Pot Luck Reception

Here’s what I recommend, as this was the way receptions were done as I was growing up and also the way I’m doing mine. Don’t put it on all of your guests to contribute. Ask a few close friends or family to bring certain foods. I would also make it a shorter reception and at a time where it would be just refreshments not a meal. This is the way all the weddings I went to as a child were done. I can remember helping my mom and grandma set out the tea sandwiches and refill the nut and mint bowls a lot. One of my close older friends remarried over a year ago and this was how her reception was and it was just refreshing to see again. It’s a simpler more casual event than having something catered but it promotes fellowship.

View Quoted Comment Not going to add to the comments on the potluck because I agree with what everyone’s been saying. But my sister did the recipe card thing at her wedding this past fall and I can say for a wedding of 120 maybe 3 people brought recipe cards. Not even her family. It’s super easy to forget.

View Quoted Comment I think this would be a good idea!!

I've been to one, and it worked out fine. The bride and groom created a "googledocs" and you put your name down, then they had a column for 'savory' and a column for 'sweet'. You wrote under one of the columns what you were bringing and then everyone could see if there were more sweet vs savory items and plan accordingly. You were asked to bring a label of what you made and list any allergens included in the item, which was then displayed alongside your dish.
The bride and groom did this in lieu of gifts. They had a few friends in charge of filling up the tables with the different dishes. I thought it went quite well.