<p>We’ve all had two “weddings” in my family, not a tradition I want to encourage with my kids. Two sibs because of second marriages, one due to laws when marrying a non citizen who wanted a wedding in he country, and in my case, just one wedding but two receptions as my venue was so far away and small so we had a cocktail reception locally after the honeymoon. </p>
<p>Garland, it all sound so lovely. It is difficult cutting down that guest list. My small wedding ended up with everyone coming so we were overloaded.</p>
<p>I love the idea of the beach theme. That sounds so nice!</p>
<p>I also really empathize with the challenge of cutting down the guest list. One of the methods I used with friends was “have I talked to the person in the last x months?” If the answer was no, then I felt a little more comfortable not inviting the friend. It’s really tough though.</p>
<p>We’re looking at catering. There are a couple constraints (caterer has to be approved by facility in annoying paperwork ways, modest budget, D wants locally sourced/organic/partly vegetarian as much as possible.)</p>
<p>So my question is, would it be considered feeding people enough, for a wedding that went from ~3/4 to 7/8, to serve hors d’oevres (sp?) and then something lunch-like as a light supper (salads, soups, sandwiches, etc) and then of course cake etc?</p>
<p>Or would that look like we are starving people?</p>
<p>No. People don’t go to weddings for the food. My friend recently had a very high cost affair and fussed like crazy about the food. It was mediocre for all of the assurances given, and no one cared anyways. I don’t even remember the choices anymore. Only she does. </p>
<p>Unless the food is truly terrible or looks really ugly, no one is going to care,except those that are finicky about everything in life and you can’t please anyways.</p>
<p>Thanks! i guess I am worried that if it’s not a “dinner dinner” people might think they haven’t been fed enough. But again, as you said, that’s not why they’re there.</p>
<p>I was recently at a really lovely wedding and the food was served family style with platters placed on the tables. The tables were super long rectangles so there were repeats of the dishes and they could be passed along if needed. This worked out very well whereas with a smaller table setup, some tables might have left overs of something and others might run out. In any case, my point is that the dinner was very light in the sense that there were salads and grilled veggies plus very small portions of salmon and chicken (maybe meat too but I don’t eat it so didn’t notice). I think most people are glad to have a small serving of a protein, and to serve themselves. The desserts at this wedding were cake, which wasn’t especially memorable, and then individual berry and apple pies which were divine. I am drooling just thinking about them.</p>
<p>Adding that I agree that the food is not the important thing and is usually forgotten. I only remember the food because the wedding was so recently and I would have been happy with just the pies! Tell yourself that these people will eat again.</p>
<p>Personally I’m more offended by food overkill as seen at many reception places. I find I’m full after cocktail hour when there is a raw bar, pasta stations, etc., and really don’t even want to look at the five course meal that follows. It just seems so wasteful to me. So thumbs up to soup, salad, and sandwiches. No one will starve and it will allow more time for dancing and socializing.</p>
<p>I am the very first one to say that there is nothing wrong with the proverbial cake and punch reception if that is what a budget allows. And you are talking about a lot more than that here. However, I will be honest - I do think you are going to run into some expectation that a meal will be served because of the time, length of the reception and the fact that it runs well into the dinner hour. You have to know your crowd, though.</p>
<p>So, we’ve made a ton of progress since I last posted here. I figure I would update here; I’ve been chatting on others’ threads, but I should revive this one.</p>
<p>progress: venue picked, caterer picked (found out that D’s favorite restaurant in the area can do it and got approved by the venue–yay!)</p>
<p>local young man, son of a friend of mine will dj. Down payment on cake, though design not finalized (D wants to design it–and they encourage that.)</p>
<p>Save the dates out and invites soon. most of both families have secured places to stay.</p>
<p>Spent yesterday at D’s going through all the remaining stuff. Roughed out decorating (blue and white tulle, icicle lights, jars of beach sand to mark the tables with). Friend will register with Church of LIfe or something like that so he can officiate.</p>
<p>Things got slowed down because groom’s grandfather died last week. :(. </p>
<p>One odd thing–couple, because of popular demand, registered today at BB and B. I went to look at the registry, which you look up by one of their names. Turns out that there are two young women with the same name (first and last) getting married on the same date in two different states, registered at BB and B. What are the chances???</p>
<p>I go to the grad student party at dh’s college every year, and every year I think they could have stopped the food at the hors d’ouevres and gone straignt to dancing. Hope the music is good!</p>
<p>tell them to register at Target too. and add the item “gift cards welcome” to the registries.lots of couples register at amazon.com now too.
BB&B invites registered couples to their store at some point after the wedding date for a “private event” where they give a nice % discount on items on the registry that are unfufilled…they will also accept those 20% coupons on the items l so save those.when D went there were also “door prizes” and giveaways.She hauled in alot of goods that night!!</p>