Chickendoodle Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Would be grateful for a few opinions. My DD is getting married next year and we are having a wedding breakfast for about 60 followed by an evening party which will probably have around 200 people (maybe more). We have a band and there will be a bar. My question is, if you were invited to an evening party for a wedding (knowing that the wedding breakfast had already taken place) would you be expecting any food to be provided? The wedding breakfast is a buffet so any leftovers will be taken to the evening do and I imagine that there will be wedding cake as I dont suppose we will eat it in the afternoon. Don't want to be inhospitable but providing even a decent sandwich for 2-300 people will cost a fortune. I could get a bulk load of crisps and snacks etc - would that be enough? We are paying for the entire wedding by the way (ex OH, DD's dad not putting his hand in his pocket, DD & BF have no money and BF parents have already paid for 2 daughters' weddings and have another daughter) so we are working to quite a strict budget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I think that I would expect snacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Same here, I'd expect some kind of light buffet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 When my brother-in-law got married last year they had a wedding cake that wasn't made from cake, it was three or four tiers of different cheeses. At the evening reception it was cut up and used in a buffet with other cheeses, cold meats, crackers, chutneys etc etc along with a few cold pasta salads, crisps and things. It was lovely, infact much better than the expensive wedding breakfast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Bacon butties! My sister had hot pork baps, stuffing, apple sauce & chips. She wanted a hog roast, but a lot of people are put off by seeing a hog on a spit. It went down well. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 OOh that sounds interesting - not so much the cheese wedding cake but the selection of foods. The party is in the Town Hall which doesn't have catering facilities and I am therefore also paranoid about poisoning people by leaving food out too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Tough one. But it might be in your interest to provide something to soak up alcohol... And people might leave early if they are hungry, having expected a buffet of some sort. The rule that the hotel had when we had our wedding, was only plan to cater for 75% of the number you are expecting for an evening buffet after the main breakfast. Not because some won't turn up (although that will always be the case) but that some won't eat. And I think we told a few white lies and catered only for 60% and that seemed fine. Goodluck with the whole event! My mantra for our day was as long as there was a Bride (preferably me), a Groom (hopefully my OH - although had Brad Pitt come along....), a Vicar and a local Pub - everything else was an optional extra! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 Think we are all doing very well in not getting stressed (so far). Main things are done - dress is ordered, church, reception, caterers, cars, photographer, florist all booked. Determined to enjoy the whole thing rather than worrying about it but I do want to get it right (without getting ridiculously fixated on minor things like colours of tablecloths or any other minor detail that other families can almost come to blows over) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 If you can afford a hog roast do that - I have been to 2 wedding receptions with a hog roast and everyone loved it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Hi I would defintely expect some snacky things, like the sound of the cheese wedding cake.What a good idea. keep it simple, wouldnt do sandwiches just finger foods. Just go to the supermarket and buy a load of ready made nibbles that can be tipped out. Good luck Donald Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 I'd certainly expect a buffet. Went to a really good wedding recently. There was a hog roast which went down very well. That was the only food provided as there was no separation between daytime and evening do's. There was an entertainer provided for the children while waiting for the food and they had a bouncy castle etc. That was money extremely well spent as it meant, as a parent, I could relax and enjoy the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 Hi I Just go to the supermarket and buy a load of ready made nibbles that can be tipped out. Like the sound of that very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Of course I think the best plan is to go to Gretna Green, save all the money and use it to enjoy married life together. That is not to say I wouldn't like some of the frills of a big wedding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Stick to cold food then, if you don't want to make it yourself, then stores like M&S do lovely buffet platters - we use them a lot at work and it's not too costly if you're on a budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 Thanks for the input. Think I will go down the supermarket platter route for the evening. I do suffer from the "it's no good unless I've made it myself" syndrome, but as I am making the wedding cake I know that doing the food for the evening would put far too much pressure on me and I do want to enjoy the day and the run up to it. I will probably make a huge batch of decorated mini fairy cakes and then at least I can think I have made a contribution! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Thanks for the input. Think I will go down the supermarket platter route for the evening. I do suffer from the "it's no good unless I've made it myself" syndrome, but as I am making the wedding cake I know that doing the food for the evening would put far too much pressure on me and I do want to enjoy the day and the run up to it. I will probably make a huge batch of decorated mini fairy cakes and then at least I can think I have made a contribution! Sounds like a great compromise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 A bit late in the day, but yes, I'd definitely expect a light buffet. I don't believe I've ever been to an evening wedding party, where food of some sort has not been provided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Again, I think some food is essential - I was once invited to a wedding and evening do a long way from home, but not the afternoon meal and several of us had shelled out quite a lot for travel and pressies, were not dressed for McDonalds and certainly would have been pretty fed up (excuse the pun) if there had been absolutely nothing to eat in the evening. That said, basic snacks are absolutely fine,I can't remember if you said the time of year, but if it's likely to be cold, a few bowl of chips go down well with cheese , ham and french bread for people to sort themselves out. Please don't totally overlook vegetarians/those of other faiths if you go down the hog roast route. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 My DD2 got married earlier this month, we had 75 to the day for which we had canapes, Hog Roast, Dessert which was all done by caterers. For the evening (120 guests) I provided a rustic buffet, cheeses (set out as a wedding cake) pates, cold meats, crackers, different rustic loaves (left whole for people to slice & butter themselves) pickles and chutneys. For desserts I ordered cupcakes, gateauxs and fruit pies from a family friend who was invited to the eveining anyway so she bought them along with her. It was a lovely buffet and everyone enjoyed it however..... Logistics wise providing the buffet was abit of a nightmare and I certainly wouldn't do it again. I had to order fridges in from a catering company to keep the food in during the day, cart the food along to the reception venue the day before, hire/buy all different platters and cheese boards bread boards knifes etc. and get them to the venue. Then on the day after the main meal whilst everyone else was having fun and having a good ole natter me, my mum and my mum in law and my DD1 (maid of honour) all disappeared to sort out the buffett. On paper in the planning stages it all seemed like a good idea but on the day it was really just a bit too much. The day goes so quickly enough as it is and I regret spending so much time stuck in the kitchen. My advice would be to get caterers in for as much as you can afford or if you want to do it yourself find a good friend who would be willing to bring it along in the evening and set it all out for you. Above all enjoy the day, its such a special time and you need chance to take stock during the day and savour it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 good point about having to do it on the day - can you nominate a couple of really good friends who would sort it out so you don't have to dash away from the reception? CostCo, if you have one near you, do fabulous sandwich platters as well as sushi, snacks, cakes - almost everything you can think of. I'd definitely stick to cold finger food/nibbles so there's no need for forks, spoons etc. I love the idea of cupcakes - or mini-muffins, they wouldn't need icing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted September 29, 2010 Author Share Posted September 29, 2010 It is the logistics that worry me more than the food - we will have to set the evening party up before the wedding (wedding is at 1.30) and as there are no catering facilities at the town hall I would have to go home in between the reception and party to get all the food as I couldn't leave it out all day. Fairy cakes etc would be fine covered up - will have to talk to the caterers and get saving some more pennies as I want to enjoy the day. Thanks for all the input; got it a bit clearer in my mind now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 Sainsbury's platters are better than M&S and I think a lot cheaper too - Mum uses them for all the functions she organises. Have a fabulous day x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebC Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 if you can save more pennies to get caterers to do the evening food it will be money well spent. Not only will they sort out the food, but the crockery as well AND do all the clearing away!!!!!!! You really do need to keep the stress levels down and enjoy the day - you could still make some cakes so there is some homemade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 if you can save more pennies to get caterers to do the evening food it will be money well spent. Not only will they sort out the food, but the crockery as well AND do all the clearing away!!!!!!! You really do need to keep the stress levels down and enjoy the day - you could still make some cakes so there is some homemade. Couldn't agree more. When Hubby and I got married 2 years ago we had a small reception in the local pub. We had a lovely cold buffet and in the evening they did us a wonderful veggie curry with every veg in the world in it and bacon rolls. Some people had both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmab Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Get the local chippy to deliver loads of fish and chips in cones. Mock up a bride and groom headline to make newspaper style cone and whack 'em in. The guests will think it's really quaint and if you do a bulk order the chippy'll do you a discount! We had chip butties at our evening do and its all people talked about afterwards!! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...