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AIBU?

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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:
maddiemookins16mum · 24/01/2018 20:26

It's fine. These are adults, they don't need warned to eat lunch and the like. You're telling them the time of the ceremony, most adults can sort themselves out with
a) a mahoosive late breakfast
b) an early lunch
c) if travelling, some sandwiches or a drive through Macdonalds.

afrikat · 24/01/2018 20:26

I am usually STARVING by the time canapés come round but crepes sound a good idea as long as there are savoury options

Definitely need more than cheese in the evening. Fish and chip cones are perfect.

Creasey31 · 24/01/2018 20:28

Sounds lovely, just remember it’s your day, you can’t please everyone! I would be more than happy with that and the idea of a cheeseboard sounds yummy at night in betweeen the dancing. Most people will have a big breakfast and if the wedding is at 2 then anyone who’s been to a wedding will know they won’t be eating until later. Why spend £100s more on more food save it for your honeymoon xx

Greensleeves · 24/01/2018 20:29

Bloody hell, I think it sounds lavish! Crepes and canapes will keep people going until dinner at six. I wouldn't eat more than a crepe and three canapes for lunch if I knew I was having a three course dinner at six. The only change I would make is that if the three course includes a dessert, I would save the cake and serve it with the cheese board, because then cheese-refuseniks can have cake instead. And wedding cake actually goes very nicely with cheese.

It's plenty. Don't worry.

RavenWings · 24/01/2018 20:29

I was at a wedding before that served a starter (soup and bread) directly after the ceremony, then just didn't have it at the main meal. It worked really well. I'd suggest that, or something like scones as mentioned. Canapes are just a bit nothingy.

I second adding something with the cheese as people like to eat once they're drinking. Ime anyway.

AthenaAshton · 24/01/2018 20:30

It sounds like a huge amount of food to me Confused. I would certainly feel I'd been more than adequately fed...

WitchesHatRim · 24/01/2018 20:31

These are adults, they don't need warned to eat lunch and the like

No, but sitting down at 6 is quite late for a 2pm ceremony.

DPotter · 24/01/2018 20:31

I agree with Hoppy - it’s the 3-6 gap that’s the problem. Nothing between breakfast and 6pm - sorry but that’s too long. It’s too long for children (if attending), it’s too long when people are drinking alcohol and it’s just plain too long. Not many people go from breakfast to 6 with nothing to eat.

So I would have more than 3 canapés on offer and reduce the 3 hour gap (which sounds a long time to me. Just been to a wedding with a 2 hour gap and it was too long for me).m
Agree with your fiancé about the cheese as well. Personally I would front load the food ( chips cones whatever) in your gap and have the canapés at 9

Olga81 · 24/01/2018 20:31

Most people will have a big breakfast and if the wedding is at 2 then anyone who’s been to a wedding will know they won’t be eating until later.

I've been to a couple of weddings at 2, some where we've been sat down by 3:30 and some where we've not eaten until 6:30. As a guest, it's nice to be given approximate timings so you can adjust timing/size of lunch before going to the wedding.

Original poster
MBlaze · 24/01/2018 20:32

Believe - I'm confused about your comment... they're also having a three course meal, cake and crepes?

Olga - Yep, I'm gluten free and DP is veggie, so there will be a gluten free and veggie option at every meal

Thought it would be enough food, and I'm generally a bit of a fatty Grin. Gonna have to tell DP that he's right...
I think I will go with the cone of fish and chips for the evening then!

How about afternoon tea at 3pm instead of crepes?

OP posts:
Doilooklikeatourist · 24/01/2018 20:32

I think the problem is the after ceremony gap , with just an ice cream and canapé scenario

Maybe then you could have a mini afternoon tea type meal , just something a bit more substantial to keep people happy

The rest sounds fine , but then I love cheese 👍

Cheeseislife · 24/01/2018 20:32

I'm shocked at the people who say if they were travelling to your wedding at 2pm they would have lunch at home at 11am - is there no McDonald's drive through where these people live?! I do think some hot food may go down well at about half 9 instead of cheeses though - just with your own preferences for food I can't think of something suitable!

Veterinari · 24/01/2018 20:32

I hate wedding timings - why don’t folk get married at 3 or 4pm - what’s with the ceremony at lunch so you don’t have time to eat followed by 3 hours of hanging around in the afternoon starving??!?
Who thinks this is a good idea?

Or if you are denying your guests lunch by having a lunchtime ceremony, why not feed them at 3 or 4 pm? Why hang around till 6? I don’t understand it.

OP - Will your vegan and GF guests get crepes and canapes at 3? And something at 9 also?

Otherwise they essentially only have had one meal all day.

GabsAlot · 24/01/2018 20:33

sounds nice
if people cant cope from 3 -6 with crepes and canapes they need to go to the doctors

FlouncyDoves · 24/01/2018 20:33

That’s fine. No way you’re having cake until at least 8pm if you’re serving a three course dinner (unless there’s only 10 if you!)

Thirtyrock39 · 24/01/2018 20:33

I think it sounds completely fine. I would've just done the canapés not the crepes as well - a three course meal at 6pm is hardly late - but if you're worried I'd just put the timings on the invite as others have suggested then people know to grab lunch before the ceremony.

iamyourequal · 24/01/2018 20:33

I think it all sounds lovely OP. Congratulations! I wouldn't be worrying about more food at 9pm. The reality you will probably only be an hour away from having finished dinner by the, given how long such meals take to be served. I would move the cheese and biscuits to 10.30pm and have tea/coffee and cake then too. Older people and non_drinkers really appreciate a hit drink later on. Maybe have a light alternative which isn't cheese also. Egg mayo sandwiches possibly to stay veggie.

StripySocksAndDocs · 24/01/2018 20:33

Seems a decent amount of food to me. If I was going to be critical is say it seems a bit out of order, with the crepes being first up (I'm not a lover of sweet things as a 'food' though.)

I'd like the three course meal earlier. I could do crepes after that.

I've been at a wedding where there were cheese and crackers at 9ish. It didn't work as a filling food (the meal at that wedding had been 'lite'). But if you've fed them well (hopefully more than half a lemon sole and crushed peas followed by banana creme caramel!!) Cheese bread and cracker will be ok (especially as t heres no evening guests)

Though it's his wedding too so I suppose his input counts (unless it's just criticism and no suggestions!).

Doilooklikeatourist · 24/01/2018 20:33

MBlaze
Xpost !
Great minds 😀

BritInUS1 · 24/01/2018 20:33

How many people have you got going? How quick will they be able to get crepes or will they spend an hour in a queue to get one?

What about an afternoon tea buffet instead - this will be quicker and hopefully cost won't be too much

Original poster
MBlaze · 24/01/2018 20:33

Sorry if I'm not replying to all questions here! The threads moving quite fast.

OP posts:
Ihatemarmite123 · 24/01/2018 20:34

We did afternoon tea after our ceremony aswell as 3 course meal later and buffet

DragonsAndCakes · 24/01/2018 20:34

If people are warned, then they have lunch and it is plenty food at normal mealtimes. I doubt anyone will even eat from the cheese board but it’s nice to have in case.

However, when we were planning our wedding we were also going to a good few weddings and did notice that people are kind of waiting for the main meal the whole drinks reception time. An hour to an hour and a half seemed the max before it got pretty tedious. I think two hours is two long.
Could you bring the meal forward maybe?

MaryLennoxsScowl · 24/01/2018 20:35

Agree with the poster who said that dietary requirements are frequently forgotten for anything but the main meal. I'm lactose intolerant and wouldn't be able to have ice cream, crepes, lots of canapés or the cheese. And make sure that the waiting staff know what's in what - I hate asking staff only for them to give me a blank look and go back to the kitchen to ask - they invariably only ask about the thing in their platter and by the time I've found out what's in the food it's all gone. Or worse, be told 'no, but it's gluten free' as if that will do instead!

specialsubject · 24/01/2018 20:35

The two hour gap sound boring to me . no one goes to a wedding to play games, they want feeding. Either shift the wedding much later or the meal much earlier. Then you don't need the tiny snacks.