Plated meal or appetizers?

CrystaH11 · December 2012

I just want to make sure I'm under the proper thinking for food for my reception. My ceremony starts at 6, and my reception will start at about 7 or 7:30. There will be no cocktail hour, as my ceremony is in a large public gardens, and we are going to use the area for guest to meander around and see all the beauty in the middle of summer while we do photos. I'm planning on doing a plated meal since the ceremony starts around dinner. Is this the right thinking or would just appetizers and cake/bar be sufficient?

erinlin25 · December 2012

definitely a plated meal; and I would have some drinks available and even small snacky apps while you do pictures just as a coutesy for your guests. They do not need to be "cocktails" but you should have something available while they wait.

HobokensFury · December 2012

That's dinner time so a full meal is required.

[Deleted User] · December 2012

We're having our ceremony at 2, and then Our reception will start at 6. (Unforunately we can't push the ceremony back any later or pull the reception start time up any, it's just how it works with our venues). But we're totally only doing apps-but, it's an "apps for dinner" menu, so basically... it's just going to be tiny food. But lots of tiny food. (Tiny food just looks awesome, IMO)

So, do what you want. If you'd rather have apps instead of a plated meal, go for it. If you want (and can afford) a white glove served meal, go for it.

QueerFemme · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:9e76298e-91d8-4541-acab-afcb5740ae85">Re: Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]We're having our ceremony at 2, and then Our reception will start at 6. (Unforunately we can't push the ceremony back any later or pull the reception start time up any, it's just how it works with our venues). But we're totally only doing apps-but, it's an "apps for dinner" menu, so basically... it's just going to be tiny food. But lots of tiny food. (Tiny food just looks awesome, IMO) So, do what you want. If you'd rather have apps instead of a plated meal, go for it. If you want (and can afford) a white glove served meal, go for it.
Posted by lplions[/QUOTE]

A THREE+ hour gap between your ceremony & reception? You should think about selecting a different venue where you won't be being so rude to your guests.

LiLe422 · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:9e76298e-91d8-4541-acab-afcb5740ae85">Re: Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>We're having our ceremony at 2, and then Our reception will start at 6.</strong> (Unforunately we can't push the ceremony back any later or pull the reception start time up any, it's just how it works with our venues). But we're totally only doing apps-but, it's an "apps for dinner" menu, so basically... it's just going to be tiny food. But lots of tiny food. (Tiny food just looks awesome, IMO) So, do what you want. If you'd rather have apps instead of a plated meal, go for it. If you want (and can afford) a white glove served meal, go for it.
Posted by lplions[/QUOTE]

What do you expect your guests to do for the 3+ hours in between? IMO, that is very rude and if your reception venue would not allow you to start earlier, you should have found a new venue.

LiLe422 · December 2012

OP: your wedding falls right at a meal time. It does not matter if you go with heavy apps or a plated dinner, it just needs to equal a full meal. I personally would serve a well balanced meal.

CrystaH11 · December 2012

The three hour gap is not my wedding, it was a PP's. I was planning on serving a full meal, just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. I'm the oldest and first to get married in my family in over 10 years... So my family isn't much help with all of this :

OwningAHome1981 · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:082d76e3-b5df-47f5-89aa-319869935051">Re: Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]The time of the wedding determines what should be served. Your wedding falls during a meal hour, so you are correct in your belief that a plated dinner or buffet must be served. Dessert alone would be correct only if your wedding and reception take place after 2 pm and before 5 pm, or after 8 pm. Apps are okay if you offer enough of them for the guest to make a meal.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

I think the after 8pm thing depends on # guests and how fancy the wedding is. Our reception starts @ 9:30... we are inviting 240 people.. traditional reception at a fancy place. I couldn't imagine not serving my guests a full-plated meal. If you are having a low-key reception then yeah, I would have agreed with you on the after 8pm thing. Plus, my guests will be drinking since we are having open bar, it is only right they served food with the alcohol.

MyNameIsNot · December 2012

At that time, you need to serve dinner. A plated meal would be nice, but you could also do heavy apps if they are enough to make a meal (think carving station, pasta station, etc type heavy apps). Don't feel confined to the plated meal box if you want to do something a little different. As long as you have plenty of food, you can do a different format.

Whatever you do, don't follow PP's rude 3 hour gap. It's not that she's forced, it's that she cares more about the venue than she does about her guests. That's just plain selfish and rude.

melb2013 · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:1afbb88f-acc1-4d8d-be2f-dad2f30e64ca">Re: Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Plated meal or appetizers? : I think the after 8pm thing depends on # guests and how fancy the wedding is. <strong>Our reception starts @ 9:30</strong>... we are inviting 240 people.. traditional reception at a fancy place. I couldn't imagine not serving my guests a full-plated meal. If you are having a low-key reception then yeah, I would have agreed with you on the after 8pm thing. Plus, my guests will be drinking since we are having open bar, it is only right they served food with the alcohol.
Posted by OwningAHome1981[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Holy Moly woman! I realize you didn't ask about this, but if I were a guest at this wedding I'd be super annoyed that I wasn't served a meal until somewhere between 9:30 and 10 pm. What time is your ceremony? I'm assuming it's around 6:30 or 7, which would mean I wouldn't have time to eat dinner before hand (although I'd try to sneak something in anyway), but I'd have to wait until the time most people go to bed to eat dinner? Also, I don't like to be at weddings until the wee hours of the morning. If your reception didn't start until 9:30, I'd feel obligated to stay later than I would want to stay.
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Barbiiieee · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:09785f97-3a4b-4183-acf5-a795db3b41d2">Re: Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Plated meal or appetizers? : Holy Moly woman! I realize you didn't ask about this, but if I were a guest at this wedding I'd be super annoyed that I wasn't served a meal until somewhere between 9:30 and 10 pm. What time is your ceremony? I'm assuming it's around 6:30 or 7, which would mean I wouldn't have time to eat dinner before hand (although I'd try to sneak something in anyway), but I'd have to wait until the time most people go to bed to eat dinner? Also, I don't like to be at weddings until the wee hours of the morning. If your reception didn't start until 9:30, I'd feel obligated to stay later than I would want to stay.
Posted by melb2013[/QUOTE]

<div>I think a late reception is okay sometimes. My reception is starting at 9. I'm not serving a plated meal, just heavy appetizers... then again I'm also getting married on New Years Eve, so I'm expecting guests to say past midnight.</div>

melb2013 · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:cef8f542-8011-45b2-b592-cf1340f84b28">Re: Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Plated meal or appetizers? : I think a late reception is okay sometimes. My reception is starting at 9. I'm not serving a plated meal, just heavy appetizers... then again I'm also getting married on New Years Eve, so I'm expecting guests to say past midnight.
Posted by Barbiiieee[/QUOTE]

<div>New Years Eve is different. Also, if you are doing heavy apps, I would assume there is no cocktail hour? That puts your ceremony time probably later in the evening giving me time to eat dinner first.</div><div>
</div><div>Edit to add: And heavy apps probably means the food will be available immediately starting at 9. For a plated meal, they always wait for every single person to be seated and then still wait some more, so in the case of PP, her guests probably won't actually be able to eat until more like 10 pm.</div>

alithebride · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:4ad4f4c2-8699-49ca-aae1-f433567e3dcb">Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]I just want to make sure I'm under the proper thinking for food for my reception. My ceremony starts at 6, and my reception will start at about 7 or 7:30. There will be no cocktail hour, as my ceremony is in a large public gardens, and we are going to use the area for guest to meander around and see all the beauty in the middle of summer while we do photos. I'm planning on doing a plated meal since the ceremony starts around dinner. Is this the right thinking or would just appetizers and cake/bar be sufficient?
Posted by CrystaH11[/QUOTE]

while it's all lovely and everything to let your guests meander around looking at summer beauty having them do it while you're off taking photos, at meal time, with nothing to eat or drink is not a good plan. you need to have some food and drinks (even if it's just lemonade and cheese and crackers) for while you're off doing photos.
plated meal or apps=at that time you need to serve enough for it to equal a meal.

Barbiiieee · December 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_plated-meal-or-appetizers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:18d8ffca-2008-461c-a554-2966d75e9267Post:d21e9ac7-3a68-4e90-bdf9-84543a591d66">Re: Plated meal or appetizers?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Plated meal or appetizers? : New Years Eve is different. Also, if you are doing heavy apps, I would assume there is no cocktail hour? That puts your ceremony time probably later in the evening giving me time to eat dinner first. Edit to add: And heavy apps probably means the food will be available immediately starting at 9. For a plated meal, they always wait for every single person to be seated and then still wait some more, so in the case of PP, her guests probably won't actually be able to eat until more like 10 pm.
Posted by melb2013[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, absolutely. Basically with my family, I need to make sure we have a constant supply of food, lol. But OP: You need to make sure you serve your guests well. Like PP said, you need to have food and drinks, even if it's just cheese and crackers and lemonade.

s-aries8990 · December 2012

OP, you MUST host SOMETHING while you do photos- not all guests will know to meander, and if they do, they'd want a drink in hand- even if it's lemonade and crackers and cheese.

I think that you can go with either plated or heavy apps, but have you thought of mostly apps with a few "heavier" small plate stations? Like a small-plate carving station or a pasta station? Or a mashed potato bar? This will help fill up guests.

Plated meal or appetizers?

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