Better dinner food but no hot appetizers

clafond15

Hi All,
My fiance and I had been planning on using a "pre-fix" buffet menu that our venue provides for cheaper than the regular buffet and adding 2 additional hot appetizers like bacon wrapped scallops and chicken kabob. However we did a tasting this past weekend and really did not like a dish on the "pre-fix" menu, it was the chicken dish and was not at all tastey. My question is to stay within my budget should I ditch the hot appetizers and just go with a better dinner or stick with the "pre-fix" and have the hot appetizers to supplement?? Help!

Wiscisbliss

Are you having a cocktail hour?  If so, you need to have some sort of apps... but they don't have to be hot.  As a guest I am happy with some cheese, crackers and veggies if the cocktail hour is an hour and dinner is served promptly afterwards (and is tasty). 

NOLAbridealmost

(It's prix fixe )

If all the options are going to be available in one buffet line I'd keep the appetizer items alongside the entree items because it's always a good idea to have plenty of options for a buffet.  Those who aren't wild about the chicken can load up on the other things. 

If the appetizers are served separately before the buffet I'd also keep them. Folks love a little snack during cocktail hour. 

If you aren't satisfied with one of the prix fixe options, I'd still ask the caterer if they can change it. The worst they can say is no. 

clafond15

The menu comes with a cheese and cracker platter, crudite platter and a hummus platter so there will be appetizers just not hot ones. Those appetizers are served during the cocktail hour and then there is a buffet afterwards. I guess my thing is id think i would want to have a better dinner as a guest.

ElisabethJoanne

Better to have all tastey, cheap food, than not-good, expensive or expensive-style food.

These days, we don't have social events without food of some sort. With weddings, getting to the ceremony, and the ceremony itself, can take some time, so it's polite to have food available more or less immediately after the ceremony. This food doesn't have to be fancy. It should be, after all, just to tide people over until the full meal, if you're serving a full meal.

Exception: In certain cultures, Russian culture for example, appetizers are considered much more important than entrees, and the appetizer period goes on for hours, while the meal is a brief interlude. I hear that rubber chicken dinners are almost expected at such parties. But for the normal American wedding reception, just some munchies to tide people over until dinner (and make sure they're not drinking on empty stomachs) are fine.

Sue-n-Kevin

I think the hot appetizer thing is regional, as I see that a lot of that when the east coast brides post.

If it's me, I'd much rather have a nice dinner than hot appetizers. The cold apps you mentioned would be fine IMO for a cocktail hour before dinner.

RebeccaB88

I think the cold apps sound perfectly fine. I'd rather have a great dinner myself.

clafond15

Thanks everyone for your help, ill pass these opinions along to my fiance and we'll probably go without hot appetizers but with a nicer buffet. :-)

skantrowitz

I'd rather have yummy cold appetizers than not good hot appetizers.

Ljacks87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_better-dinner-food-but-hot-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:ad1f81a3-eabe-400e-9501-cdd756421aa7Post:e3593952-d516-46c6-b620-664e5f6cfaea">Re: Better dinner food but no hot appetizers</a>:
[QUOTE]The menu comes with a cheese and cracker platter, crudite platter and a hummus platter so there will be appetizers just not hot ones. Those appetizers are served during the cocktail hour and then there is a buffet afterwards. I guess my thing is id think i would want to have a better dinner as a guest.
Posted by clafond15[/QUOTE]

Given this information, I think you should upgrade to the better dinner entree and skip a hot appetizer. IMO, those cold appetizers you listed are plenty for cocktail hour. The point is to hold them over until dinner and make sure they're not drinking on an empy stomach, and you would be achieving this with aforementioned items :)

RNMOMTO3

I agree with PP. I'm good with cheese and crackers with a good entree'. Always go with better food.