Is it tacky to have a BBQ at my wedding reception?

Question

I'm from Kentucky, so I'm a country girl, so I thought it would be a neat idea, seeing as how both sides of the family love cook-outs and BBQs, to have a BBQ instead of a big formal dinner. Is that tacky?? Also, I'm looking for ideas as to what type of food I should serve as sides, etc.

Answer 1

it only is if YOU and YOUR HUSBAND think it is,

it is your wedding - so do whatever you feel is right and good for you, if you wish to have a BBQ you should get one, we had one and it was just perfect

have a great day and a good start into your new life

Anne

Answer 2

Great idea.  Weddings should be fun, joyous occasions.  Hire a professional to supply food and do the cooking.  They will have great menus for you to choose from.  The less you have to worry about, the more relaxed you will be.  

Answer 3

If that is what you want, and it will please your guests, then go for it. Only one thing to think about, who is doing the cooking? Will someone be upset if they have to cook for a crowd on your wedding day? And what about you, will you be participating, cooking, cleaning, setting up, when you might rather be the pampered bride?

I would choose sides that are easy to do, and can be done in advance. Macaroni salad is cheap, and can be done in advance, so can 24 hour salad, but that one is a little more expensive. Consider doing some ordering from the grocery store, cheaper than a caterer, and would relieve you from cooking something. Consider buying the soft drinks like tea in gallon jugs from the store.Yes, way more expensive than making it yourself, but might be worth it.

Congrats.

Answer 4

Tacky, shmacky. It sounds fun. After my own wedding, I would definalty say, do whatever sounds the most fun. Your, hopefully, only going to have one wedding, enjoy it, and enjoy the planning process. I was all stressed about backdrops and table runnners, and looking back it was really stupid, not that I didn;t enjoy my wedding, it was great, but I think the planning can be too. You could serve "dressed up" variations on the traditional bbq food, like corn on the cob, potato salad...better homes and gardens website has good recipes, as does Sunsets, and I would check out allrecipes.com.

Answer 5

Tacky!??! No way! Sounds like fun!!! Grilled Chicken and Steak, baked beans, corn, cornbread!!! My mouth waters just thinking about it! Is it going to be held outside or inside? If it's inside then BBQ Chicken and corn. Outside, you can go all out and even have the grills there!

If you're going with a country theme, cowboy hats with flowers in them would look so cute as centerpieces!

Good luck! And it sounds like a blast!!

Answer 6

My sis-in-law did it.  We are from NC.  She had those red and white checked tableclothes.  She is a caterer so she did her own food.  She had pulled pork BBQ, beans, cold slaw.  Everyone loved it.  Much better than some stuffy sit down affair. Good luck.

Answer 7

Absolutely not!  If that's what you two want, then do it!  

I have done many weddings with BBQ or messy food.  Serve what you love, all the basics.  Chicken, ribs, cornbread, corn on the cob, whatever you love!  Just include lots of napkins, wet naps and wear a bib of some sort to keep stains off your dress!

Answer 8

You can take a BBQ and make it more elegant than hot dogs and hamburgers very easily! Good quality filet mignon on the grill, some amazing grilled salmon, grilled chicken b*****s well dressed - they are all a bit more than your regular BBQ and would be great! Just make sure you have someone lined up to do the cooking, you and your new husband and guests should enjoy the day without having to slave over a hot grill ( =

As for sides, you can do anything! Traditionally you could do corn on the cob, molasses baked beans, potato slad, macaroni salad, etc. On the more formal side you could do cucumber salad, grilled roasted potatoes, grilled vegetable skewers, etc. There are some GREAT websites for BBQ recepies that are out-of-the-ordinary!

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 9

I think it's a great idea. A wedding should be personalized, and that's exactly what you're doing! If you'd prefer a BBQ over a big formal dinner, then I say go for it.

A wedding like that sounds like a lot of fun to me.  

Answer 10

No its not tacky...it actually sounds like a lot of fun.  the only way it would be tacky is if you expected people to bring food to the BBQ instead of supplying it yourself.  I would do salads and corn and just anything you would normally have at the BBQ with your family.

Answer 11

sound good     like   fun  

Answer 12

If you do it right, it wont be tacky. It will be a personal reflection of you.

Make it the best BBQ ever. Thats means no paper or plastic! Linen cloths outdoors with actual plates and silverware. It can be a buffet, but make it nice. Have some herb-roasted new potatoes, baby carrots with dill, southern style green beans, as sides.

Answer 13

I believe that your wedding should be representative of you and your future husband's taste.  If you are not the formal, sit down dinner type and a bbq speaks to your heart, then I would go with a bbq.  And the plus side is that it's cheaper and it's more casual which will make your guests enjoy their time more (I prefer casual-but elegant-weddings over formal).

Answer 14

As I California girl, I say that sounds way better than any boring, stuffy, formal dinner. Everyone will feel way more comfortable and have a much better time. I say do a BBQ but just make sure its not too messy and have fun!

Answer 15

If you were from LA I'd say you'd get moved out of California and banned  from the state...but since you're a country bumkin from Kentucky, why not. It sounds like you would be happy with that and if YOU"RE happy than that's all that matters on YOUR wedding day

Answer 16

Potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans.  Maybe a pasta salad with veggies in it.

And wedding cake for dessert!

See self-catering tips here:

http://lotsofinfo.tripod.com/weddinghelp...

Answer 17

No way!  I have heard of people doing this before, and it sounds like a lot of fun.

I would serve a good briskett and maybe some barbeque chicken.  You're a country girl, keep it country and have all of your favorites!

Answer 18

no, it sound llike a great idea, do what you like and what your family will enjoy...its your wedding ;)

Answer 19

Why are you worried what other people think? It's your wedding day, so it should be whatever the both of you want.

We're having a BBQ in my dad's back garden after the wedding ceremony, and I don't think it's tacky at all. It's a non-traditional and semi-formal wedding though. If you're having a formal wedding, perhaps you could include seating for the guests, and champagne etc. I don't think anyone would bad mouth you for it.

Foods you could serve on the side might be -

* Rustic bread and butter

* Ham, cheese etc

* Coleslaw

* Potato salad

* Regular salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber)

* Prawns

* Melba toasts

* Sushi

* Quiche

* Fruit

* Sausage rolls and other party foods. Pork pies go down well, but I don't know if you have them in the US (http://www.porkpie.co.uk/)

* Crisps (AKA "chips")

* Chips (AKA "fries")

* Sticks of carrot, cucumber etc, and dips (eg houmous, taramasalata, tzatziki, thousand island)

Note - and I'm from England. Not a little country chick, but a city chick. It still doesn't make it tacky though.