Not serving food to guests..ideas?

Yeah, if you are doing a breakfast buffet, then you have to do early morning to mid afternoon. Say ceremony starting around 10 a.m. then the buffet could start around 11 a.m. That way people would stay from say 11 a.m. to around 3-4 p.m. The latest I think the buffet could start would be around 1 p.m., any later and most people I think are looking for more lunch/dinner items then breakfast.

Appetizers and champagne, go to costco freezer aisle and buy hundreds of tiny chicken pot pies or truffles or creme puffs or crab puffs or mini spring rolls or some tiny hors devoures for 400$ and serve them in the afternoon between lunch and dinner with oodles of champagne everyone can stand. hire a walking violinist, get two vases full of flowers, two long tables and pile them with the food

I don't think it's a problem, but I'll echo what everyone else has said; let your guests know it'll only be a dessert reception. I'd be aggravated if I showed up to a wedding where I expected there to be actual food and there was just desserts, especially if you're getting married in the evening. If I knew ahead of time there would just be desserts, I'd make sure to eat beforehand.

Two thoughts: if you are only serving desserts, then consider an espresso bar (self-serve or hire a vendor.) I think you'll be surprised by how reasonably priced a coffee caterer is.

Another idea is to serve brunch or breakfast (and of course, great coffee!) Congrats and good luck with your wedding!

I actually really like that breakfast idea, but I definitely think it should be more of a brunch thing. I like Tiffany's time line, that makes a lot of sense, and people would be starting to head out around early dinner time which would be good timing.

But thats the thing I dont want my wedding to be over by 4

People generally don't stay for hours after a wedding unless there's a full meal and alcohol...just my experience.

You can always do an intimate dinner with the two of you, or an immediate family dinner, afterwards if you are over by 4. There is always the option to after party later in the evening.

You HAVE to be really clear about no serving food. I'd look at pricing catering from a super market or something and cut other stuff. DIY centerpieces, don't waste on place cards or favors and find a less expensive venue. I think feeding guests is important. My cousin did not state that they were not serving dinner but still had traditional timing. We had to leave early and go get dinner because we were starving!

I wouldn't mind, anything would go for me. I would like to know if there wasn't a meal served so I could eat before attending.

I think you're going to have to be realistic about the time lines if you want to do a brunch buffet or a cake and punch reception. People staying all into the night just isn't going to happen and asking them to just eat appetizers or cake for dinner isn't going to happen either.

If you start the ceremony at 10 and everyone is out by 1pm that's not a short reception. The only receptions that last well into the night have fully stocked bars and huge dinners along with entertainment for the guests. I think you can really have a gorgeous wedding but you are going to let yourself down if you are unrealistic about what you can have with your budget constraints.

What Briggette said.

Have you considered a pot luck wedding. Everyone that is very close to your brings a dish of food. My family has done many weddings like this. You would be surprised how many of your family members would love to do this for you. Just mention it in a casual conversation to a couple of Aunts and see what their reaction is. I bet you will get a positive reaction.

The thing about a wedding is that people just want to see you get married. They are always willing and excited to help make it happen

I just google imaged Pot Luck weddings look at how many nice weddings brides have done like this

They even have invitation idea's for pot luck weddings posted

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/555490935259482976/

Im on a 3k budget and my guest list is 400 and and im still serving everyone a full meal. But than again i am making all the food myself. But that could be an option for you is to make the food yourself (you might get people to say they will help if they know your doing it yourself). I had people offer to help me and im taking them up on that offer.

I wouldn't be offended, just depends on wedding time & if you made it known before hand. If it was a 5 o'clock wedding with reception following, thats dinner time to me and I'd expect to eat something. If no food, I'd probably leave the wedding early to get something to eat but I do love my food haha

Listen to Briggitte

You can want your wedding to not be over with by 4, but the type of wedding you are wanting/can afford works with an earlier wedding.

BBQ is another cheap idea.

If you don't have food, people aren't going to stay 6 hours anyways, it's just unrealistic. For a party that long you need to feed your guests and Breakfast for Dinner isn't really a wedding option, it's more for a fraternity in my opinion.

Briggitte hit the nail on the head.

Depends on when it was. Late night, like it started at 8, then I'd be okay with dessert and cocktails, since it would be more like a party and after dinner times.

I would also be okay with a continental breakfast wedding, that started earlier in the day, say around 10am. Although honestly I'd hate to have to get up that early for a wedding.

And another note: I would definitely decrease the time for a reception like this. Maybe 2 hours at most. There's only so much you can do without an hour or so for dinner/meal.

Mexican food is a great way to go when on a budget - or Italian. If you're really trying to DIY, have family help prepare the meal. I've had family members and been to other weddings where the matriarchs prepared the entire meal for the guests. it was awesome and made the wedding very intimate/family oriented....

Future Mrs. Russell's idea could work really if you don't have as many heads to feed.