Late ceremony

[Indigo]

Our ceremony is not until 5:30 pm. Our reception is 45 minutes away. We have to take some pictures after the ceremoney and before the reception. Would it be ok to have people eat before we arrive at the reception? I feel bad making everyone wait for us so late in the evening. It would be like 8:00 before we got there. Should I mention this on the invite or just have them wait with drinks? I could do some cheese platters for them but is it really necissary? (BTW I have recently lost my ability to spell).

[Steph]

Are you doing Hor'derves before dinner? If so, I would have the guests eat that and then do a sit down dinner with you once you arrive.

[cru5h]

If you don't get an answer you think will work for you, try posting it as a new post here.

[Marge129]

Originally Posted by Steph

Are you doing Hor'derves before dinner? If so, I would have the guests eat that and then do a sit down dinner with you once you arrive.

Ditto

[Indigo]

I could do something small like a cheese platter but I would really prefer to keep the costs down. We have a very limited budget.

[cru5h]

Why not cut the dinner entirely and serve hors d'eurves (from now on I'm saying appetizers!) and cocktails while you're all taking photos, and maybe present a dessert station or something when you arrive. I'm not sure if what I'm suggesting is even any cheaper when you factor in alcohol, but I'm just trying to get the ideas flowing.

[Cirig]

Do you mean that you'd like to start the reception without you actually being there? I don't see an issue with that. Except that you're cheating yourself.

[Cirig]

I like that idea- if you serve *appetizers* the whole time, you'd save $ and people wouldn't be looking for the party to start when you get there.

[feb-bride]

I would make sure that if you're only doing appetizers, that you make them HEAVY appetizers if you want people to stick around. Otherwise, people may leave to get some dinner.

[cru5h]

Originally Posted by feb-bride

I would make sure that if you're only doing appetizers, that you make them HEAVY appetizers if you want people to stick around. Otherwise, people may leave to get some dinner.

seconded

[syringa]

The problem with having guests eat before you arrive is that you then become so busy that you don't get any time to relax or eat. By the end of the reception you are exhausted. If you serve some food with the drinks, then you eat first (first one served if a sit down meal or first ones through the buffet line), then you have a few minutes to relax and you get to eat. Both you and your guests will be ready to go on to the cake cutting, toasts, etc.

I second the idea of serving only heavy hor d'oeuvres. It is quite common to do so. You can add a salad or two and your guests don't even realize that they are eating from the hors d'oeuvre menu, plus the items are easy to eat without needing a knife or spoon. It is much less expensive than serving a meat entree.

[ljeagle]

I am doing Veg. and cheese trays while we are taken family pictures. I need 12 trays one per table and the it is going to be about $12 a tray with the price of the trays. I'm not big on having a dinner with out the bride and groom there. After we get there then we will get are dinner first and then every one else will be severed.

[Indigo]

I would actually love an appetizer reception however:

-the place requires you to eat thier food (buffet)
-the place also has a small pub in the back that serves appetizers for example: jalapino poppers, onion rings, french fries ect.. Very small town. I'm sure that is what they would come up with to serve. Not my choices whatsoever.

I think I will just have people wait. By the time everyone finds their seat and gets a drink and mingles a bit it will be 8:00. At least they will be hungry for the food.