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Kate
Savvy April 2018

Potluck wedding reception

Kate, on March 9, 2017 at 12:37 AM Posted in Do It Yourself 1 115

Has anyone had a potluck wedding reception? Thinking about it since it is low budget/cost. Any pros and cons anybody wants to throw out there? Let me know!!Smiley smile

115 Comments

Latest activity by yvonne, on June 26, 2017 at 6:26 AM
  • H2C17
    Super June 2018
    H2C17 ·
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    Lots of cons.....

    Food poisoning

    Shitty food

    Lawsuits

    PLEASE DO NOT DO A POTLUCK OR SELF

    CATER!!!

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  • Helena Handbasket
    Master February 2016
    Helena Handbasket ·
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    No. because it's rude.

    Pros:none

    Cons:food poisoning

    -Making your guests work

    -Not properly hosting guests

    -Food poisoning

    -Making your aunt Nonna cook all day then carry her casserole dish around in heels

    -food poisoning

    -unsafe food handling procedures

    -food poisoning

    -unclean prep areas(do you really know what people's kitchens look like)

    -food poisoning

    -rude as all hell

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  • found my prince
    Devoted June 2017
    found my prince ·
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    It's tacky!! And how can you ask your guest to cook for your wedding! I'd be so embarrassed!

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  • Brittany
    Expert October 2017
    Brittany ·
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    You probably won't get any pros here. Hire a licensed caterer. Italian and BBQ are among more affordable options.

    ETA: You have three stars and this has been posted many times. Use the search feature to see why potluck is not a good idea.

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  • AwkwardToBe
    VIP September 2017
    AwkwardToBe ·
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    Potluck weddings are not low cost. It just passes the cost/responsibility onto your guests. (Keyword: GUESTS). As you are hosting the reception for your guests, you will need to provide adequate food and beverages for them. If budget is an issue for you, there are plenty of low cost catering options available. The most common ones are Italian or BBQ catering.

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  • megan m
    Devoted August 2017
    megan m ·
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    Every damn day the same thread, why? Why would you want to do that to yourself or your guests?

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  • H2C17
    Super June 2018
    H2C17 ·
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    This is going to be a shitshow in the morning.....

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  • Helena Handbasket
    Master February 2016
    Helena Handbasket ·
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    If it makes it till the morning.

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  • T
    Devoted July 2017
    TheBride:) ·
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    No.....just no.

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  • H2C17
    Super June 2018
    H2C17 ·
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    Hahaha @Helena. Good point it will probably be hidden by then because bad ideas were not validated.

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  • Helena Handbasket
    Master February 2016
    Helena Handbasket ·
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    Soon we will all be called rude and we don't understand the vision.

    So to the OP- I had to cook for a school potluck fundraiser. I had to make enough chili to feed 80 people. I spent half the day and like $150 to make it. By the time we had to go I was bitchy and tired and pissed off that there wasn't any wine. Don't do this.

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  • Del
    Master November 2017
    Del ·
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    Pros: you can save money

    Cons: you become known as a terrible host, people talk shit about you and your wedding behind your back forever, people potentially can get sick and die, people can sue you for medical bills which obliterate that saved money and then some, you have a hard time finding a venue and servers because no one wants to take liability for it, your wedding dinner is potentially potato salad, a bag of ice and 20 packs of napkins, you run out of food and people go hungry, no one brings you a gift because they had to pay for you to feed your guests, everyone side-eyes your gown/venue/everything else and calculates how much you spent on your vanity vs your hosting, a million other shitty possibilities

    Your call.

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  • ReneeEdward
    VIP November 2017
    ReneeEdward ·
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    There aren't any pros but there sure are a lot of cons!

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  • Mai-Tai
    VIP April 2017
    Mai-Tai ·
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    All kinds of cons which everyone has listed.

    The only person who benefits from potluck reception is YOU, as in you are not having to shell out the money to properly host your guests.

    You're lucky you posted at this time as many regular bishes are on during working hours.

    You're getting off lucky.

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  • Ann
    VIP November 2017
    Ann ·
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    Definitely don't do a potluck wedding.

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  • EndofaDarrah
    Devoted August 2017
    EndofaDarrah ·
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    Ohhh no.

    I've been to a partially self catered wedding and the family in charge of the food was stressed and overworked but there was no illness

    Everyone was well fed and those not working their asses off were perfectly happy at the wedding.

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  • Dawn&Mike
    Super September 2017
    Dawn&Mike ·
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    Last wedding I went to was self catered and it was soooo bad. There wasn't enough food to even feed the ones that did eat. That doesn't count the ones like myself and FH that didn't eat cause it looked bad. Ppl complained things where not hot or tasted bad cause they didn't have the means to properly keep the temps for the length of time they needed. The wedding started 2 hours late cause the groom forgot his tux and had to drive home (hour away) to get it. The person that catered was also the MOH and had her son doing music and another son doing photos. Felt so bad for the couple. Only reason we stayed was FH was in the WP.

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  • Rachel DellaPorte
    Rachel DellaPorte ·
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    It's your wedding day, not welcoming the local circuit evangelist in the fellowship hall after his sales pitch.

    It's your wedding day...Olive Garden does it better than potluck.

    It's your wedding day...

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  • BlushingBride
    VIP October 2017
    BlushingBride ·
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    It does seem like you will face the possibility of a lot more problems if you decide to go this route. Try to reconsider and make it a more relaxing week for everyone.

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  • SwissMs
    Super March 2018
    SwissMs ·
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    Potluck weddings are rude AF. Please sit down with your FH, determine your budget, and then have the wedding you can afford to properly host, whether this means cake and punch with 150 people or a nice dinner in a private room with only immediate families.

    Wedding guests should never have to open their wallets for anything - not for drinks at the reception, not for purchasing food to bring, nada.

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