Hors'doeuvres reception

parkerandkatie

I have never been to an hors'doeuvres reception and am curious about the flow and transition from speeches, to slideshow, to dance. Do people usually get enough food?
Thnx!

alithebride

if they're done right of COURSE people get enough food. if they're not done right you have a lot of hungry people left.
you dont have to change the flow of anything.  it's done in a similar manner. ask your caterer about how it's done.

aegrish

Also, make sure your appetizer reception isn't at a meal-time. I think that is key, no matter how much food you have.

[Deleted User]

We are having a heavy hors'doeuvres reception in September.  We are having 5 different cold hors'doeuvres and 4 hot (which will be butlered). Our venue will continuously replenish them. For one hour we are having 2 stations - pasta and turkey with a grilled vegetable side.  We are having it at 5:00 - right over the dinner hour!  We have informed all of our guests what type of reception it will be so they know what to expect. 
As for the flow - we are having a 1 hour cocktail hour, then introductions, first dance, speeches, and open the stations.  When the stations close we are going to do father/daughter, mother/son, dances and starting the dance music.  We are not having a wedding cake (having cookies and pastries instead) so we will not have a cake cutting, garter toss, or bouquet toss.
Hope this helps.

tammythetiger

I went to a wedding like this once and the reception was from 5pm - 11:30 with only heavy appetizers...it left me hungry and too intoxicated....ha.

For our wedding, we are doing a heavy appetizer reception but it was mostly about the time of day.  Our church was already booked earlier in the day so we are having a 6:30pm Catholic wedding which means we won't be done until 7:30pm.  By the time the guests get to the reception, it will be closer to 8:00pm.  With such a late time, we've decided to do a heavy appetizer reception with a local Italian restaurant who is providing about 14 different options at $14.99 per person.  The reception is at a brewery so that takes care of the alcohol.  Overall, we are saving a ton of money by not doing a seated dinner but as others said, it works best if it's not during a regular meal time.  

As for the traditions stuff, we're allowing our guests to eat as soon as they arrive.  Then when we get there by 8:30pm, we are going to launch into the traditions....that part hasn't changed at all.

katypeg

How are you ladies wording your invitations?  Right now my FI and I are trying to decide what we want in terms of a reception and this has come up.  If we were to do something like that, we'd make it an 8:00 ceremony and reception following.  But we're wondering how to do an invitation.  We're thinking: "please join us for hor doeuvres, drinks, and dessert following the ceremony."  Any thoughts?