to have an afternoon tea wedding reception?

[pinknight]

We're planning on a small wedding, under 20 people including us. The ceremony will be at a registry office

Reception venues seem to want minimum 50 guests and insist on us paying for things like DJs which we definitely don't want (the guests will mainly be over 50).

Then if you have sit downs you have to pick the same starter, main and dessert which isn't ideal.

I've found a hotel nearby that does afternoon tea receptions which sounds nice, but I'm thinking, will it be enough food? It says sandwichers, cakes, champagyne, tea etc are included.

What would you think if you went to something like this, and do you think it's enough to fill people up?

I think it sounds lovely but some guests may expect a little alcohol...at least something to toast the bride and groom....

Conga, have a lovely day

My friend did something like this and it was lovely. Congratulations

@WendyCope afternoon tea at the Dorchster is wonderful - I did it for my hen do, to be pedantic tho they start serving it from about 1:30 actually- might be earlier but we were back at the hotel before 5.

I think it sounds delightful.

MountainHesgehog I think it depends on timings....I think back to a wedding we went to a few years ago, where we had stayed the night before. We had a cooked breakfast, the wedding was around lunchtime, then the photos went on and on and on...everyone was getting twitchy, very happy to buy own food but no information about what was happening next...the food, (which was awful) wasn’t served till the evening! A couple of the brides younger friends snuck out for a Maccy D’s and afterwards she was fuming...but we were all so hungry! The best weddings we’ve been to over the years are the ones that are well organised and thoughtful to guests they don’t have to be the most expensive ones.

I went to a wedding years ago ( about 35) and they were married about 2pm and Afternoon Tea served at 3:30.
It was lovely. Smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, ham, egg and veggie one too. Scones with strawberry jam and cream and delicious cakes.

My sister got Wed, both her & husband wanted a small personal wedding, they had did something similar to what your suggesting, it was a lovely stress free day for both bride & groom. Our elder sister felt it need to be a big lavish wedding and was not happy with the initial plans. Even she had to admit the day could not have been any better.
My advice to you. Do your day the way it suits you. It will be a beautiful day.

CONGRATULATIONS, & best of luck

We had an afternoon tea reception and it was amazing. We had the wedding at 3.30pm and then afternoon tea in the pub opposite the church for about 50 people. We then had a dinner at a hotel in the evening for ten of us.

We got many many comments about how much people had enjoyed the reception - particularly that the timings meant they didn’t need to stay overnight. It also gave us the opportunity to mingle with all the guests and chat with them, rather than being seated formally at tables. Alcohol could be purchased if wanted. It was also amazingly reasonable - cost £500 for the entire reception.

Great idea, make sure you let people know on the invite. I dislike wedding sit down meals as they feel a bit like school dinners ( catering for the masses) we had a cold summer buffet at home with waitresses but luckily my SIL & MIL very good cooks.

It's what our eldest son and our DiL did for the afternoon reception. They had afternoon tea. Granted it was a very posh affair. The full works in a teepee type marquee. It was all served and high end. It doesn't have to be like that. Afternoon tea is perfectly adequate. There was an evening do which had hit roast at. Go for it. It's what you can afford