A wedding without chicken?

sarah0725

Would my marriage be nullified if I didn't have a chicken dish as one of the choices for my reception?

We are allowed two entree choices, and we're seriously considering going with beef or salmon for the two choices. A lot of this has to do with the fact that some of our very close guests (like my brother and SIL) are pescatarians, and we want them to have something delicious to eat, rather than some crummy pasta dish. And FI really wants some sort of beef dish, so that leaves chicken out. I kind of think this is fine, because chicken isn't really all that interesting anyway, but then I am a remarkably unpicky eater, so I don't know if people are going to revolt and pour red wine on my white dress or something.

zippityb

I think as long as you have the chicken dance, everyone will leave satisfied.

Meg1979

My sister had beef and like a mahi mahi.  The guests really liked it.  We're in S. Florida, so they liked the variation.  I think salmon is a good choice.

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:b3cace29-c828-49c1-a0d9-95d4facd0701">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think as long as you have the chicken dance, everyone will leave satisfied.
Posted by zippityb[/QUOTE]

Have you been talking to my FMIL?

zippityb

Yeah, we hang.

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:bdda5df9-d3fb-4cf7-af03-599f858e0541">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]Yeah, we hang.
Posted by zippityb[/QUOTE]

She wants the mother-son dance to be the chicken dance.

FutureMrsTR

We had crab cake and pork tenderloin as our options.  Along with a vegetarian pasta (which actually turned out to be rice, not pasta, but whatevs).  I think everyone had something they could enjoy.

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:8813a471-1fce-4d18-8cc2-fe6f869a4eb0">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]We had crab cake and pork tenderloin as our options.  Along with a vegetarian pasta (which actually turned out to be rice, not pasta, but whatevs).  I think everyone had something they could enjoy.
Posted by FutureMrsTR[/QUOTE]

Man, both of those sound really good.

SEWF

I'm a huge meat-eater (I am from the midwest after all), so I'd be fine with the beef. Since I'm from the midwest, however, I'm not so much of a fish eater, since we don't get a whole lot of fresh seafood unless you want to pay an arm and a leg. Most people eat either salmon or beef anyway, so I think those sound fine. And you're right, chicken can be boring.

FutureMrsTR

They really were.  Too bad my bouquet tipped over out of the too-small vase a well-meaning server had stuck it in and knocked my drink all over my plate, haha.

salt78

Personally I love salmon, but I know a lot of people that don't. Whereas I only know like 1 person that doesn't like chicken. 

Moneypenny424

We served filet and halibut (and a vegetarian ratatouille) at our wedding.  It was all delicious!  I understand needing a non-red meat option and I understand that some people don't like fish, but I feel that if you won't eat either, you need to get the vegetarian dish and call it a day!

smokeybailey

Maybe the salmon tastes like chicken.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Noelle, I'm also doing a mushroom ravioli. I had it the other day and it's GOOD. That gnocchi sounds awesome too.

I don't really know anyone who will eat ONLY chicken as a meat option. Even if people don't eat beef, they'll eat fish. If they don't like salmon, they'll likely have beef. And I'm guessing that your venue will accomodate special diets, like vegan or whatever, so everyone should be happy. Or at least fed. Weddings aren't restaurants. You can only do so much and have so much variety, right?

arv266

My only thought is how will the salmon be prepared?  Of all the fish dishes out there, salmon can be pretty smelly... and you wouldn't want the smell of fish all night.

sarah0725

Yay! I'm glad that so far no one is advocating pouring red wine on my wedding dress in lieu of chicken.

HC, what is it about FMILs and the chicken dance? FI and I are both pretty adamantly against it, and we're probably hiring an anarchist DJ who agrees with us, so I guess that's that.

noelle24

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:0588ca3d-a5de-4378-83af-ebfefefd3f9f">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]Noelle, I'm also doing a mushroom ravioli. I had it the other day and it's GOOD. That gnocchi sounds awesome too.
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

I love me some mushroom ravioli.  I'm so ridiculously excited for our reception food.  Aside from actually being married to my FI, I think it's next on the list of "things I'm most excited for about the wedding".  I can't wait for my family and friends to try the food... it's fantabulous!

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:f12b81d6-ac10-4a46-a300-101aae8fc61b">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]My only thought is how will the salmon be prepared?  Of all the fish dishes out there, salmon can be pretty smelly... and you wouldn't want the smell of fish all night.
Posted by arv266[/QUOTE]

This is a little strange. Not sure how it will be prepared yet, but I don't think the hotel kitchens are close enough to the ballroom to pervade the place with cooking smells. I've been to plenty of weddings that had salmon, and I don't ever remember the place smelling like fish.

salt78

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:52bcd8ba-a1ab-483d-8600-46523a97d6aa">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]THere will be no chickens at my wedding either. And we are only having one entree: Beef! Oh, the horror!
Posted by SarahPLiz[/QUOTE]

<div>So what are the people that don't eat beef supposed to do?</div>

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:a987e553-e522-47ef-9535-40fd94958ad5">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: A wedding without chicken? : Haha, I'm not really sure...I know friends who have had this happen as well when they were planning their weddings. I hate to say its an "older woman thing" :| but idk...she was really displeased that there will be no chicken dance or macarena. Of course this is the same woman who wanted me to put registry info in the invites & have a dollar dance. She means well, but I will not cave for the chicken dance. whoops.
Posted by hcbrowne[/QUOTE]

Mine also wants us to play the Electric Slide. I think maybe FI should handle her wedding suggestions for a while.

SarahPLiz

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:8bd622d5-424f-4788-8301-b501db66735b">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: A wedding without chicken? : So what are the people that don't eat beef supposed to do?
Posted by salt78[/QUOTE]

<div>We only have one guest that doesn't eat beef, and he is in love with our vegetables, which are very hearty. Menu in bio. </div>

emelydiaz87

I only eat chicken for meat becasue I do not like sea food or beef so I would be very hungry at you wedding, but I would not care becasue it is my own fault for being picky. I just went to my friend's wedding and she only had sea food and beef so I just ate the side dishes and was fine. I think that there is not a lot of people out there who would not like fish or beef so I think your fine.

stillundecided4

I think I'm in the minority.

I HATE any kind of seafood. I know I'm weird. I'm also picky about my beef. So I would be disapointed there wasn't a chicken choice, but I'd live and eat the beef. I didn't read all the replys so forgive me if this was already mentioned, but is there a way you can do 3 choices? I know my venue charged extra, but it might help people like me who aren't fond of seafood or beef.

salt78

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:3cb3d076-b5cf-401a-886f-2d376ea349f4">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: A wedding without chicken? : Mine also wants us to play the Electric Slide. I think maybe FI should handle her wedding suggestions for a while.
Posted by sarah0725[/QUOTE]

<div>I think this sounds like a good plan.</div>

hcbrowne

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:3cb3d076-b5cf-401a-886f-2d376ea349f4">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: A wedding without chicken? : Mine also wants us to play the Electric Slide. I think maybe FI should handle her wedding suggestions for a while.
Posted by sarah0725[/QUOTE]

I'm going to play the electric slide & possibly the cupid shuffle, which I thought was a good compromise. However, despite this, no chicken dance=no fun wedding. The drama of that statement just amuses me.& I agree at some point ya just gotta say no and let the FI talk with her abt any further "concerns."

mica178

We are having absolutely no chicken on our wedding menu, and no chicken-titled dances on our playlist.    I think the state of CA will still recognize the marriage.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

My mom was pushing for the honey-pokey. No joke. Exhibit 1253252 that my mother is crazy.

hcbrowne

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:ba6428aa-4fac-4ecb-81fd-a614448a0388">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]My mom was pushing for the honey-pokey. No joke. Exhibit 1253252 that my mother is crazy.
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

LOL! thats awesomely bad.

sarah0725

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:ba6428aa-4fac-4ecb-81fd-a614448a0388">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]My mom was pushing for the honey-pokey. No joke. Exhibit 1253252 that my mother is crazy.
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

Hey, I've also had that request! FI's aunt desperately wants to do the hokey pokey with her granddaughter.

I don't know what's up with FI's family.

I forget who asked, but I think it would raise the price per head significantly to add a third entree choice. There will also be some sort of vegetarian option for people who can't eat beef or fish, just not sure what that will be yet.

smokeybailey

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wedding-chicken?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5c15abbe-c8e7-45fb-9533-3028487811cePost:ba6428aa-4fac-4ecb-81fd-a614448a0388">Re: A wedding without chicken?</a>:
[QUOTE]My mom was pushing for the honey-pokey. No joke. Exhibit 1253252 that my mother is crazy.

Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]


My friend had the hokey pokey at her reception.  It was fun and no one had a problem with it.  Embrace the wacky, Mery.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

She was also pissed that I vetoed Donna Summer.

Yeah, mom, this isn't 1979 and it isn't your wedding!