table setting

Re: table setting

• aragx6 member

  

  December 2011 edited December 2011

  7 p.m. is a totally normal dinner time. If you want your reception to be during meal time you need to provide a full meal. They can totally be "heavy" appetizers -- you'll just need more pieces per person.
  
  As for table settings, set them up just as you would for any buffet type situation -- have a centerpiece and you can lay out napkins but don't have plates at the tables.

  

  Report0 Reply
• Sue-n-Kevin member

  

  December 2011 edited December 2011

  Whether your event is at meal time (in response to above poster) depends: is your ceremony at 7 pm and the appetizers afterward? Depending on the part of the country, a meal at 7 may or may not be "meal time", but if the ceremony is at 7 pm, then I'd assume your guests would have already eaten.

  
  

  You don't say whether the appetizers are walked around and passed by servers, or on a buffet table. If on a buffet table, the caterer will generally set up plates and appropriate utensils for the guests to grab as they go through the line, meaning the table settings would just have a napkin (and maybe a napkin ring if you want to go to that trouble), plus goblets with water in them for the guests to have while eating/dancing, etc.
  
  If your ceremony is earlier than 7 pm, and the reception starts at 7 pm, then you really need to consult local customs and see if that is considered a meal time or not. Appetizers can cost as much or more than a full meal, because someone actually has to prepare small appetizers by hand, which is more labor intensive than putting a bunch of meat, potatoes, side dishes in an oven then a  large chafing dish. But if your reception starts at 7 pm, you would need to supply 8-10 "heavy appetizers" (stuff that sticks to your ribs) per person.
  
  However, if your reception is only lasting about 3 hrs, and there is just alcohol and no dancing, then you could probably get by with maybe 5-8 appetizers per person, as the amount of time they are drinking is limited.
  
  Hope that helps.

  Wedding Website and Bio

  Report0 Reply
• teralicious

  

  December 2011 edited December 2011

  I think you need to serve dinner, my ceremony is at 7:30, cocktail hour and appetizers at 8:15 and dinner at 8:45. I think the only way to have only appetizers for a night event is if it starts at 8:30 or later, any earlier than this and your guests will be expecting a meal. Remember people have to travel to your wedding and get ready prior to the event so they probably won't eat much before they come.

  Report0 Reply
• Peavy member

  

  December 2011 edited December 2011

  Any ceremony that begins at 4PM or later needs to have enough food to equate a meal.  People have to get ready, travel, arrive early, etc, so they don't have time to eat dinner. 

  Report0 Reply