Is anyone else having a Dessert-Only reception?

I thought I could be done, but I can't.

This is precisely why people are fleeing from 'organized' religion in droves.

For Future and Swin.....

Have you really, really thought about what this path asks of you? I know it's a heavy question, but hey, you have no reason to answer, and I have no right to ask.

I'll hide this if you want.

Swin - yes I see what you did there. However the Irish didn't actually eat their children. LDS really was a guy who found the Golden Plates because an angel told him where to look and found special spectacles to allow him and only him to read it. Then used that information to tell everyone what to do and how to do it. That seems pretty damn convenient don't you think? I mean it's not as bad as Scientology with the alien but it seems a little Shady to me. And while the musical makes it a funny thing, the pbs.org websites with the early history of the Mormon religion also says the same basic idea. Did they get it wrong too?

I really can't get behind some random person on the Internet asking my to reevaluate my life.

Eta: Also if anyone is interested in the church, check out lds.org or mormon.org instead of musicals and pbs.

It really is offensive and disgusting that a vendor...especially an officiant...would come here and ask someone to question their entire belief system. That kind of close-minded behavior that regularly occurs is gross. Just because you don't "get it" doesn't give you the right to bash it. Not here or ever. You're way is not the only way. You would think someone that makes a living joining lives would understand that. Maybe It's time to step outside of Jersey for a while.

I'm just saying why I think how I do. You don't have to reevaluate anything. Mormon.org still says"He was led by God to an ancient record and given the ability to translate it into English" I'm not sure how this is supposed to make me feel different. You don't have to keep responding you know. I said a couple times you do you. So once again, do whatever makes you happy I'm just thankful I wasn't brought up in that life. Back to the desserts. OP - what other dessert are you planning?

Chocolate, the reevaluation thing wasn't to you! And I was just meaning really for anyone who's reading this, those are good sites to go to because the search engines are mega helpful

@Katy - Celia is asking a question to get a better understanding. It's communication and education because quite frankly, I would like to find out more as well. How are we to know if we don't ask questions? Why get on the defensive? No one is putting a gun to your head. She didn't say it was dumb or stupid. Is it wrong to ask for an explanation to be more enlightened? And she even said she'd hide the thread if those two posters wish.

@Swin & @FutureMrsWade - thank you both for sharing so much about your wedding traditions with us. I'm sure it's not easy to always be met with so many questions about your faith, and even harder to ever feel like you're being eloquent on an internet forum I love learning about different wedding ceremony traditions, so thank you!

I've found this fascinating. I teach in a town where there is the only temple for hundreds of miles. My students talk of special dances, undergarments, seminary, and missions. I try to learn and be open minded even if I find a little of it difficult to understand. I have friends that have joined, and others that have left, the church. My FH was raised in the LDS church and left at age 17. His parents are still LDS. They take no issue with my lack of choice of a religion. Things are different in the LDS church. That is true. But one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that every LDS parent and/or student I know is exceptionally family minded. Although OP's method and time table isn't WW Approved" as proper, it sounds very proper per her situation (culture, if you will). On that, it sounds like an exhausting day, but perfectly acceptable. As for your question...I wonder if you can find neat or unique display stands to put your cakes and cupcakes on? ETA, spelling

Ah my whole family is mormon and I used to be a member of an LDS church but uh.. I got out of there real fast. I see what good it does for my family, and I appreciate my time there. Especially since I was baptized by my late grandfather in the church. This thread started a convo with my FH about when my cousins get married in the temple and how so many members of our family won't be able to attend. It's so sad to me... I also could never imagine getting married with out my son there. He always says "Mommy and daddy and me are getting married," and it would break my heart to take that away from him...

I'm not judging, I can't judge something I don't understand.

I just got back from "Craft Night", so I am going to try and answer everybody as best as I can. Surprisingly, not one person has upset me or offended me. I think that once you become truly settled into who you are and sure of what you're doing, you just take it in stride. Then again, maybe, it's just a sign of old age too.... lol

Celia, sweetheart, I'm gonna dedicate this post to you, and you solely. I love ya to death, girlie, I do... and I am not the least bit bothered about your question. The way I see it, is like the Amish, at a certain point they get a choice to go out into the world, and question everything they know about their faith. I think sometimes you HAVE TO do that, to truly be tested. Think of it as "the grass is greener" analogy.

I tried to write this, a few times now, but it was impossible to do without giving my life story. Because, truly, one's faith is so interwoven it becomes apart of who they are on every level. All I can say, is I've seen the other side. I've went down the "rabbits hole" so to speak. I've been to the anti-Mormon sites, I know what they say. I've done my own research to "know". I've been in and out of activity with the church, struggled with my testimony. I've explored the "other" side. I KNOW my church's history- the good and the bad.

In the end, ALL church's have unfavorable history, bad parts they wish to cover up. Mine is no better, and no worse. I am honest with myself. But here are the parts that make this path worthwhile to me-

1. The Youth programs. They are INCREDIBLE!! I don't know where I would be, or WHO I would be without the Young Women's program. I want my kids to have that positive influence in their life.

2. Family. Family is EVERYTHING. Central to our Creator's plan. There is no white washing that, that belief has stayed and never waivered, even in the sight of more popular, main stream beliefs.

3. I look at those around me. Those who are LDS, and those who are not. Those who actively living their LDS faith, and those who are not. The ones who are, are more successful both personally, and in their marriages. I want that for my children.

4. I, personally, have been in and out of my faith. When I finally gave up all the chaos and uncertainty last June, I finally felt my life come together. I was more centered, had a clear path before me, a purpose. I felt at peace and happier then I had been in a long time. Quite simply, I'm a better mother, person, wife when I am active in my faith.

5. I think about this all the time, and really when I was looking at other faiths that were perhaps more lenient, more accepting, this is the thought that helped carried over my decision. Yes, I give up a lot to be LDS, but am I really losing anything? If I give up 10% of my income, if I donate my Saturday to a service project, if I get up at 5 am to take my kids to Seminary... am I really losing anything? Am I losing anything to give up the club, the partying, the alcohol?? And when I get to "the other side", if I were to have found out it was all a lie, will I have wished I had that money back, that time to sleep, or more time for me... will I wished I was able to have that drink, that coffee, or a cigarette? Now, flip it.... if I did ALL those things, and lived my life without any rules or restrictions, and I got to "the other side" and found out it WAS true... which scenario would I regret more??

My faith is my internal compass that leads me when there seems no right answer. I have a plethora of talks, articles, and advice to pour over any time I am struggling or in doubt. I love my faith, and at 18 ,while I was inactive, I read some tell-all, expose` in Cosmo about the stuff that goes on in the Temple. It was meant to scare people and paint things in a bad light. However, it did none of that for me. From that moment on, I knew that someday... oneday, I would want to attend the Temple. For the first time, since my checkered youth, or lack of testimony, I had a VERY clear vision of where I wanted to go.... and it was right down this very path you've cautioned and questioned me about

Love ya, Celia.....

Chocolate- anything we do not truly understand, can seem "shady", or even scary....

Anyway, desserts.....

Favorite cup/cakes- vanilla with homemade yummy icing, strawberry with strawberry icing, strawberry shortcake, German chocolate cake

Favorite pie- banana cream pie, second would be pumpkin but people may be getting sick of that between Thanksgiving and Christmas

Favorite cookies- oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, sugar cookies with homemade icing

Favorite candy- peeps (don't judge), chocolate covered marshmallows, Jelly Belly jelly beans

Favorite fruit- chocolate covered strawberries, and sugar dipped strawberries

I am also considering a hot cocoa bar. We'll also be serving water, sprite + apple juice. And as a last minute add-on, I am thinking of having some nuts and mints. Apparently, this is a UT Mormon thing, which cracks me up, so I thought why not... but at that point I middeswell also add in green jello, too... LOL

GymRat- feel free to ask any questions you wish.

Swin & WWLynnie, thank you.

Under the June Willows- I am paying a lady in the ward to help set up all of the displays. She has a TON of stuff, and does this kind of thing a lot. She did a beautiful display for our New Beginnings program for the Young Women this year. But, I just keep thinking 126 bum rushing the desserts... LOL I feel sorry for #126!! That's why I was considering doing a display as a centerpiece at each table instead.

Ohhhhh a hot cocoa bar sounds awesome with all the desserts you're planning!

@FutureMrsWade I applaud you for being so level headed and able to respond with conviction about what your faith means to you. One of my dearest friends is Mormon and the differences in our beliefs have never come between us. I admire how family focused the LDS community is as well. To answer your original question, I think you could have multiple dessert tables with various display pedestals. Check out this wedding from A Practical Wedding. I like how the desserts are displayed.

http://apracticalwedding.com/2010/04/self-catering-your-wedding-the-dessert-reception/

I really like this post, I would have never known this had it not been for this thread. It sure is interesting to see how others do things. Really thanks for explaining

SimpleSeamstress- THANK YOU!!! (for that link) I feel like she was writing that just for me. It hit on so many key notes about why I want to do this, as well as my fears... can't thank you enough

Thank you for taking time to explain to us about your faith. I think you've handled this very well as it's easy to feel attacked in these situations. Your desserts sound amazing and the hot cocoa bar is a really cute idea. Good luck to you!!

I really enjoyed reading this and I learned quite a bit. I had zero knowledge of anything LDS. I find it very interesting.

ETA: hot cocoa bar sounds so good!