Is it expected to have food at a wedding receiption?

Question

My niece is getting married Sept. 6th. There has been a fight in the family about if we should have food or not. The bride and groom do not want to have it. Her family is paying for most everything.......his family was going to have food, then not, then yes, then no.......etc etc. My brother is upset saying you have to have food it is expected. There is a time space of 1 1/2 hrs between the wedding and reception. They can go get something to eat. What is the right thing to do???... We are not rich people

Answer 1

well depending on the time, you should at least have hor dorveres and appitizers and drinks i mean its only fair to your guest.

Answer 2

You could say "reception/dance at 7", but anything earlier, it will be assumed that a meal is included.

Answer 3

It's customary to have some food. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, and it can even be potluck style. Or you can just not have a reception, have the wedding ceremony only. That's the most important part.

Answer 4

food is expected. it doens't have to be a full meal though. they can have a 'cake and punch' reception or an hors devours reception. they just have to make sure they write it on the invitation so people don't expect a full meal

Answer 5

You could have little appetizers...

Answer 6

I think people expect to be fed at a wedding.  What did they put on the invitation?  If you don't want to do a full course meal, just have appetizers.  My brother did this for his wedding.  They indicated on their invitation "Cocktails & hor d'oeurves."  You guys could find recipes and make something up yourselves.  One of the things they had was a little mountain of cheese squares.  They also made cookies decorated with initials.

Unless the guests know there will not be food, they will assume that there will be.

Answer 7

At the very least, people will expect cake and punch (or coffee)

It's not required to have a sit-down meal or even a lavish buffet, but please provide something for your guests during the reception.

Answer 8

Generally, yes, a wedding reception includes some sort of food and beverage items. It doesn't have to be a full sit-down dinner - could just be hors d'oeuvres (which you should indicate on the invitation). Or it could be a dessert reception. But to have no food at all? What ARE you going to have at the reception? I'd say, food makes up about 60-80% of the total reception experience.

Answer 9

Isnt is etiquette to have food at a reception? You should at least have appetizers and drinks. If it is a late reception you could get away with just a cake. If you choose to not have food I think you need to be very clear about that on the invitations that way guests do not come expecting a meal (which most will) and go on empty stomachs.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

Why not just do dessert.  That way there is food, but nothing super expensive.  Have brownies with a scoop of icecream on top with some chocolate syrup.  Icecream is cheap and so are brownies.

Answer 11

Of course, a meal needs to be provided for guests. Having a buffet with simple, but nice food isn't really all that expensive. It's part of hosting the celebration.

Answer 12

Not rich people?? It's a ,not a day at the dollar store. If you honestly hoped your family and guest would run down to Mickey Dee's during the 1-2 hours between this wedding and the "reception' that' isn't, maybe you could just pack a bunch of Bologna and old dinner rolls in a few hefty bags and have a big sandwich making hoe down. Any ideas on that spacial cake?

Answer 13

Whatever you decide, besure it's clear on the invite so people know what to expect.