Guests paying for their plates

This is rude. Just don’t invite people if you don’t want them there.

No no no no no! It’s just rude. It financially you’re struggling cut back on the number of guest or other areas. Don’t put yourself in debt for one day but certainly don’t ask people to go Dutch at your wedding.

Big No No. . If is to cut people have a small ceremony with family you and your other half like only. That of paying for plates is common on charity events not weddings. Good Luck.

If you can't afford a big reception that is fine but you can't invite people to a wedding, expect them to bring a gift, and then also make them pay for their own food.
Maybe you just do a small reception with only close family.
But otherwise I'd never throw a party and make people pay anything and a wedding day should be no different.

I would not be attending that wedding.

No no no no no. You can’t possobly think it’s OK for others to pay for your wedding?!

Yeah I would be responding no to the invite. If you can’t afford to have me there then that’s fine but don’t expect me to pay my way. Have a wedding that you can afford.

I have never heard of a wedding where guests....key word "guests" pay for their food.

That’s super tacky! I would not attend. Just invite those you can afford to pay for.

This is ridiculously rude... please do NOT do this!!

Don't do it!!!

You are responsible for paying for your wedding, not your guests. If you want to reduce the number of people coming then do it, cut your guest list. If it's a cost issue, a small wedding is a much better option or you could host a cake and punch reception at a non meal time

View Quoted Comment

You must not have seen the article where the bride threw a fit when guests didn't pay $3K for her wedding lol.

I have never been to a wedding where guests pay their own way. That being said, the point of a wedding is to get married...not to feed a bunch of people you don’t know or want there. I’m not saying you should ask guests to pay for their food, but you also shouldn’t be obligated to extravagantly feed them. Maybe pick a time of the day where light appetizers are acceptable for a reception? Or, as others have said, cut guests. I can honestly say, if I was invited to a wedding where I was asked to pay, I would probably attend the ceremony and leave (if I wasn’t in the mood for paying for a dinner and it wasn’t someone I was close with), or stay and celebrate and not think twice (if it was someone I was close with).

You can have the wedding you want, just at a different time.

2 PM wedding
2:30 starts reception
5:30 ends reception

Just serve finger foods, cake and beverages

OR

7:45 PM wedding
8:15 starts reception
10:30 ends reception

Again, finger foods but adding in alcohol may be expected at this time.

Please don't do this. Just have a cake reception with no dinner or a smaller wedding or no wedding at all. I don't believe people should have weddings if they want their guests to pay for them.

Just don't invite people if you don't want them coming..

I agree. If you don't want to pay for guests, just don't invite them. Don't insult them into not wanting to go.

No! The people you invite are your guests. You are hosts and you are expected to cover costs of entertaining and feeding your guests. If you’re doing this, be prepared for a lot of “no” RSVPs because this isn’t how you host a wedding reception. If you’re attempting to cut down your guest list, do it before sending invitations and offending people by asking them to pay for their meal. Most people I know would laugh at a wedding invitation asking them to pay their own way.
Like PPs suggested, if you cannot afford to feed everyone a full meal you may want to look into a cake and punch reception, or just providing hors d’oeuvres. BBQ and Italian catering are also options that people usually recommend for cheaper food costs. You may want to talk to your FH and families and rethink this idea for your wedding.

Even worse than asking guests to pay for their drinks.