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Menu Decisions...Late Reception

AdamMelissaAdamMelissa member
First Comment
in Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
Hello Everyone,

I am in need of some help. We are having a November wedding. The ceremony is at 6:30pm and the reception will begin around 8pm. I am struggling with the menu for the reception. I think it is too late to serve a full meal, but I do want to serve something because we have a lot of out of town/out of state guests attending. I was thinking of appitizers or soup, salad, pasta, and bread. Dessert will be served regardless of the menu choice.

What do you guys think? Do any of you have experience with a late reception?

Thanks for any advice!!
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Re: Menu Decisions...Late Reception

  • NOLAbridealmostNOLAbridealmost member
    5 Love Its Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think that 6:30-8:00 is prime dinner time.  Think about it: your guests will be getting ready and driving and getting to the ceremony site starting probably right around 5.  I'd serve a full meal. 

    That being said, I think that appetizers and soup and salad and pasta constitutes a full meal if you provide all of them. 

    Maybe for appetizers you could do flatbreads with a variety of toppings (like some with mushroom, arugula, and fontina cheese, some with manchego and chorizo), and chicken satay skewers.  For soup, something warm and crowd pleasing like tomato basil or shrimp and corn chowder.  And for pasta maybe you could offer one red like baked ziti and one white like penne alfredo. Or a stuffed pasta like cheese ravioli.  

    Good luck! 
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  • jessicabessicajessicabessica member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I agree with NOLA that you should serve a full meal with that timing. 
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  • SSaltzman87SSaltzman87 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    For me, that's considered dinner time. FI and I are ones to usually eat dinner around 8-9, lol. It'd be worth it to do a full meal.
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  • NOLAbridealmostNOLAbridealmost member
    5 Love Its Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I mean even if 8 is late for most people, 6:30 is NOT. And if the ceremony starts at 6:30, most guests will arrive at 6:15, if local they'll leave the house at 6:00, you start getting ready at 5:00-5:30....that is the entire dinner hour. I'd be starving by the time the reception started and want a full meal.   If I got there are there was not enough food to fill up on, I'd probably have to leave, get a cheeseburger, and (maybe) come back. 
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  • BrambleBerryBrambleBerry member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    8 is dinner time
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  • AbbyjensenAbbyjensen member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Go ahead and serve a full meal. Maybe buffe style so people can eat what they want? I'm the one who eats 5-6 so that would be late for me, but I would probably eat dinner beforehand, and then still have something when I got there.
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  • AdamMelissaAdamMelissa member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    All of your opinions are very much appreciated! Thank you so much! We have a catering meeting in August and I now feel more prepared.
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  • FaithCaitlinFaithCaitlin member
    5 Love Its First Comment
    edited December 2011
    That's dinner time. I'd serve a full meal.

    I'm getting married at 6, with cocktail hour from 6:30ish-7:30ish and dinner starting at 8.

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  • JCM10JCM10 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    That's definitely dinner time. I'd never eat dinner earlier than 5 or so, so with the transportation time to a wedding, plus getting dressed up, I probably wouldn't think to eat dinner before. By 8 I'd be ready for a full meal.

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