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Emily
Dedicated June 2021

Reception food?

Emily, on August 1, 2019 at 12:10 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 13
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For catering I had been planning a huge dinner without even realizing I may be wasting a lot of money. My ceremony starts at 3pm with reception following at the same venue. I haven’t planned the time of events yet but I’m imagining the food will served at around 4:30ish. What kind of food should be catered? It seems too early to have a large dinner but too late for a lunch style. Reception will be going until about 7 so should I still serve dinner or do something different?

13 Comments

Latest activity by NextChapterReady, on August 7, 2019 at 10:41 AM
  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    You could do a lot of heavier appetizers and desserts I suppose because that is sort of an in between time and a short enough reception that guests coulddddddd eat dinner after on their own.
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  • Cher Horowitz
    Master December 2019
    Cher Horowitz ·
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    I agree with Melle. Also look into fruit, veggie, and cheese trays!

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  • Keri
    Expert November 2019
    Keri ·
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    I'd still feed guests a full meal. Doesn't have to be over the top with multiple options/courses, but enough to keep your guests full.

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  • D
    Super July 2020
    D ·
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    I would look into pasta or Mexican for catering to keep costs down but still provide a full meal. People can choose to fill their plates according to their dinner plans and you won't endure unnecessary cost.
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  • B
    Savvy October 2019
    Bee ·
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    You could do appetizers or just go straight for the dinner and then serve dessert around 7 or so.


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  • C
    Master January 2019
    Cassidy ·
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    I would expect to be served dinner.
    Our ceremony began at 2:30 and our dinner started around 5:20. Different venues and we had a cocktail hr with light appetizers.
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  • Danielle
    Master June 2019
    Danielle ·
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    I would still serve dinner, especially if you will have elders or children (as they tend to eat earlier). Also, because some guests might find after 7pm too late to eat dinner, which they would have to go get after your reception if you chose not to serve it. And a lot of people won't eat before the wedding expecting to eat there. You can think of it like Thanksgiving, where people tend to eat a big meal earlier in the day (lunch / dinner combined).

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  • D
    Just Said Yes October 2019
    Donna ·
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    Hi our ceremony is at 3. Were having afternoon tea at 545pm then bacon butties chips served at 9
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  • Kelly
    VIP October 2020
    Kelly ·
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    I eat dinner around 430 so I'd be expecting dinner then.
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  • Melissa
    VIP September 2019
    Melissa ·
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    I would do a full dinner as 5:00 is a fairly standard dinner time.
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  • Mcskipper
    Master July 2018
    Mcskipper ·
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    For a full length party, plan a full meal. You can always adjust the timeline so your dinner is served a little later (do some dancing first, etc). My ceremony was at 3:30, and we served dinner. 3:30-4 ceremony, 4-5 cocktail hour , then intros and first dance and dinner served probably for 5:30. Perfectly reasonable and everyone was hungry and ate up !
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  • J
    Master October 2019
    Jolie ·
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    I mean in my italian culture my mom always put food on the table at 5-5:30 at the latest if she worked later. I think you are fine having dinner still. Now I eat anywhere between 6-7pm. Are you having a cocktail hour from 3:30-4:30? Then serve dinner about 5pm. Or you could skip cocktail hour and do dinner at 4:30 cake cutting/dessert served at 6pm.

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  • NextChapterReady
    Super October 2019
    NextChapterReady ·
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    I would still think dinner would be served! Seems late enough for a meal for me!

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