Anyone who had a strolling supper reception...

kirstenr · July 2010

Has anyone done this or been to one? It's the feeling I want for my reception: heavy hors' doerves and enough to make a full meal, but more "finger-food"ish... and more of a cocktail party feeling than a "sit-down dinner." How did it go; were people happy, how was the flow of the party, etc.?

We're thinking of not having assigned seating or assigned tables, and I'm wondering if this is something people get crabby about. Any kind of opinion or input on the situation would be helpful, thanks!

Lisa8888 · July 2010

Hors' doerves are not supper. Most people get dressed up to attend a wedding and don't appreciate finger food when they are all dressed up. People usually prefer assigned seating. I understand you may provide lots of hors' doerves which may fill up people but your guests will still say you didn't provide them with a meal.

MommyMarta08 · July 2010

Totally disagree with Lisa from CT- sorry. I am having a cocktail hour (passed hors douvres) followed by mini meals served at stations. The meals will be small enough to hold as you mingle- bigger than hors douevres- smaller than a meal plate. The wedding will feel like a big cocktail party b/c I always think cocktail hrs are the best part of a wedding anyway. Sorry but "would you like beef, chicken or fish?" is a little out of style. I am serving exciting food with great presentation, without the trite, sit down dinner. It will also be a formal event- I don't think anyone will miss a tacky buffet line OR a sit down dinner that is from a bad repetitive nightmare of every other wedding they've been to.

Lisa8888 · July 2010

MonnyMarta...LOL!!!...you can have your wedding anyway you like but it is ridiculous to characterize every sit down dinner as a bad repetive nightmare. No not every sit down dinner is the same. And sit down dinners commonly do include a number of stations.

Hor Douevres are usually my favorite part of a meal however people will still say they were not served a dinner. And people still prefer to sit while eating. Eating during a cocktail hour is light eating and doesn't constitute a meal. When people are eating a meal, they want to sit down. Kind of hard to mingle and balance a plate and a glass and eat at the same time.

MommyMarta08 · July 2010

I think you can get this effect with some regular tables and some tall cocktail tables (w/o chairs). It would lose the effect of a cocktail party if you had assigned seating. I just think it is incredibly lame when people jump to "people want to sit and eat!!! yada yada yada...". I think cocktail weddings are nice if they are done well and you don't need assigned seating. Assigned seating will make it feel like a buffet and that's not what a food station wedding is.

quotequeen · July 2010

I love apps, I think they can absolutely be a meal, and part of me wishes I were doing this. However, whatever you do, please, please have enough seating for everybody. If I couldn't sit down in my heels when I wanted to and could only find a tall cocktail table without chairs, I would be very cranky.

AdeleDazeem · July 2010

I have to agree with Marta on this one. A cocktail party reception can be done well. Although, seriously, I've never heard it refered to as a "strolling supper reception."

Anyway, have a lot of seating between high top tables and regular tables with chairs so people can sit down if they want. I hate parties where there isn't anywhere to sit.

And it's perfectly acceptable to feed people enough hors d'oevres to consitute a full meal. Make sure you do have enough, though - especially if you're having an open bar! No one likes the puker at the party.

I would reccomend saying "cocktail reception to follow" so people are aware, however. Sometimes I hold back on appetizers because I'm thinking I have to save room for a meal.

For what it's worth, we are going to try to have a cocktail party at home reception following our wedding in May. I love the idea.

Theresa626 · July 2010

I went to one in New Orleans. At first, I was totally disappointed by it. But, the food was really really good and there was just so much of it that I ate enough for a meal. Also, the atmosphere was very party like and fun so it was a fun wedding. Make sure you have enough seats for everyone and tons and tons of food that is delicious. Also, a band or DJ playing during supper kind of sets the party mood.

kirstenr · July 2010

Joy, I hate the term "strolling supper" as well. It won't necessarily be appetizers, though, it will be more like miniaturized versions of full meals (i.e. mini grilled cheeses with tomato soup shooters, the chef is talking about maybe doing mini reubens, chicken satays, etc.). So, yes, I want to be sure everyone fills up on them and doesn't expect a big meal to follow, so I'll incorporate some wording in the invitation to indicate that.

Lisa, the whole avoidance of a sit-down meal is what my reasoning is as well. Especially since I'm a vegetarian, as is my FI, and any time we go to a wedding with a plated dinner (and even many that are buffet), there are slim to no choices for us.

And quotequeen, don't you worry, I am on top of the seating situation, even if it means I have to rent some extra high-tops and chairs to stuff into the place. No seatless butts for my party.

Thanks everyone.

flutgrl1 · July 2010

I love apps and would love love love a wedding that just served them (plus I usually find the dinners unedible) so it would be nice to leave full.

JodiMarie76 · July 2010

This is exactly what we are doing. We have recieved a little gruff from my Mother (who is being a pain about everything and not paying) but everyone else is completely on board with the idea! We are also having our reception later in the evening so I think this works best - I just can't imagine doing a sit down dinner around 8:00 at night - I know with our kiddos we usually eat around 5:00 so we are going to have sandwhiches and such before the ceremony

kirstenr · July 2010

Jodi, we're doing ours late, too! I'm glad it's not just me. People keep giving me the side-eye when I tell them about my ideas, lol.

skippylouwho · July 2010

As a guest, I would hate this. I don't want to stroll around and grab food and also don't want to hope I can find a table for myself and DH so that I can eat sitting down. I'm probably going to be dressed up and I don't want food on me or DH. I know a lot of people like this idea, I would absolutely hate it and honestly, would probably stay a little bit to be polite and then head to a restaurant where I can sit and eat in a way that is comfortable to me. But that's me - and just my opinion and I'm only ONE person.

And I apologize for beineg a trite person - which I obviously must be because I like sit-down dinners.

Ashes_3 · July 2010

My sister had very heavy hors dourves and everyone was full and loved it. She had plenty of tables and seating for everyone also.Food was refreshed throughout the evening to make sure everyone had enough. She received several cards from people who attended the wedding and reception stating they loved the way the food handled. You could eat what you wanted when you wanted.

MollySm · July 2010

I would love this! Appetizers are my favorite part of dinner anyway

It sounds like you're going to have enough seats for everyone to have a place to sit, and you're going to mention the style in the invitataion, so it sounds perfect to me. I would have loved this style of reception - it was just a bit too pricey for us!

JodiMarie76 · July 2010

We are actually having enough seating for eveyone so there would be no worry about finding a seat. My plan is for everyone to find a seat - we'll do our first dances and then have people grab some apps and then do toasts, etc.

mags0607 · July 2010

This is what we are essentially doing. Our venue will have seating for everyone, but our "meal" will consist of three carving stations, various other stations with pastas, soup, jambalaya and other southern dishes. We will also have passed hors d'ourves. Its a party atmosphere and that is exactly what we wanted. Its also "traditional" in my circle, so most of my guests are expecting it. Have enough food and enough seating and it can be done well.

rednesss · July 2010

As a guest I love this! I want to be able to sit, which it sounds like you've got covered. Tapas happen to be my favorite thing! So being able to graze at a wedding reception on smaller items would be much better to me, since this is how I eat on a normal day anyway.

I have hardly been to a wedding where I didn't eat a few bites, get full, do some dancing, come back ready to eat more and find my plate of food, GONE, that still had food on it! Or, where I was served, ate a little, got full and then dinner was over, time for dancing, only to be hungry 10min later, and now there's nothing to eat.

Appeziters, hors d'oeuvres, tapas, mini meals, call it what you want, smaller portions are better! Just keep them coming.

Anyone who had a strolling supper reception...

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