Cake and Punch Timeline and Etiquette

[Deleted User] · June 2014

Hi all!

We're in the middle of figuring out what we want for our wedding and we love the idea of a cake and punch reception. Before we set everything in stone, I wanted some feedback to make sure we're being good hosts to our guests.

Tentatively, our cake and punch reception menu will be heavy appetizers, veggie/sandwich trays, cake and punch. We're looking at a 2pm ceremony start time, reception to follow around 2:30-3:00pm and anticipate everything to be over after 5:00pm. Most of our guests will be local or will have less than a 2 hour drive to the wedding. We're thinking of spreading by word of mouth that after we get the reception area cleaned and taken down that we'll be headed to our favorite bar across the street if anyone wants to join us for drinks.

Is what we have in mind acceptable?

Thanks!

ET: I can't spell apparently.

lyndausvi · June 2014

I think your plans sounds prefect.

melbelleup · June 2014

jezziebeth said:

Hi all!

We're in the middle of figuring out what we want for our wedding and we love the idea of a cake and punch reception. Before we set everything in stone, I wanted some feedback to make sure we'll being good hosts to our guests.

Tentatively, our cake and punch reception menu will be heavy appetizers, veggie/sandwich trays, cake and punch. We're looking at a 2pm ceremony start time, reception to follow around 2:30-3:00pm and anticipate everything to be over after 5:00pm. Most of our guests will be local or will have less than a 2 hour drive to the wedding. We're thinking of spreading by word of mouth that after we get the reception area cleaned and taken down that we'll be headed to our favorite bar across the street if anyone wants to join us for drinks.

Is what we have in mind acceptable?

Thanks!

Sounds good to me!

[Deleted User] · June 2014

Thank you! Whew! That makes me feel better. We're going "outside the norm" in our area with a cake and punch reception and I just wanted to make sure we'll be proper hosts.

lyndausvi · June 2014

You are doing a great job so far. Just remeber to have enough chairs for everyone and you will be good.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

@lyndausvi - That's definitely on our list! Thank you!

MamaAlly89 · June 2014

Your plan sounds lovely!

ShesSoCold · June 2014

Sounds great!!

RebeccaFlower · June 2014

Your plans sounds lovely. Honestly, I'm a little sick of the standard eat-up-your-whole-Saturday wedding that most of us (myself included) did, so your plan sounds wonderful to me.

emmaaa · June 2014

I like your plan as well. It gives people a chance to grab a bite to eat afterwards and meet up at the bar (if they want) or they can just head home and not have wasted a whole day!

beachyone15 · June 2014

That sounds like fun! I've never actually been to this type of reception but it sounds awesome. As long as there's cake, I'm happy.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

Thank you, all!

Follow up question that FI brought up to me a little bit ago: Our venue doesn't allow for alcohol to be served, and we're okay with that. We hadn't planned to serve alcohol since it's a simple-ish reception.

If we decide to head over to the bar after we're finished at the reception as an informal thing, should we expected to pay for guests' drinks?

Thank you!

ashleyep · June 2014

If you spread it in a word of mouth "if you want to join us" way, then no, you don't.

If tried to reserve a room at a bar and needed people to let you know if they're coming or not, then yes.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

ashleyep said:

If you spread it in a word of mouth "if you want to join us" way, then no, you don't.

If tried to reserve a room at a bar and needed people to let you know if they're coming or not, then yes.

That's what I thought. We're aren't planning on reserving a room or anything, just whoever wants to come for a drink while we hang out in a dress and tux is fine by us. We think it'll mostly just be the wedding party and maybe a few friends.

Thank you!

STARMOON44 · June 2014

A tux is really supposed to be for a formal evening wedding, which you aren't having. How about a great dark gray or navy suit and a nice tie?

[Deleted User] · June 2014

STARMOON44 said:

A tux is really supposed to be for a formal evening wedding, which you aren't having. How about a great dark gray or navy suit and a nice tie?

That's what I meant to say instead of tux. We haven't gotten to discussing suits/dresses, but I definitely meant to say it would just be a suit.

STARMOON44 · June 2014

Awesome. Your wedding sounds really fun!

hyechica81 · June 2014

sounds fun i have never been to a cake and punch wedding every wedding i have been to so far was a sit down or a buffet

SomethingBeautiful08 · June 2014

We also had a similar reception, apps, cake, punch, no alcohol. While the time made it pretty obvious that it wouldn't be a full meal I wanted to be very clear, but not rude in the phrasing on our invitations. After some good advice on the board we put "Refreshments to follow " as the last line on our invites. No one seemed surprised that there wasn't a full meal or alchohal at the event.

hales2010 · June 2014

I am so happy I saw this! This is the type of reception my FI and I are having and I have been trying to think of a good time line! We are having pretty much the same thing. There is a chance we might have beer and wine but that is up to my parents. My FI and I told them either way as long as they are paying for it. We also plan on going out with some friends afterwards and were wanting to see what the best way of saying "Hey we are going here afterwards if anyone wants to come!' would be.

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