Dessert-only reception?

kater99 · May 2010

Hi girls,
Is anyone else having a dessert only reception after their ceremony? I am toying with the idea, and haven't completely made up my mind yet. What time are you going to start your recption then with the dessert only? I figure it can't be when people would expect a meal-like lunch or dinner, but still don't know what time would be good. any help or ideas in general for this subject would be much appreciated! TIA!

danieliza1127 · May 2010

An afternoon reception, around 2 or 3pm would be good, or a late evening one after 8pm would work.

aerinpegadrak · May 2010

If you're going for evening, make sure your ceremony starts at 8pm or later, so people have plenty of time to grab dinner without having to eat ridiculously early. For the afternoon, you could probably get away with a 1pm ceremony.

Also, if you serve any sort of alcohol, make sure you have some protein options as well. A selection of cheeses is always good and still desserty, and I'm partial to getting some crackers and doing a nut butter bar.

Alcohol + pure sugar = people who will feel nauseous and get drunk much faster

1shaz · May 2010

If you were to go this route, I would not do it earlier than 2pm in the afternoon or people will expect lunch and not between 4-8 or it will be too close to dinner or during a time in which people would expect something more substantial.

How long do you expect your reception to be? Are you thinking afternoon tea or late night sweets?

If you choose afternoon, the desert bar limits the time period because you have to be far enought past noon that people don't expect lunch, but finish well enough before people get hungry for dinner. With the post dinner desert option you leave the end time open so you can run longer.

Only other question is .. when is the ceremony? You don't want the time between ceremony to reception to run over a meal time or people will be offended that they had to fend for themselves. My BF attended a wedding where the bride and groom had an afternoon wedding, then had a dinner only for family (making friends have to go to a local restaurant on their own) and then had friends return for desert buffet and dancing. Let's say that has gone down in history as the major faux pas of any wedding anyone in our group has attended!

jroseber · May 2010

Well we are not having a meal for sure. We honestly don't even want a long receptions; it is going to be only immediate family and closest friends. We are still getting a cake, but just haven't decided if we should serves small fingure food items. But either way, our ceremony starts at 2, and reception is directly following it at about 2:30

1shaz · May 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_dessert-only-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:d27b6e6e-85ce-4987-b116-a118487eea1aPost:37633997-cccf-45fd-8a49-9a0b86edd28a">Re: Dessert-only reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]Well we are not having a meal for sure. We honestly don't even want a long receptions; it is going to be only immediate family and closest friends. We are still getting a cake, but just haven't decided if we should serves small fingure food items. But either way, our ceremony starts at 2, and reception is directly following it at about 2:30.
Posted by jroseber[/QUOTE]

I think what you described, especially considering it is an intimate gathering, sounds just perfect.

lnene · May 2010

We are having a dessert only reception. We are having our cake and then my family is Italian and it is a wedding tradition to make wedding cookies. The cookies are also doubling as our favors. We are also having a coffee bar. Our wedding is starting at 7.

lyndausvi · May 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_dessert-only-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:d27b6e6e-85ce-4987-b116-a118487eea1aPost:ff451e62-d232-488a-9caf-59b5fd283997">Re: Dessert-only reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]We are having a dessert only reception. We are having our cake and then my family is Italian and it is a wedding tradition to make wedding cookies. The cookies are also doubling as our favors. We are also having a coffee bar. Our wedding is starting at 7.
Posted by lnene[/QUOTE]

I would consider that dinner time. Can you push it to 8pm instead?

nleley1505 · May 2010

I haven't considered doing a desserts only reception but I think it would be a great idea! I absolutely love anything sweet! If you do decide to go that route though, I would do the reception mid-afternoon or evening. Sometime after people would be expecting a meal like lunch or dinner. Also make sure the drinks you serve go with the desserts you'll be having (coffee, hot cocoa, milk, water, wine, etc.). Good luck!

sugarmeg · September 2010

Hi,

this is my first post! I've been thinking ceremony at 7:30pm, reception immediately following (its next door t the church) at 8pm and doing a dessert-only reception, especially for the DIY-friendly aspect.

I was thinking of doing stations around the room - a chocolate fountain with lots of fruit, a cupcake/cake table, the bf wants an ice cream sundae bar, a candy station, and maybe a cheese/fruit station.

What I'm wondering is if I need to hire servers to watch the tables and refill stuff? Or can I just pile them high beforehand and thats it, no refills?

Should I still try to get a caterer?

Any thoughts?

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