat do anything.

Personally, I don't think this is a good idea, but if you're dead set on it, you have to organize. Either have a list of specific items you want people to bring or arrange different groups to bring different parts of the meal. Otherwise you can end up with mostly sides and salads or all casserole and no desserts or whatever. Also, this will still be a logistical nightmare unless your guest list is small. Hopefully no one is travelling or driving a long distance to the wedding. Perhaps if you want the "potluck feeling" without the guests supplying dinner, you can ask people just to bring sweets for a sweets table?

View Quoted Comment Ha! So true. Cats are going to do whatever the heck they want

View Quoted Comment We would be supplying the main dish. If people didnt want to come because it would be a pot luck style dinner then they dont have to.. I guess I didnt put enough info into my main post. My bad.

How many is small? 15 or 50? People have varying definitions when it comes to guest list.

I hate the response "why would you have your guests pay for your reception?" As a guest, I think it's ridiculous that a couple is paying $50+ per person to eat a crappy meal and a small piece of cake just to leave early to go out and eat good food. Save your money-GO POTLUCK. We are and we've had really great feedback from our friends. Most have said, "I love how you are doing your wedding." If your "friends" are too snotty to attend because they need to bring a dish, then they don't deserve to be there in the first place. A wedding is a community event and should have community contribution. Just write "in lieu of gifts please bring a dish to share". Good Luck.

I really want to do a potluck wedding. Not because of costs but I feel like it would make things more personal. My plan is to say on the invitations "In lieu of a gift please bring a dish or a recipe of an item listed on our website. On your RSVP simply list the dish you are bringing or put recipe." Something of that nature so when we get the RSVPs we can see what people are bringing and supplement for what is needed based on guest numbers. We will also be providing the meat so really it's just sides we are requesting. We really don't need any gifts. And this is my day people have come to celebrate what I wanted so.... if they talk junk they talk junk, if they dont eat they don't eat, if they don't come, we'll ya know what didn't need em anyway.