Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I'm not starving my wedding guests.

450 replies

MBlaze · 24/01/2018 20:04

Helpful Mumsnetters, please let me know if this is enough food for a wedding. I think it's more than enough, but DP thinks we need to add more food!

Timings are approximate...

2pm - Ceremony
3pm-5pm - Crepe or ice cream van, canapes (3 each) and drinks
6pm - 3 Course dinner (Vegan and Gluten-free options so nobody should go hungry.)
7ish? - Cake after dinner
9pm - Cheese board with bread, crackers, grapes, figs etc

Surely that's enough food considering the ceremony is at 2 and people can have breakfast beforehand?

DP thinks we should provide more than a cheeseboard after dinner and should hire a fish and chip/burrito van or ask the caterers for something more substantial. We aren't having any evening only guests, so I really don't think people will need another meal 3 hours after a 3 course meal.

What do you think?

OP posts:
HappyHedgehog247 · 24/01/2018 20:19

I'd go mini cones of fish and chips or cheese on toast. Carbs to soak the booze. I'd also add more canapés. I do love food though!

Original poster
MBlaze · 24/01/2018 20:19

Eggs - everyone will be leaving by 11.30pm

OP posts:
Sparkletastic · 24/01/2018 20:19

6 canapés per person, tell them the food timings on the invitation, then you are good to go.

GoodMorning1 · 24/01/2018 20:19

I think it's fine except maybe also have some sandwich h platters alongside the cheese board.

I don't think you need to sorry about people not eating lunch. I would always eat a light lunch before a 2pm ceremony (or even a 1pm) on the assumption it would just be canapés afterwards and the main mral wouldn't be until 5pm or 6pm.

NataliaOsipova · 24/01/2018 20:20

If you're not having evening guests, that's loads of food!

Picnicsandwich · 24/01/2018 20:20

Went to a wedding with a very similar schedule to this recently.
Just warn the guests to have lunch before the ceremony. I (and everyone else) presumed the meal was at 3 and was absolutely starving! People will be drinking and it's a good idea to keep their tummies lined as well!

WitchesHatRim · 24/01/2018 20:21

Its a long wait between 3 and 6 tbh.

What's happening during that time?

Eliza9917 · 24/01/2018 20:21

Cheese on toast is horrible once it's gone cold, I don't see how they could mass serve that and it still be nice.

Doughnuts and hot choc might not sit well in the stomachs of ppl that have drunk a lot.

I'd go with fish and chips.

Boulshired · 24/01/2018 20:21

If your guests only have breakfast by the time the wedding breakfast starts which is usually late it is a long stretch. Not sure I like ice cream cake so close to meal. Am also not sure there was be any need for cheese and biscuits if your not eating till after six or the option of more food it the time between breakfast and sit down meal.

Tmgc123 · 24/01/2018 20:21

Sorry it’s not enough! More canapés are needed (at least 5 each) and something substantial in the evening. Chances are they’ll miss lunch cause of ceremony time and travelling, and you need to keep people going until the meal and keep them entertained whilst you have pics.

Nothing worse than being starving in the evening after a few drinks and there’s no option for food 🤣 it’s expensive, but weddings are expensive! X

Original poster
MBlaze · 24/01/2018 20:21

MsHathaway - we weren't going to bother with canapes as they're expensive and so small, so it was just a side thing. Might aswell get rid and do something else.

MrTrebus - Crepes are sweet and savoury, 10 different options for combinations

OP posts:
Mooey89 · 24/01/2018 20:22

Well, it’s as much food as we’re having!

Wedding at 3
Canapés/champagne after
On to reception, tapas on tables during speeches, then bbq - steak burgers, lamb skewers (for the meaties!) with salads and things, then strawberries and cream

Then for the evening, a cheese board, crackers, chutneys etc, and wedding cake.

expatinscotland · 24/01/2018 20:22

I can't eat dairy so the cheeseboard would be out for me.

Oblomov18 · 24/01/2018 20:22

No. I don't think it's enough.

HoppyHannah · 24/01/2018 20:23

OP,

You are brilliant to look for advice about this, and seem to be laid back about some of us (me included!) saying this and that.

I hope your wedding is wonderful.

But there is no such thing as too little food at a wedding, especially after the ceremony and prior to the main meal.

Wishing you every happiness!

mrsharrison · 24/01/2018 20:23

I would scrap the crepes/ice cream and spend more money on canapes (less messy too).

And fish n chip cones are my fave.

Original poster
MBlaze · 24/01/2018 20:24

We are having a drinks reception at 3-5. So it will be drinks, photos, lawn games (weather permitting), bouncy castle and the crepe van

OP posts:
Slanetylor · 24/01/2018 20:24

People will have breakfast. They should have some lunch before a 2pm ceremony. They will have crepes and nibbles. And then shortly afterwards a 3 course meal. Then cake!! No one should be hungry after that! I love cheese but not sure about it at that hour. I'd go for the fish and chips if people will be drinking.

CrabappleBiscuit · 24/01/2018 20:24

I think people knowing timings of food is the point. If it was me I’d be having a sandwich in the car before the ceremony if I knew there was no proper food till 6pm.

Crepes and canapés is loads. As long as people know it’ll be 3pm so they know to have a big breakfast.

Cheese sound perfect later.

Believeitornot · 24/01/2018 20:24

Not enough. You’re giving people their lunch and want them to stay til 1130pm with just cheese and biscuits?

Go for fish and chips. Not everyone likes cheese or can even have cheese.

We had bacon butties etc for our evening. Plus snacks for people arriving and lunch.

Better to over than under cater.

BigBaboonBum · 24/01/2018 20:25

This is fine but maybe add something extra with the cheese, even if it’s just a big barrel of chicken wings and pizzas. People like to eat when they’ve had a drink!

Tipsntoes · 24/01/2018 20:25

My concern would be canapes - 3 each. Usually fine, if to be followed quickly by the main meal, but people will be hungry for meal then, especially if they've been hanging around for while photos are taken (as is usual) . The quantity of food throughout the day is fine, I'm just not sure about the timings.

MrsHathaway · 24/01/2018 20:26

My opinion is coloured by the fact that I hate crepes Grin

But most of the food is all close together (6pm, 7pm, 9pm) with a big gap for most people earlier on (2pm weddings make lunch early or very light). If you can bring the dinner to 5pm it will make all the difference.

Olga81 · 24/01/2018 20:26

Do you have vegan/gluten/other dietary restriction options for the canapes and late food?

Frequently found that whilst I've been catered for for the main meal (coeliac), there's not a single thing I can eat when other people are being served nibbles. Have memories of several weddings where I was starving as timings meant late breakfast rather than time for lunch then no food at all until 6pm.

Caspiana · 24/01/2018 20:26

We had 5 canapés per person and they all went. People are always hungry in the drinks reception but if there are crepes available I am sure 3 will be fine.

We had a massive cheese board all evening, and bacon and chip butties at 10. People barely touched the cheese board, but the bacon butties all went. We ordered 130 for 100 people (despite advice to cater for 80%) thinking it would be loads too much but it wasn’t! Our 3 course meal was served at 5. I would go for fish and chips.

It also depends how much booze you have. We had loads and a free bar, the more booze the more munchies required I think!