no food at evening reception?

Brumgirl

Like many people have already said, every wedding is different. From my experience, having waitressed for many weddings, most couples provide food in the evening - from a cold buffet to hog roast type food, depending upon budget, I imagine.

If the numbers do not vary from day to evening often there is evening buffet food leftover and health and safety dictates that this is then thrown away which I think is a shame when you know how much it has cost them.

I remember one reception that provided cheese, crackers, bread etc and that went down a treat when the wine kicked in! I think people appreciate a nibble or two but would not expect huge amounts.

74jax

I wouldn't assume I'd be fed, if something started at 7.30 I'd have eaten before then anyway (I'm normally starving by 6!).

I have had some invites which state buffet/disco etc however if it didn't have it on, I wouldn't automatically think they were feeding me.

RainbowDrops

For the last evening only wedding party I went to, the couple mentioned on the invites that there was no food, which was helpful. There wa a LOT of booze going around, and had I not had a pre warning, I would have been mega sloshed!
I probs would have had a light snack anyway, but having the extra info meant I had a proper supper before heading out.

It've nice to put on food in the evening though. We didn't have any extra evening guests but we still put on cheese with biscuits bread fruit etc, and the cake. Loads of people thanked us afterwards as they said it helped them to mop up the alcohol later in the evening.

MaggieBaking

burnoutbabe wrote: »

I'd have been happy to take my own picnic if that was what they wanted.

I just was suprised to see no food provided. One couldn't stock up on cake (I assumed one sliver of cake per person and to take more would be rude and deprive someone else of their piece), buying crisps or peanuts at the bar would be indicating one was hungry and therefore rude, and as it was a work night, drinking more was also not an option.

Its pretty unusual to not have any food at an event you host, even if its just big bags of crisps and those sort of snacks.

Evening buffets are not normally provided so that the evening guests can eat their dinner. Food in the evening is provided generally so everyone can soak up the alcohol a little bit and have a snack - mainly those who have had their wedding breakfast in the early afternoon who shouldn't be expected to go for another 7 hours without something to eat.

As you have said, the day guests ate late, you arrived after a traditional "dinner" invitation and you didn't get food like you get everywhere else - but every wedding is different and hopefully you will now learn that it isn't the job of the wedding to feed you your evening meal - it's yours.

And buying a bag of peanuts or crisps would not have been rude, unless it was when the cake was being served.

bratz81

We're having an evening buffet at our reception as it's included in our package, however if I was going to someone else's wedding I wouldn't expect a buffet unless it's mentioned on the invite.

I've been to weddings where one was provided and one not, and as others have mentioned every wedding is unique and not all couples can afford everything people might 'expect'.

ickle_yoda

We're deliberately having a late breakfast (5.30ish) after a 2pm ceremony.
I get shakey if I don't eat at regular intervals so there's time before the wedding for lunch, a 3-course meal at a normal time for dinner then we don't have to pay for a full buffet at £12.50+ per head for nearly 150 guests.

We'll be serving cake in the evening but I was considering putting something on the invite like; 'join us for cake & dancing'

LEJC

ickle_yoda wrote: »

We'll be serving cake in the evening but I was considering putting something on the invite like; 'join us for cake & dancing'

See thats a good idea...however it wouldn't have helped the OP in her situation as she never received a printed invite which may have contained a similar directive..only a verbal invite which didnt specify what food was being served...

LEJC

burnoutbabe wrote: »

Its pretty unusual to not have any food at an event you host, even if its just big bags of crisps and those sort of snacks.

I actually agree it is pretty unusual not to have any food....but the evening reception you attended did have food...they just served something that was not the quantity or type of food you would have liked...

xxDextersMummyxx

some places you have to have a breakfast, and buffet and drinks package to get married there, ours do, which is why its so expensive, but it does sound yummy lol

crapwithcash82

ickle_yoda wrote: »

We'll be serving cake in the evening but I was considering putting something on the invite like; 'join us for cake & dancing'

I think that sounds nice, it gets the message across without being rude about it!