Is It Rude To Not Serve Dinner At A Wedding?
But you have to serve something. Here are a few alternatives to the traditional reception dinner that will keep everyone satisfied, happy and ready to party. No matter where you live or who you hire, serving a seated dinner for 100-plus people on a Saturday night isn’t cheap.
Think about it, your guests have been attending your event for hours. They’ve been watching you as you exchange vows, stood by for pictures and cocktail hour, and by the time the reception rolls around, hours and hours later, they’re starving (and that’s not the best combination when mixed with beer, wine or liquor).
“When you refuse to participate in or respect religious rituals during the ceremony it can offend not only the bride and groom, but also their family members,” says Swann.
This actually ends up saving a lot of money for multiple reasons: Not only will guests eat less for breakfast or lunch, but they will also most likely consume less alcohol, since the event will take place during the day. In fact, wedding breakfasts actually used to be the norm back in the day in Europe (and specifically the UK).
Can you serve a lighter lunch with a Bellini?
Or serve a lighter lunch complete with a perfectly paired fruity Bellini. This actually ends up saving a lot of money for multiple reasons: Not only will guests eat less for breakfast or lunch, but they will also most likely consume less alcohol, since the event will take place during the day.
No, You Don’t Have to Serve Dinner at Your Wedding Reception. But you have to serve something. Here are a few alternatives to the traditional reception dinner that will keep everyone satisfied, happy and ready to party. No matter where you live or who you hire, serving a seated dinner for 100-plus people on a Saturday night isn’t cheap.
While you don’t technically have to serve a formal, multicourse dinner, you absolutely do need to offer your guests a solid alternative. Luckily, there are other ways to save on dinner and keep things interesting without depriving your guests.
What to do if you can’t attend a wedding?
But if it’s on their wedding day, connect with a par ent of the couple or a member of the wedding party to relay the message and apologies.
But it’s important to at least try to say hello, goodbye, or congrats. (Except when they’re enjoying their dinner, that is.) “If a guest didn’t get a moment with the couple, he or she can reach out the day after via phone or email to wish them congratulations and tell them what a lovely time they had at the wedding,” suggests Chertoff.
If you don’t know what the bridesmaids dresses look like, this faux pas may be unavoidable. If you do know, steer clear of their color palette. “If a guest knows what the wedding party is wearing, it’s appropriate to avoid looking as if she (or he) is part of the group,” says Chertoff. Sidestep the exact same color or silhouettes to be respectful and help keep the bridal party distinguished.
If getting upset sounds inevitable, consider politely declining your invitation. “If you are going through a rocky divorce, it may be in your emotional best interest to sit this one out,” she adds.
You notify the couple when something’s wrong.
As peak wedding season winds down, it’s natural that your excitement to attend yet another wedding does , too. “Once you’ve made the commitment to go to a wedding, no matter how many weddings you attended that last month, and no matter how badly you were inconvenienced by the timing, be excited and give it your all,” Spiegel tells us. Think about it this way: You wouldn’t want to witness someone sulking on your special day, would ya?
It’s an unspoken rule that wedding guests are allowed to take the floral centerpieces on the dining tables. That doesn’t mean vases are up for grabs, however. “You don’t want the couple to end up with a bill for your lapse of judgement,” says Spiegel.
We can’t afford an open bar. Is it rude to charge for drinks at our reception?
As a general rule, guests shouldn’t have to pay for anything at your wedding. Fortunately, an open bar isn’t the only way to get the party started. To save money, limit the selection: one or two kinds of beer, a red and a white wine, and a signature sipper or mixed vodka drinks.
Even though your choice of what to serve really doesn’t require an explanation, it’s not a bad idea to give your guests a heads-up about alcohol. The best way is by word of mouth. Ask your family and your wedding party to pass along the information as they would any other details about the wedding and reception.
To clarify that you’re hosting a cocktail party, not a five-course meal, clearly state “cocktail reception” or “cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to follow.” Set the soirĂ©e earlier and include an end time by saying something like, “Cocktail reception to follow, 5 to 8 p.m.” That leaves ample hours for mingling and noshing, while still allowing time for hungrier guests to grab dinner afterward..
Through it tends to interfere with the design of your stationery suite, the best place to deal with information like this is on the reply card. Keep it as simple as possible, opting for single words like chicken, vegetarian, etc. Include some sort of instruction and a black line in front of each choice so guests can fill in the number of meals.
Whether you avoid animal products, alcohol, carbs, or anything else, “your wedding is not the time to try to convert people to your way of living,” says Elise Mac Adam, author of Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between
When it comes to food, children’s meals make kids happier and are often less expensive. Becker suggests a small buffet or individual meals with kid-friendly foods like spaghetti, chicken fingers, and fruit cups. Children 13 and up should be able to eat adult fare, though you may want to ask parents about this ahead of time.
As the offerings—and variety—of food trucks explode, they’ve become a fun way to serve up delicious, and often gourmet, fare at a casual soirĂ©e. “But asking hungry guests to wait in line, often by standing outside, can be a pain for those in heels and a real problem for a less mobile person,” says senior editor Julie Vadnal.