Okay ... so PLEASE don't send hate posts my way, but I just had to share. For all the brides on a budget, can I please ask that you do your guests a huge favor and don't try to save money in the food portion of your wedding?
We attended a wedding recently, and honestly I don't remember much of anything that they did because .... well, I was starving. Cocktail hour was JUST fruit and cheese. Now, I am ok with that if the cocktail 'hour' is shortened a bit (maybe 45 minutes?) In this case, an HOUR and a HALF later we're still waiting for the bridal party to enter the reception. There was beer and wine - NO water or soda available until the reception started. My FH doesn't drink, what the heck was he suppose to do??? There were 12 bridal attendants, 3 flower girls and 3 little boys. By the time announcements were made and the required dances, it was now 2 hours before they started the line up for the buffet. And again I say, I'm okay with buffet, but this? More fruit (in a cup) coleslaw, potato salad (where half the potatoes were raw!) and your choice of pulled pork or pulled chicken on a roll. This is picnic, not a reception.... and this is the same wedding I had questioned the dress code. "Elegant attire" was listed, yet only about 8 of us adhered to this despite knowing we would be at a picnic grove.
I am SURE that the young couple was on a small budget. That is fine, then reduce your guest count (they had about 150 people) and put your focus on feeding your guests a decent meal. Budget weddings can be highly successful, having a buffet over plated also can be pleasant. Just please please please, for your guests enjoyment, please feed us decently. I am sure the bride and her family went to great lengths to decorate the pavillion and make it special, but I was so miserable by then I just wanted our hotel room and a solid meal.
