Evening wedding reception food - Dominos!?

[Discolady123]

I’m having an evening only wedding reception in a few months and we are really struggling with the catering side of things. We will be having a ceremony around 3/4pm for 1 hour, then onto photos at the church grounds, and people will go straight to the venue from there. We aren’t doing a sit down meal as we want a more relaxed vibe.

We are seriously thinking about ordering a large quantity of dominos pizzas to the venue and having a pizza buffet. We LOVE pizza as a couple and feel like it’s a bit different to the standard wedding hot buffet. (the venue doesn’t really have outside access so a pizza truck wouldn’t work, hence a takeaway option).

We were thinking of having sides at the start of the buffet table (pasta, salad, coleslaw, crisps, cocktail sausages & breadsticks) & then the rest would be pizza.

What is your thoughts on this? Would you be mortified if you turned up to a wedding reception and had pizza? Or would you prefer a standard finger buffet?

Also how many people would you say could share a large dominos pizza? This will help up with quantities etc.

My DN had pizzas at the evening do at her wedding and it was fab! They hired someone to come in with pizza ovens on the patio/courtyard and they kept the pizzas coming, nice hot and fresh out the ovens. They also had a wee set up with rolls, sausage rolls and other finger food just in case people didn't like pizza but although that was eaten the pizzas were the hit! You go with what you like!

Can't believe how divisive the Domino's issue has been. Quite enjoying the debate. For what it's worth, I bloody love it, haven't had one in about 2 years so would be beyond delighted to find a Domino's at the wedding buffet table. I'd be inclined to over order, so with various salads and sides, half a large pizza per person. Realistically there's no way most people will eat that much though

I dont think the older generation would like chomping on pizza. Can't see it myself.

@Simonjt

They didn’t bring any equipment, they delivered the pizzas, work then hired a handful of servers who used hired hotplates to serve us.

Ok then, what you had was reheated pizza... I'm glad you enjoyed it but it isn't what I'd want to serve to guests.

We were going to do this with similar numbers but it just got too complicated so we did a hog roast instead (with salads, sides, veg option all included, we didnt have any vegans) - it was under a grand all in and less hassle in the end.

It was reheated, it was kept hot, it really isn’t difficult to keep food hot.

I think it's a bit naff really.

Wasn’t sorry, not was.

@Discolady123 I've been to an event where the catering was Dominos. I love Dominos, but I discovered then that I don't love cold Dominos. A pizza van type thing would be better, really, if at all feasible. Overall, pizza and bits is a great idea.

Pizza sounds fab- but not dominos. The few occasions I've had them it's been greasy and horrible. I wouldn't want to eat it at a wedding. I also think 65 isn't enough. It's the type of food people do eat cold, so unless you're having anything (snacks) later on I would order more.

I'd love this personally :D it does sound logistically like a bit of a nightmare though and I imagine some wouldn't want to risk getting grease on their outfits! You can tell people on this thread who paid ££££ per head for posh food that people probably hated though haha! It's trickier as you say you've contacted caterers and they're booked, but as it sounds like you don't have dietary requirements to cater for might make it a bit easier (we didn't either and had no vegans but some veggies).

We had a noodle bar, chippy van and ice cream van (cliche I know) but was a really warm summers day and was glorious. Actually worked out to be fairly reasonable.

We had a table of pick & mix we left out so people could help themselves throughout the evening and at 9ish we had a hog roast which went down really well. Rolls, stuffing etc and had it in the side garden for those who weren't keen, and had some buffet type foods. Went down well after drinks, dancing and a long day and meant evening guests could have some hot food too!

I think it's a smashing idea. Love a bit of pizza. Might order one tonight actually 😂😂. If it's something that's very 'you' I say go for it.

@Simonjt

They didn’t bring any equipment, they delivered the pizzas, work then hired a handful of servers who used hired hotplates to serve us.

But OP hasn’t mentioned anything about hiring hot plates or servers? Pizza that’s just left on buffet tables will pretty rapidly turn cold and congealed even if it didn’t arrive that way.

I wouldn’t do it OP, it sounds like a lot of organising for a “cheap” evening reception - I like pizza, but I’m dairy free and in a buffet situation you can guarantee some asshole will swipe the vegan cheese just to see what it’s like leaving me with no food which is nice.

Far better to see if some catering vans are free that day - you can have burgers, pizza, burrito options pretty cheaply and leave someone else the stress of managing it on the day.

I love the concept but think the logistics would be tricky.

Our friends had external caterers for their wedding and it was on the basis of a table going up one at a time and being served by the catering company who served up some lovely fresh Spanish food, think it was paella etc. And then if people wanted more once everyone had been served then they could go up again for any leftovers. I think this kind of method might be your best bet, that way the quantity being served is controlled so everybody gets food and also the food will be hot and fresh.

We have a pizza van near us - they do weddings! There is probably one near you!

I'd much prefer a pizza to a buffet, but are you able to get hold of a local woodfire pizza van? That would likely be cheaper and the food would stay hot and taste better

Awesome, I would love it. Many congrats 🎉

I went to a wedding where pizza was the only option for food (no extras) it was really nice.
There was a little pizza van but we didn’t go up and order, someone came and took our orders (choice of about 4 pizzas) then they were delivered to the table in pizza boxes.
Are you sure you couldn’t have a pizza van somewhere if orders are taken at the tables ?!

@Clarefromwork great minds!!!

Sorry but this needs some thinking about and I agree with the "not Domino's" faction.

Decent pizza cooked fresh or even decent pizza kept hot would be lovely, both relaxed and classy with added sides and salads it would be a banquet...but cold Domino's (or any other chain joint) really does sound horrible to me.

Why not? But agree not Domino's, it's not the nicest. Guess the snag with a smaller catererer is they may not have enough ovens to deliver that volume at roughly the same time.

Agree that the pizza would be cold.

Maybe go for a cold buffet instead, or if there's a kitchen on site you may be able to find a pizza caterer who has a portable set up.

@Clarefromwork

I went to a wedding where pizza was the only option for food (no extras) it was really nice. There was a little pizza van but we didn’t go up and order, someone came and took our orders (choice of about 4 pizzas) then they were delivered to the table in pizza boxes. Are you sure you couldn’t have a pizza van somewhere if orders are taken at the tables ?!

Didn't think of this! Fab idea. Could potentially have sides/ extras laid out on a table that people can help themselves to throughout the evening, thank you!!

Not for me thank you, I would be hugely disappointed.

Don’t worry about the “smartness” - casual do sounds fab and if people don’t like pizza that’s sort of on them. BUT the cold pizza problem is real. Burritos, pasties, curry etc would all be much better from that point of view. Plus pizzas are actually quite complicated to serve because they take up so much bloody space!!