Cheese + charcuterie only for cocktail reception

That...sounds and looks really good. If your wedding isn't over a mealtime, I think this is great.

What time do you plan to have your ceremony?

I love this! Our cocktail hour will have something similar, they call it a farm table. It will also have some mustards, and maybe dipping oils. I personally love all things cheese and grazing and would be all about this.

Are hot apps common in this type of event? That might be my only suggestion of something to consider or add.

There will be a private ceremony earlier in the day with only immediate family present followed by a luncheon.

Hot apps might sometimes be served at these sort of receptions but not always. I'm not an expert about this style of wedding, but often its self catered in the church building. Hot apps are harder to do obviously. I've been to one of these types of receptions at a private venue that was just desserts. Honestly the expectation is that guests will be received, grab a small bite, socialize, maybe dance a little if there's a DJ and then head out. Some stay longer than others.

Honestly?

) I’d be concerned with shrimp & oysters in this kind of set up. Both need to sit on ice and the fresher the better (for oyster). You don’t want anyone to get food poisoning from warm shellfish.

2) The cheese & meat spread you’re describing is what I’d expect for a book club meeting. I wouldn’t consider 6 cheese as a “large” selection since you can get that many in a platter at Trader Joe’s. I counted at least 10 cheeses in that second pic. 4 meats is ok but not specifically exciting or memorable. I’d at the very least except a prosciutto, 2-3 diff salamis, capacollo, and maybe some smoked turkey or chicken.

3) if you want like the pics you need more than melon and grapes. I see figs, apricots, pears, kumquats and kiwis just at a glance. I’d also add some jellies and honeys.

Those photos are beautiful and I love the idea. My favorite parties are wine & cheese mixers & I’ve been to several that are hosted with the type of spread like the pics you’ve shared. But you’re looking at spending the same as most us are spending on a normal cocktail hour with passed apps to do it correctly. You’d need a wide variety and your caterer will need to replenish it regularly.

I'm well aware of the temperature requirements for shellfish. Food safety is related to what I do for a living. If I have the shellfish served it will be on ice. The reception is only going to be for two hours.

I did forget to mention the spreads/jam, there will be a few. I guess to me more than 3-4 types of cheeses constitutes a good assortment. There will be a substantial portion of each type, and they will be high quality, not some presliced cheese platter prepackaged at the store.

How do you plan to stagger the guests' arrivals? I know it's an open house, but in a limited time period, people will tend to arrive close to the same time.

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Yes, more people will arrive towards the start that's true. However, guests are familiar with this type of reception and know they can arrive any during the stated time frame. It will be summer, on the weekend. I'm not too worried about that part.

You aren’t having the reception during a mealtime so this sounds fabulous!

I think this sounds perfect. I love the idea. Short, sweet, out!

I think it sounds lovely . .. I do agree with pp that 6 cheeses and 2 meats is not enough .. for thanksgiving I set out 6 cheeses and 4 meats for 10 guests but I love cheese , crackers , fruit lol if be so happy to see all that

I'm not loving the idea of an unattended raw bar, but everything else sounds good. I would really love hot hors doeuvrs as well, but if you're not going to be set up with someone watching them or a controlled temperature in some way then it's not worth it and I think you'll be fine with what you have.

All the meats and cheeses! I'm all for your idea, but I will say this stuff is super expensive and adds up to the price of a meal most often. Which is fine by all means, it just isn't cost saving

This sounds yummy to me! I would enjoy this.

None of that is sufficient for the time you want to do it. 7:30-9:30 is dinner time. I would expect way more food at that hour, and would end up leaving early to go get a real meal. Adding hot appetizers to that is not more complicated at all, it's just more money. All of that was just one of many stations for our cocktail hour, which preceded a full dinner.

My friend did a cheese board and antipasto setup and everyone lived it. Very nice!

How will you keep this refilled?

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Agreed, I would make my appearance, graze for 30 min and leave to get an actual meal.

OP, is it really common for people to have a dj/dancing at these kinda events? I honestly would be surprised if people danced...

To clarify, this type of reception and even time frame is extremely common where I live. All of our guests are familiar with this concept and they know that an open house reception means a light snack, and no one will be expecting a full meal. 7:30-9:30 is an accepted time frame (although they can be held earlier) for this sort of event. Typically guests stay for about a half hour. They say hi to the bride and groom, grab a bite of food. Maybe socialize or dance and then head out. Its not your standard reception, not the same as a cocktail reception either. People will dance depending on the crowd and venue and whether they have a DJ. We won't be having a DJ or dance floor.

I do not have the room to add hot appetizers besides warming the brie and maybe a dip. The plan is to hold the event in my house, and I will have set it up and I will have a helper or two. Again, this is the norm here. Not generally held at a private residence, but either self-catered or store bought food set up by family friends.

This is a second marriage for both of us. We have some issues surrounding the guest list, primarily that if we invite more than immediate family and local friends it ends up being a DW. Having a casual event like this gets us off the hook for inviting extended family.

This isn't being done in an effort to save money. We just want to be married in front of the kids and hold a small reception in celebration. I like the idea of hosting in our house as it is special to us and having the memory here sounds nice. I enjoy entertaining and I haven't been able to do as much since moving here. I really like this idea, I know it isn't common elsewhere. But really, it's not any different than hosting any other sort of open house party which people do all the time.

While I could hire a caterer to do hot appetizers (or all of it), I just don't have the extra room (extra bodies and space for them to prep). Keeping food limited to cold items simplifies the whole thing. Items to be replenished will be prepped and ready to go in the adjacent refrigerator. There should be plenty of seating. I plan to clear out most of my furniture and rent smaller tables, chairs and a little tent for my garden patio.

Here's another explanation I lifted from some website. Note, we are not having a religious ceremony but a private ceremony earlier in the day. We will have alcohol, we won't be doing speeches, bouquet toss, or dances.

A lot of LDS couples get married in the temple, which is a sacred building where a reception cannot be held. So the reception is held in a different venue ~ my sister’s was in a local church, my sister-in-law’s was in a restaurant, and mine was in my in-laws’ backyard. I’ve been to some that have been held at reception centers, gardens and parks.

The majority of the Mormon receptions that I have been to take place the evening of the wedding and are open house style [you come anytime between the start and end time, unless otherwise noted] for two or three hours. Often the bride, groom and their parents, and sometimes attendants, will stand in a line so that they may greet their guests and accept congratulations.

Typically there is a place for guests to sign in, a place to put gifts, and tables set up for guest to enjoy refreshments. Refreshments served can vary greatly. At our reception we had a dessert bar. I heard recently about a reception that was a carnival theme and the bride and groom served hot dogs, cotton candy and other carnival treats. Some will serve more of a meal, some will serve hors devours, and others will serve desserts or treats.

People usually dress in nice clothes – blouses, skirts or dress pants for women; slacks with a collared shirt for men. I have been to a couple receptions where there has been dancing. Sometimes it is more successful than other times. People sometimes bring their children. Like other receptions, the bride and groom often cut the cake, throw the bouquet and leave together before everyone leaves. Alcohol is not likely to be served.