Wedding reception- takeaway at home?

[DorisandDeidre]

Would we BU to do this? Considering having the church ceremony and then going back to ours for a takeaway. Would you be okay with this as a guest? We have a small guest list (less than 15) and most have complex dietary requirements so we were thinking takeaway gives them the option of where we get the food from.

Sounds wonderful! Enjoy!

I love this idea! But I would make sure food is ordered beforehand (as I think you were planning to do), as ordering it at the time with 15 people shouting out preferred meals will be chaotic).

And I would put one or two people in charge of laying out all the food, clearly labelled, neatly in a row buffet style. (So away from the other guests, just them arranging it.) With utensils lying by/in each dish. So it’s all neat and tidy and not a free for all scramble. I would love it!

@GunpowderGelatine What's wrong with laidback for a wedding? The most important bit to us really is the marriage not the wedding.

Oh and can't really afford outside caterers or getting people in to sort it all. If we do go down this route we'd definitely order in advance

I would totally love that!

I think it sounds a nice idea. But, if it were me I'd be worrying about making the house presentable for so many guests. I'm not sure I'd have wanted to be cleaning bathrooms and hoovering on my wedding morning!

But you're probably naturally tidier and better at housework than me!

We did that for our wedding, it was great and all we could afford anyway at the time! Everyone had a good time which is the only thing that matters.

Sounds great, I'd love that. I personally also wouldn't care if it's served up on real tableware or paper plates. It's the company that matters. (Actually, if I were you, I'd buy some fancy paper plates so you don't have to worry about the dishes afterwards).

For a laid back, 15 guest wedding this is absolutely perfect!

Make sure you order from somewhere you know is good (maybe even pre order delivery) and get plenty of wine/fizz on offer, I’d also get a cake (doesn’t have to be a wedding cake) for afters

It sounds lovely.

What is it with these modern picky eaters? It used to be that people ate what they were given.

We did something similar for my 50th birthday. We had 12 people at ours. We ordered various takeouts. (Indian, Chinese and fish and chips). We had talked to them before so they all arrived kind of at the same time. It was perfect, we had a really lovely evening. It’s your wedding, do it your way. It could be really personal and full of lovely memories with the emphasis on celebrating with those closest to you.

That sounds great! You're basically having Indian wedding caterers but on a tiny scale Actually you could see if you can find an Indian restaurant that also caters events - you agree a set menu in advance and they just drop everything off in big catering tins and pick up the next day (my flatmate at uni's dad had a takeaway/wedding catering business, he catered her graduation party which was about 20 people and that's how they did it.)

I think it sounds like a lovely idea. It's thoughtful, cosy and intimate. Just what a wedding should be :)

Nothing at all wrong with laid back but just thinking of takeaway cartons on people's laps in fancy outfits. We did laid back and had a hog roast with bread rolls and apple sauce and bubbly bits was lovely. Is it in the summer? What about a BBQ?

Our friends did this. It was bloody brilliant. They had tables out in the garden under a gazebo, they hired outside heaters cos it was end of April and still a bit cold in the evening. Hands down the most relaxed and best wedding I've ever been to.

Why not get in outside catering and do afternoon tea?

God no. Anyway, afternoon tea is still laid back, it's hardly the height of sophistication unless you're at the Ritz.

OP I think it sounds like a lovely idea.

gelatine - she's already said it will be Autumn and people don't have to balance take away containers on their laps do they?

I think its lovely OP but like others have said as well as ordering in advance I'd pop into the takeway/restaurant and explain what you're doing, what budget is as they may well be able to make suggestions and even throw in a freebie

Sounds a fantastic idea!

If you feel your house isn't big enough, ask if you can have takeaway in the church hall. That way, it could be decorated and you could have nice things put out beforehand.

Where and when?!

Takeaway and fizz... my favourite combo!

I would LOVE this.

We had a takeaway for Dr first holy communion at home. It was wonderful, I laid it out on foil containers on my big table. Everyone had what they wanted, there were a couple of vegan people who let me know in advance so I cou!d cater for them. Fantastic. We had a few set dishes and verybody had a good time.

@Gelatine, you wouldn’t have takeaway containers in laps. Don’t you have plates in your house?

I think it sounds really fun!

Me n my hubby got married 2years ago everyone came back to ours we put gazzebos up in our back garden I did a big slow cooker full of potato hash crusty bread beetroot an red cabbage, drinks nibbles everyone loved it an said it was lovely an intermate I enjoyed it kids played out and adults chilled in the garden we put lights etc up on the gazebos it was great

Could you borrow a few slow cookers and prep a variety of dishes - chilli, curry, casserole. Then all you'd need to do would be to switch them on before you leave and they'd be ready for serving when you get back.