Wedding sandwiches?

Question

we are planning a wedding between about 1pm and 5pm and we wanted to just have vegetable trays and sandwiches (also cake). the sandwiches were going to be like 6ft-ers cut into 3in pieces. i want to word this on this invitation so people dont expect a meal... any suggestions?

by the way does it make it more tacky ( if at all) that we are inviting around 100 people? would this offend you?

***almost none from out of town

Answer 1

I think that 6ft long subs is a little tackier than small sandwiches and wraps. It's a wedding, not a Super Bowl Party. Even a grocery store can put together very nice sandwich platters.

Answer 2

You could just call it a "light lunch reception", "refreshments reception", or say "refreshments will be served".

Something like that to warn them there will not be a full meal, but you have picked a very appropriate time of day to do a sandwich reception, like "tea time" when sandwiches are normally served.

I don't think it is at all tacky either.  You are being clear about the food on your invitation, and it's not like you are inviting people for a 6 o'clock thing (when they would be hungry for a meal).  Weddings are EXPENSIVE, and this is a great and smart alternative to be able to host a large number of people to celebrate and not go into debt or something. I wish I could do something like this, but my fiance and his family want a big sit down dinner so we are spending a lot of money (but luckily no debt)!

Good Luck!  It sounds wonderful!

Answer 3

no it would not offend me. it is your wedding day. i think everyone wedding day should be the way the bride and groom want it and no one elses choice. Everyone else is supposed to be there to celebrate with you the special day  and act joyful no matter what you do. Do what you want! Congratulations! Have a great wedding!

Answer 4

"refeshments will be served at the reception" on the invitation

then on the wedding website you can get into more detail

Answer 5

Where I come from you can't feed people sandwiches and veggie trays at a wedding.  You've chosen a good time to spend the least amount of money, but what happens after 5pm.  How do you word sandwiches on the invitation.  I would cut the guest list in half and do a proper celebration.

Answer 6

I would put on the invitation

* H'orderve and cake reception to follow

I think it is fine to just do an appetizer/h'orderve reception as long as you tell people in advance.

You could also include some cheese and crackers, petite meatballs, fresh fruit salad, etc. It's nice to give your guests a variety of foods to chose from.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Hi and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

First....for the invitations:  you don't have to say WHAT you are serving, but you are on the right track....definitely let your guests know that this is not going to be a big meal.

Usually, there is no mention about the reception ON the invitation itself, but on another separate "reception card," but if you do have room on the invitation (and since this is more casual), you could say (either on the invite or on the separate reception card):  

~ reception with a light lunch will immediately follow the ceremony.  OR some other kind of similar wording.

Now, about the sandwiches.  I am assuming that this is a big sub sandwich?  Instead of ordering that, why not just order up a number of meat and cheese trays from your local grocery store deli department along with a variety of rolls.  That way, your guests can make up their own sandwich.  That is what we did for our son's rehearsal dinner and it was a big hit.  Then, I made up a variety of cold salads (potato salad, tuna salad, etc.) along with a large tossed salad.  We also had chips, pickles/olives.

I really don't think the sandwich idea is tacky if done in a more elegant manner (if that is possible).  Where I live, you can also order (again, from the deli department of the grocery store) a "sandwich fixings" tray.  It has lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc. all cut up.

Just some ideas.....

Answer 8

I think it's a wonderful idea, only if you're going to do snacks and not dinner, try for between 1-3, 5pm is too close to dinner time, so if you're not giving them dinner, then it will be a really short reception. Sandwhiches and vegetable platters are great for lunch or an afternoon reception.

If it's an afternoon reception (between 1-3) no one will expect a meal. Just make sure there is lots of snacks, and coffee.

A great thing about doing it early is also that you'll save on liquor.

Good luck and congrats!

(If you haven't decided on a caterer yet, check out the local universities/colleges, they often offer catering services at an incrediably reasonable price).

Answer 9

Becky:

I would not worry. I agree the wedding should be closer to 1 than 4 and the reception then at 2 or 3 ish.

I don`t understand the people saying you HAVE to have a meal -- and meat lasagna plus pretty dresses is not a great combination IMHO.

At 2-3 even 4 you will be FINE with cake and drinks and sandwiches and crudites (the veggie platters). At that time of day you should not have to mention the meal or not although Light Refreshments will be Served would be fine as well.

It is YOUR wedding and I think the 2-3 inch sandwiches sound elegant.

I had a garden wedding at 1:30 p.m. which got over around 2:15 and we had the reception set up at the other end of the property. We had meat and cheese trays with buns and spreads + drinks + cake and nuts and mints and THAT IS IT. We had a piano player on a high end keyboard we rented from the music store for the reception and people had a GREAT time mingling and talking.

And I had numerous out of town guests who decided to go to dinner together afterward. My husband and I left about 5 for our mini-moon and left everyone to their own devices but given the chance to snack and mingle together our guests -- family and friends of my divorced parents AND his -- made friends and spent the evening together later on.

If I had it to do over I MIGHT get a little more imaginative with the food. See if a culinary school or college catering service can give you a good price on some more interesting appetizers/snacks.

Otherwise -- if you love the sandwich thing -- mine were darn tasty and from the supermarket deli -- and the cake was from the supermarket bakery. It was all done very elegant and no one was the wiser.

Answer 10

I believe the proper wording is to say "light refreshments will be served"

Answer 11

I would rather see you invite 65 to 70 guests and serve meat lasagna, baked penne pasta, salad, and rolls.  Inviting that many people and then just serving them sandwiches is rude.  A wedding is supposed to be an event where you invite guests to celebrate and witness your special day and they are supposed to BE YOUR GUEST.  You are supposed to treat them to a nice meal.  You can order catering from an italian restaurant very inexpensively.  Most times when they say that a tray of lasagna feeds 15-20 ppl, if you add a tray of baked penne pasta, it will go so much further.  Usually they give you free garlic rolls with every entree tray that you order too.  If you are going to serve sandwiches, then you have no business wearing a formal wedding dress.  It should be a VERY casual event for that kind of food.

Answer 12

i have no idea how you would word this but as long as you mention something it wouldnt offend me.  Personally i just went to a wedding where it was BYOB, there was NO food and the invitation were by word of mouth..yea not so classy but it may have to do about where the wedding and reception are going to be.  If its casual i wouldnt worry about it too much

Answer 13

following reception light refreshments and cake will be served

Answer 14

No it doesn't.  People never really expect a meal between 1 and 5.  That's not over a meal time.  So simple finger foods would be great.  You don't need to word that onto the invite.

We did a mix of different types of sandwiches.  I did some ham, chicken salad, tomato, and cucumber.