ceremony at 2pm, reception 3pm-ish...how much food?

juliereeser

Our wedding ceremony is at 2pm so the reception should start at 3pm while we're finishing up pics. 

We expect around 200 guests (estimate includes kids).

We were thinking of doing a "cocktail/appetizer hour" then having a served dinner. However, the cost of both is just too much for us.

How much food do we really need to provide? 3pm to 7pm is an awkward time...do we just do dinner? If only dinner, how soon do we serve it? 

If we only do appetizers, we'll have to have a lot so our Guests can eat while they drink.

Neither of us want to do a buffet for dinner because it's too time consuming for Guests, and some would still be in line for food and we'll have to get the party started. 

Help! Thanks!

kaesha

I think the answer to that depends on when your reception is going to end. If it's ending at 7pm, then you could definitely just do apps and drinks. But, if you're having something that goes to 9 or later, then yes, I think you do have to serve them dinner because they won't have a chance to feed themselves beforehand.

Also, on a totally unrelated note, if the email address you're using as your screen name is an important one, you might want to start a new account here. This is a public message board, and as such there have been known to be all sorts of crazies on the boards who'll email people/pose as brides/etc, and it's best to give them as little ammunition as possible.

juliereeser

Thank you for your response, we needed someone with some insight to help us decide. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I agree - there's no need to serve a meal at a non-meal time. Your invitations can state "hors d'oeuvres reception to follow" or "cocktail reception to follow."

RebeccaB88

Yes, I think that if you're done by about 7pm, you can definitely do cake and appetizers.  Think a gourmet cheese board with crackers, fruit display, assorted dips and spreads, antipasti platters, chicken or beef kabobs, stuffed mushrooms, crostini, pasta salads, deli trays, mini quiches, shrimp cocktail, crabcakes, soup shooters.   

Debbie111111

People who go to the expense of attending a wedding expect some food.  Invite less people and feed them, for god's sake.