How many canapés?

[Namechangedfeb22]

If it’s a canapé buffet instead of a meal at a wedding then how many canapés would you want? Wedding is at 7pm

thank you

12!! They’re fairly decent portions, you know. The fish and chip cones definitely are! I really don’t think anyone would manage twelve.

I think 10-12 too. Some of the photos look like a tiny mouthful.

Decent portions🤣🤣🤣🤣

Honestly, the ones I had were a decent size. Defiiitely bigger than a canapé!! Fish and chip cones; pieces of fish equivalent to say 2 fish fingers and a handful of chips. Lasagna “bites” probably about half the size of palm.
definitely couldn’t eat 12 fish and chip cones!!

I promise I’m not a “10 meals from one roast chicken “ or half a ryvita for lunch mumsnetter either!! 😁

Oh god this thread is making me laugh. The collective outrage about the guests all starving to death if they weren't given a sit down meal every hour.

Ask your guests to bring a dish.😂

And now someone is suggesting 12 mini meals per person!

I’d want one of everything!

You forgot the person who is outraged at the speed at which you've moved through your relationship phases!

And the people saying they would eat before and bring snacks in their bag!!

A drinks party of two hours you’d usually allow 6-8 canapés per person.
I serve far more as I know elderly neighbours use it as their supper.

I’d go about 15 - 18 including some sweet ones plus a few bowls of bits such as nuts or olives around. I’m assuming it’s a standing drinks reception rather than drinks before a full meal.

Finger sandwiches are cheap, popular and filling - salmon and cream cheese and egg mayo disappear very quickly.

They could pack some egg mayo sandwiches

Your plan sounds nice OP, but please double up on the vegetarian and vegan options, the meat eaters always, ALWAYS, eat them first so there are none left for the non-meat eaters

Oh god this thread is making me laugh. The collective outrage about the guests all starving to death if they weren't given a sit down meal every hour

Most of which happened before the op clarified that they didn't actually mean canapés at all. What she is suggesting is something entirely more substantial.

What’s wrong with wanting 12, some of the food in the photos look tiny?. Obviously I wouldn’t want 12 fish and chips but I would like to try one of most the others.

How did it go Op?

i saw a thread recently and the OP was a guest at an evening wedding and had left utterly starving and stopped at macdonalds on way home… and it made me wonder about this thread!

sounds really nice. We had similar for my best friends wedding - they called it "bowl food" rather than finger food. 6 different dishes. I think I had 4 different ones - would have possibly tried one of each, but I was also bridesmaid so busy! Everyone loved it. Wedding was 6.30pm, drinks after ceremony. Bowl food between 7.30 and 8.30, and then led perfectly into us dancing our asses off!!

The three adult bridesmaid and partners all met for an early dinner, but being adults, we were able to look ahead at the evening and not get drunk beforehand.

Did Op clarify how many coming?

most people have said they are going to meet and for dinner at 6 or go out for a big lunch. It’s adults only wedding. I don’t understand

Wouldn’t you want to eat and drink with your guests OP? So the way you are saying it will happen is that your guests will get together before the wedding and rock up having had a few drinks, some a little tipsy, and having had an enjoyable meal with friends and then they have to be on their best behaviour for a marriage ceremony when in all likelihood they would much prefer carrying on chatting and having a drink with friends.

Be fine by me as long as I knew that it was canapes only (though I always love a cheeseboard). Been to parties etc where that's been similar and its been fine and not carnage.

As long as you've asked about and catered for any gluten free/veg/vegan guests.

But I'd want a good two platefuls.

We’ve not had the wedding yet. Invites are super clear . We’re having an evening ceremony followed by cocktails and light finger foods.

Would you consider adding something like thick crust pizza, as simple as you wish, but filling, either evenly spread out amongst the canapés (which do look lovely) or an individual station to maintain warmth maybe.
As PP said it’s hard to predict what approaches different people would have.
My main concern would be balancing out alcohol consumption, and ensuring at the same time in a cost-effective way that you have all scenarios covered as the evening progresses.
This way the canapés are still your main objective as main offer, but you have a backup of sorts ?
Just a suggestion, might also save you time calculating how many canapés !

I don’t know how far away your wedding is but I’d imagine it would be rather not too long and cost effective to add ?
Then just get the word around not to worry, you’ll also have good pizza available as a supplement.
I think it would also be good for the more considerate guests who would hesitate to pile on the canapés even if they do get a little hungry at some point ?

Sorry, final post ☺️.
It has the additional benefit of a more happy narrative in case you do get the unfortunate scenario of people just piling on canapes, maybe even specific ones if they consider them better.
The narrative would be less another buffet glitch, and more the hosts were very honest regarding expectations on their invites, provided enough lovely canapés for all, unfortunately some went a little overboard, which is on them, but the hosts were lovely to add a consideration of that scenario by providing a lovely pizza station.
Its just a suggestion though !

Well, if it's cocktails and light finger foods, then I don't think guests will expect substantial food as well. They'll make dinner reservations under their own steam

You say most are getting together out for late lunch or early dinner before the ceremony

a) I’d want to join them and be with them!
b) after eating, drinking, getting together with friends / family night not regularly see over food and wine… It will seem like a bit of a Debbie downer to attend a marriage ceremony
c) some will be tipsy!