Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time)

bgirl47 · May 2013

My Fiance and I are getting married in October and our reception is going to be in a Church fellowship hall. We have a large guest list (up to 250 people) We would rather not have tables for people to sit at. While it is a fairly good-sized space, if we were to have tables, I think it would be very cramped. Also, it seems to be more our style to have a "floating-mix and mingle" type of reception. *Note: We will have chairs around the perimeter of the room.

So my first question is: What types of food come to mind that can be more easily eaten without having tables?

We have tossed around several ideas- currently we are trying to implement a taco idea. Something to the effect of walking tacos (but in bowls.)
We are also thinking cost-effectiveness. We have a VERY small budget.

I am mainly trying to brainstorm about "main dish" type of food ideas, as we are thinking that we could also have an appetizer (i.e. pinwheels, fruit/cheese/veggie tray, etc.) and snack type of table (i.e. chips, cookies, etc.)
and we will also have cake as well as beverages (punch, water, and coffee.)

Also, it will be noted on the invitation what type of reception this will be.

Although we do have some of the details already in mind, other ideas are welcomed, as I have never been to a reception of this sort, nor have I found a whole lot online, So it has been a little more difficult to picture how it is going to look/work.

Thank you for your ideas! (:

**Note: We also have a time type of issue that has come up. We had orginally planned to have our wedding at 1 or 2, but it has since come to our knowledge that there is a wedding happening at 1:30 at the church right across the street. The issue with this is parking. Although I have not yet changed the time, I am thinking about changing the time, so that all of the guests attending both weddings will be able to park.
But with the type of reception that we would like to have, I was still trying to avoid a meal time. I am thinking that earlier may still work, as long as the type of reception is clear in the invite. Do you think that wedding at noon would mean that we would have to serve a full buffet of food? (I explain this as it impacts types of foods.)
Thank you!

gailpete · May 2013

You defintiely need to have a chair for every person. I understand the desire for "mix and mingle", but what will happen is people will claim the available chairs and not move from them for fear of losing their seat. When most people go to a wedding they want to have a "home base" where they can put their purse, wrap, camera, etc., Also, many people are not comfortable eating while standing up and juggling a plate and drink, while holding a purse and such.

alithebride · May 2013

you know what happens when i show up and the arrangement is a pain in the ass? i leave.

do right by your guests. trust me they will not care if it's cramped if they have someplace to sit and put their purse, wrap, camera, cup and plate and silverware and napkin.

i really cannot believe you'd consider not giving people a place to sit at a table at the party celebratign your marriage!! it's no 3rd birthday party. it's a WEDDING!! do it right or dont do it at all.

QueerFemme · May 2013

In Response to Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time):
[QUOTE]My Fiance and I are getting married in October and our reception is going to be in a Church fellowship hall. We have a large guest list (up to 250 people) We would rather not have tables for people to sit at. While it is a fairly good-sized space, if we were to have tables, I think it would be very cramped. Also, it seems to be more our style to have a "floating-mix and mingle" type of reception. *Note: We will have chairs around the perimeter of the room. So my first question is: What types of food come to mind that can be more easily eaten without having tables? We have tossed around several ideas- currently we are trying to implement a taco idea. Something to the effect of walking tacos (but in bowls.) We are also thinking cost-effectiveness. We have a VERY small budget. I am mainly trying to brainstorm about "main dish" type of food ideas, as we are thinking that we could also have an appetizer (i.e. pinwheels, fruit/cheese/veggie tray, etc.) and snack type of table (i.e. chips, cookies, etc.) and we will also have cake as well as beverages (punch, water, and coffee.) Also, it will be noted on the invitation what type of reception this will be. Although we do have some of the details already in mind, other ideas are welcomed, as I have never been to a reception of this sort, nor have I found a whole lot online, So it has been a little more difficult to picture how it is going to look/work. Thank you for your ideas! (: **Note: We also have a time type of issue that has come up. We had orginally planned to have our wedding at 1 or 2, but it has since come to our knowledge that there is a wedding happening at 1:30 at the church right across the street. The issue with this is parking. Although I have not yet changed the time, I am thinking about changing the time, so that all of the guests attending both weddings will be able to park. But with the type of reception that we would like to have, I was still trying to avoid a meal time. I am thinking that earlier may still work, as long as the type of reception is clear in the invite. Do you think that wedding at noon would mean that we would have to serve a full buffet of food? (I explain this as it impacts types of foods.) Thank you!
Posted by bgirl47[/QUOTE]

You need tables. Unless you are having someone pass appetizers the entire time, your guest need a table and a chair. Chairs around the perimeter doesn't sound like enough space to have 250 chairs. If you can't accomodate 250 people with a chair for EVERY person and a table for them to sit at, you need to cut your guest list.

Also, noon or 1pm IS a meal time. If you don't want to serve a meal, you'll have to change your date or figure something else out for parking. If you want to go with the appetizers and cake only, have the wedding at 2pm on a different date, or figure out something else with the parking situation.

bunni727 · May 2013

In Response to Re: Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time):
[QUOTE]This is a horrible plan and will have the exact opposite effect than you are hoping for.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

This. When you offer enough tables and chairs, people will mingle without being forced. If you don't provide enough chairs, people will pick one and never get up again for fear of losing it.

It's not very kind to your guests to deny them seating because you want to force them to mingle. They should have a chair and table, so they can eat comfortably as well as have a place to put their belongings. Not to mention so that they are not in physical discomfort or pain all day. Or maybe not everyone wants to mingle with strangers.

Does your church not have a parking lot?

A full meal should be served during mealtime. You can have a noon wedding to avoid parking issues, but you have to serve a full meal if you do so. It could be a simple lunch meal, but you need to have enough food.

If you are set on a dessert and snacks reception, you need to avoid mealtimes. If you can't have your wedding in the afternoon because of the parking, why not have a late wedding, with the ceremony starting around 8? Snacks and dessert would be acceptable, as that is after dinnertime is over, but I would still note it on the reception if that's the route you decide to take.

cjeanmaq · May 2013

In Response to Re: Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time):
[QUOTE]you know what happens when i show up and the arrangement is a pain in the ass? i leave. do right by your guests. trust me they will not care if it's cramped if they have someplace to sit and put their purse, wrap, camera, cup and plate and silverware and napkin. i really cannot believe you'd consider not giving people a place to sit at a table at the party celebratign your marriage!! it's no 3rd birthday party. it's a WEDDING!! do it right or dont do it at all.
Posted by alithebride[/QUOTE]

Oh Dear! Um, uh... My granny always said if you don't have anything nice to say... So this i is kinda hard. Whew, here goes. Sweetie, I do believe that it is more important to invite less than 200+ guests than to have improper seating. Believe me they will understand and probably thank you. I'm thinking that would definitely help with costs for seating, space, and food. Sometimes less is more.

QueerFemme · May 2013

In Response to Re: Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time):
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time) : Oh Dear! Um, uh... My granny always said if you don't have anything nice to say... So this i is kinda hard. Whew, here goes. Sweetie, I do believe that it is more important to invite less than 200+ guests than to have improper seating. Believe me they will understand and probably thank you. I'm thinking that would definitely help with costs for seating, space, and food. Sometimes less is more.
Posted by cjeanmaq[/QUOTE]

you are going to need to get over that if you wanna play around here.

Viczaesar · May 2013

Have you ever tried to play musical chairs in heels with your coat and purse over your arm, a glass of punch in one hand, and a bowl full of tacos in the other?

alithebride · May 2013

In Response to Re: Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time):
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time) : Oh Dear! Um, uh... My granny always said if you don't have anything nice to say... So this i is kinda hard. Whew, here goes. Sweetie, I do believe that it is more important to invite less than 200+ guests than to have improper seating. Believe me they will understand and probably thank you. I'm thinking that would definitely help with costs for seating, space, and food. Sometimes less is more.
Posted by cjeanmaq[/QUOTE]

there wasn't anything 'not nice' about my post. I didnt' sugar coat my answer calling her 'sweetie' or beat around the bush about how bad her plan is.

if i called her a cheap stupid girl for doing it that way-then that would be 'not nice'.

there is a difference.

kmmssg · May 2013

OP - there is sooo much wrong with your plan. First - I am 53 years old and I don't need anyone to force me to mingle and mix. Been doin it since before you were born, with chairs and all.

How much mixing and mingling will I be doing while I am balancing my purse, maybe a camera, a bowl of tacos, a napkin, and a drink? Oh, wait - there is no way I can do that.

Most important - if you have a VERY small budget as you stated you have no business inviting 250 guests to your wedding. You can't AFFORD to take care of that many people judging by your OP. A 250 person wedding needs a substantial budget AND a seat and some table space for everyone. If I saw you had no chair AND table for me I wouldn't stay. Even if you could find a way to have chairs for everyone, what are they supposed to do - everyone put drinks on the floor while they eat their bowl of tacos?

There is nothing at all wrong with having a VERY small budget unless you try to do things you can't afford. You can't afford to properly seat 250 people so you are already going in the wrong direction here. You need to do what every couple must do somewhere in the game and make some painful cuts to your guest list.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

Nope and if I knew that was the plan I wouldn't come to your wedding reception, and if I did come I wouldn't stay long. NO way am I going to be in a nice dress and have my food on my lap! Nope, not going to do it.

Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time)

Re: Table less Reception: Food brainstorm (and time)

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