Dessert or Hors d'Ourves reception?

KrisM86 · May 2011

My fiance and I are on a very tight budget (about $5000) and still have a large guest list (130.) We honestly cut it as small as possible, but we both have very large, close families. We can expect that at least 115 of these people will definitely make it to the wedding. We are looking at a few inexpensive venues where we have the option to provide our own food and alcohol, although we will probably be using a caterer for food at least, given the size of our wedding.

What do you all think of the hors d'ourves or dessert reception idea for a wedding taking place around 7 or 8pm? Any suggestions on how to fill our guests up on a budget? TIA!

KrisM86 · May 2011

Oops, meant to post this on the Budget Board! Sorry!

smange10.10 · May 2011

honestly, if you are having a wedding at 7/8 pm on a friday or saturday, people are going to 'expect' dinner to be served. i think it's a little rude to have a wedding around dinner time and not serve a meal. that's just my opinion. and you might run into the problem of people leaving relatively early because they're hungry and want to get dinner.

if your budget only allows for a dessert/apps reception, i would consider an afternoon affair or sunday late morning.

FWIW - heavy hor dourves can be just as expensive as a meal....especially if you want anything passed around since you have to pay for the server as well.

SarahCandell · May 2011

I agree - you should serve a dinner since it is around that time. Going with a buffet can be much cheaper. You could even do the buffet food - some of your familys favorite meals or you and your FI favorite meals. If you do a buffet you can do plastic flatwear and paper plates - my friend did that at her wedding.

If I did a buffet I would do:
Mac&Cheese
Chicken (Grilled and Fried)
Green Beans
Corn
Mashed Potatoes

Just suggestions - hope it helps.

LoveKiss · May 2011

I think the PPs are correct that an evening affair generally leads to the erxpectation of a full meal being served. If that isn't your intent, you have 2 options. One, you can specify on your invite that it is a dessert reception or a reception with light hors d'oeuevres. People will just have to deal. Two, you can change the time of day and do something mid-morning or mid-afternoon. I would still specify the type of reception on the invitation, but you may encounter less pushback with an earlier time.

LauraT25 · May 2011

I would start the ceremony later and then do dessert (since people will have eaten dinner pretty recently). Be sure to state that on your invitations. If you move it to a different off-time (i.e. not a meal time), though, I'd do the hors d'ouvres since I prefer those to desserts usually!