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Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception?
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angelhaiku



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:41 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
I'm having my reception catered and if I have an entire meal with all the entrees and salad bars, etc... it's $6250 JUST for food. However, if I have hors'd oeuvres, which includes:Spring rolls Fried artichoke hearts, bruschettafinger sandwinches, polenta and tomato ragoutspanakopitaand a Fruit displayIt's only $3237 for the food?If you went to this wedding, would you think that there wasn't enough food and you would leave with the lasting impression that "omg, she didn't have an entire meal for us!" Even though there's TONS of food just having Hors'd oeuvres?3k is on the line here... please let me know if this would be tacky or if it would be a wonderful way to save money?the wedding is at 11 am Sunday morning.I'm having 250 - 300 guests
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esman



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:46 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
i wanted the same but guest expect a whole meal and they will think it was pretty tacky to only serve them appetizers.
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Elizabeth7785



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:51 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
If this reception were taking place at, say, 2:30 in the afternoon, I would be perfectly OK with it. If this was expected to take the place of dinner, though, I might wonder where the protein was (I have low blood sugar) but I wouldn't think it was tacky.I probably would drag my honey somewhere after for real dinner though.
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judithia8884



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:55 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
It depends on the time of the reception. Schedule it for a non-mealtime and it will be fine. People will not expect a meal.Happy wedding!!!
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whoareyoureally



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:00 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
I go to weddings that are pot luck, lol. I see no reason to go bankrupt in order to get married.
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Pam



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:05 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
No it would not be tacky. But you should consider either opting for an afternoon wedding or stating on the wedding/reception invite that it is an Hors d'euvres reception (you can check with the invitation company about appropriate wording). Most people, right or wrong, expect dinner at a reception following an early evening wedding. I've also been to a lovely wedding that was later in the evening and was followed by a champagne and dessert reception. The couple saved a bundle on food (and bar costs since the alcohol was limited to a champagne toast), but it felt very lavish due to a variety of decadent desserts, low lighting, beautiful candles, and soft music. As long as you're happy, don't fret.
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y2-y17722



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:10 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
I don't think it's tacky at all - I think it sounds lovely! Sounds like enough food for anybody!I have been to 6:00 p.m. weddings and only served cake. I don't think you HAVE to feed your guests, it's just a polite thing to do. So if I am offered fruit and cheese, then great! I was just glad to be invited to share the celebration.Don't go into debt just because a couple of people think you "ought" to do something bigger. Do what you want to do and what you can afford. And best of luck to you both!
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tricia123



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:15 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
it all depends on the time of the day your reception will take place?how many people is this serving??I wouldnt think it was tacky unless you were having your ceremony in the late afternoon and then reception during dinner time, then I would say that everyone will be expecting "dinner" or atleast a light supper.
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Invisigoth9614



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:19 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
serving Hors'd oeuvres is perfectly acceptable. It's an economical way to have a lot of food and frees up money for something else.some people will have only a dessert buffet instead of a meal. It's all about what works for you.
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Joe0785



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:24 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
You could do an appetizers only reception, but you have to make sure everyone knows that. Sometimes when people don't they think something else is coming, and get kind of angry and annoyed when they don't get anything else. Personally its that start of your new life together, I absolutely think you should have a dinner.
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almarj704371



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:29 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
I did exactly the same thing as you are doing and it worked out great. I got a few rumblings of discontent from some relatives before the wedding, that I "should" be serving a sit-down dinner but I made the point of over catering slightly. We had 65 guests and we told the caterer that 70 people were coming. There was plenty of food and what made me laugh was that some of my relatives had booked a table at a restaurant for after the wedding thinking they would be hungry and they all ended up only ordering entrees at the restaurant as they had eaten so well at the reception
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ILoveCoffee5713



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 4

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:34 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
It depends on the time of day and the the length of the reception.If you are having a reception between 2pm-5pm, you can get away with just cocktails/hor d'oeuvres. Also, if you have having an evening ceremony, you can just have hor d'oeuvres. However, you are limited with your time. You can have a cocktail/hor d'oeuvres reception that starts at 7pm and runs to 9pm or 9:30.However, if your reception is starting between 4-6, you should have a full dinner.Also, keep the cocktail reception short. If your reception starts a 7pm, but runs to 11/12pm, you can't just have hor d' oeuvres. You really should have a full dinner,. In short, keep your cocktail reception short in time, about 2-3 hours. Also, make sure it's a time of day that isn't traditionally dinner time.
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angie8220



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:39 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
WELL IF YOUR LOOKING FOR BETTER ALTERNATIVE TRY BUFFETS INEXPENSIVE BUT YOU STILL GET A MEAL AT YOUR WEDDING TRY
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WIChick



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:43 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
Well it depends where you are having the wedding. If you are having it at a fancy hall / hotel then yes. This would be extremely tacky.However if you are having it at a lodge or outdoors and it isn't 'black tie', you could get away with itAlso keep in mind when your guests see 'reception' they expect dinner.
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Jennifer7815



Joined: 24 Jan 2008
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:48 pm    Post subject: Is it tacky just to serve Hors'd oeuvres at my reception? Reply with quote
This is just fine and not tacky at all. Make sure you put in the invitation that "An Hors'd Oeuvres Reception Will Follow the Ceremony" so guests understand up front what is being served. You may want to get married at 3:00 or something, when people are not hungry for lunch or dinner. If you serve wine with the food, this will make it even better. But anyway, people who come to a wedding for any other reason than to celebrate with the bride and groom are the tacky ones.
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