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Savvy October 2019

Restaurant Reception

Hannah, on August 6, 2019 at 9:56 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 9
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Hey yall! New here! Please no judgement, I am having a small wedding. 40 people at most. Its in Destin, Florida and I live in Nashville so a bit of a destination beach wedding. My fiance and I have a very small budget and we have only invited very close family members and two best friends. Everyone we have invited knows our situation and we were able to get major discounts on condos, and a few people free condos through my fiancees connections he made from work. So— my point. We are having a nice ceremony on the beach. We are wanting to have a casual reception afterwards at a restaurant next door, which is a seafood place. We are thinking we would pay for appetizers for everyone, but guests would be required to pay for their entree themselves. We would also of course have desserts. We are having this fairly early 5pm, so they could possibly skip entrees if they wanted to. (Nobody will be drinking so alcohol isn’t something to worry about- very religious family) Is their a way to word that they will have free apps but have to pay for their own dinner? Please don’t call me tacky! We had a baby this year too so everyone coming knows we are paying entirely ourselves and weddings are so expensive!

9 Comments

Latest activity by Michelle, on August 8, 2019 at 6:47 AM
  • Melissa
    VIP September 2019
    Melissa ·
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    I understand that you have a small guest list and small budget, but you should definitely provide a full meal at 5pm. That is dinner time. If you did it in the afternoon like 1-4 or something I can understand heavy appetizers and dessert. A destination wedding is even more of a reason to provide a full meal as people have traveled quite a bit to get there. Check with local restaurants and see what their options are for prices per head. Or if you have a space where you can host everyone, maybe order catering from a local grocery store or even a ton of pizzas.
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  • Jill
    Expert April 2020
    Jill ·
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    I think that sounds like a good plan as long as the seafood place isn’t too pricey! I know some of those places can be fairly expensive and if I had to pay for my entree I would be would be looking for the cheapest thing on the menu. For your audience, I think it works for you and it’s definitely a know your audience situation. I would maybe run it by a few people like your best friends and ask for their opinion. Good luck girl! I‘m also having a destination wedding to Florida so I get it.
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  • H
    Savvy October 2019
    Hannah ·
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    The wedding is in 80 days and I cant change the time now. The only other option I have is hosting an outside reception underneath a pavilion, but then I would have to rely on some of my wedding party to set up the pavilion with food trays from the local grocery and decorations. I would also have to rely on them to clean up.
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  • H
    Savvy October 2019
    Hannah ·
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    Thanks! Good luck with your wedding as well! I talked to my girls about it and they think it’s a great idea! My fiance and I are both the babies of our family, and honestly everyone else is in a better financial situation than us so I don’t think it will be too much to ask. The restaurant has a wide range of prices to choose from and that’s why I don’t want to offer to pay. The prices range from $12 shrimp baskets to $40 crab legs and steaks.
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  • W
    VIP September 2020
    Willow ·
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    I have to agree with Melissa
    If you're not able to change the time or the venue, just offer appetizers and don't say anything about the option to order extra food. If they're hungry, they'll do it on their own.
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  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Legend March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
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    I completely agree. If you don’t want to pay for a full meal, have the wedding ceremony close to your family so they don’t pay for lodging then you can offer just a cake & punch reception.
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  • Jeanie
    Super February 2020
    Jeanie ·
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    I don’t know how you can tastefully tell your guests to pay for their own meal. However, you could always switch it up a bit and have a small cocktail party of sorts and just do the appetizers and deserts. I think if you make it known that’s what the reception is, that would be much more appropriate. Like some others have said, try and move the time up so it’s not during dinner time and it should be a bit easier to do that.
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  • J
    Expert May 2021
    Jaime ·
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    I would not ask people to travel for my wedding and then not provide them a meal. Is there any reason this is a destination wedding and not a local one?

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  • M
    VIP December 2019
    Michelle ·
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    You can't ask your guest to travel and then not pay for their food. You could do apps and desserts. And that will be fine. Or do apps and salad and get a cake to cut from a grocery store as the wedding cake. But you definitely have to feed them. What's your max budget for food? Post the menu here or the name of the restaurant and I'm sure the WW ladies can help you come up with a menu in your budget. But you definitely have to feed your guest. Good luck!

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