Is my wedding rubbish?

[ATrainSeat]

Sorry, I know there’s been a couple of these but I’m interested if there’s anything I can improve so people will enjoy our wedding, or whether you’d enjoy it as it is?

3pm - get married. the whole day is all in one location and we’re wanting it to be quite relaxed.
3.30/3.45 - After the wedding there’s some small canapés and a welcome drink for everyone, not sure which drink to go for so ideas would be great for this! I’ll make sure there’s flat drinks though. I’m also considering putting a basket out with various packets of crisps in incase anyone gets hungry?
5pm - afternoon tea, including some savoury bits eg cheeseboard, small pies. Two glasses of wine or beer provided plus a toasting drink.
7.30 - evening guests arrive, possible welcome drink for them?
8pm - cut cake, first dance
8.30 - hog roast, halloumi burgers for veggies l, some sort of vegan option that I haven’t sorted yet. Large salad bits buffet to go with eg pastas, coleslaws, etc. Dessert buffet including the wedding cake but also cheesecakes, brownies etc.

Evening is a DJ, there’s two rooms so one will have the dj in, the other will have sofas for people who prefer chatting:

We’re not having any ‘entertainment’ which worries me a bit. We’re having a DIY photo/video wall but nothing else other than the DJ. The venue is about 30 mins from home, so we’ve offered to organise minibuses for people from the local town, although can’t really afford to offer free transport so would be looking at about £10 per person. What’s the verdict? Haha! I just want people to enjoy themselves and have a good time.

Oh and importantly, we haven’t asked for money (or anything) in the invitation

Skips defo. Are quavers too mainstream?

The prawn ones are skips, they get my vote!

That sounds like a fine itinerary op, especially as it's a 3pm wedding so guests will have the chance to eat a decent sized lunch and not arrive hungry.

I love an afternoon tea (and find them surprisingly filling) but will it be served at tables on the tiered trays or will people be collecting their own?

If possible I'd see if a couple of "savouries" could be included in the afternoon tea package alongside the sandwiches as they could add some heft to the food! So things like a posh scotch egg, Welsh rarebit, mini muffin style quiche or some mini empanadas... (without duplicating anything on the canapés menu obviously).

oh and perhaps you can take your partner a doggy bag home to show him what he missed

Wotsits (just don't let guests hug you with orange fingers)
Wheat Crunchies (although they are grim)

oh and NIK NAKS & fish and chips crisps in the crisp basket please. Nik Naks are like my own personal crack cocaine

Quavers are lovely but they give you stinky breath.

Those crisps are all quite Marmite, I love them all but lots of my friends would turn their noses up!

Combine the canapés with crisps and afternoon tea - start it at 4 as suggested and have it extended.

Are most people local to the wedding or will they need to travel? I’d take that into account when thinking about when people would be able to eat a substantial lunch.

Make sure there is lots of vegetarian food. The meat eaters eat it all and I'm usually left with nothing.
You could have 2 crisp baskets - one posh and one common.

Smith's square salt and vinegar!
Sounds good. Check if anyone is gluten/wheat free for afternoon tea as that is difficult for those people (bread, cake, biscuits etc). Some fruit too perhaps?

Yes to nik naks also scampi bites in all thier glory.

It sounds wonderful!
I’d do corona or peroni as well as pimms or cava as a welcome drink
Crisps is a genius idea. Mini cheddars would be my choice! Those big bags though, not the tiny multipack ones.
You should totally have Pom bears too

Scampi Fries

We definitely can’t have the afternoon tea at 4, as the same room is used as the ceremony and there won’t be enough turn around time. But we can do half 4 so I’ll move it to that. I’ll defo make sure there’s lots of veggie food as lots of our friends are veggie and my brother is vegan so the cake will be partially vegan.

Everyone’s within 30 mins of the venue (as those that aren’t are staying over).

POM BEARS

I think it sounds great. I have an afternoon tea as post ceremony nibbles and it went down very well. There was plenty if it though

If you are having Veges and Vegans make sure there are afternoon tea and cake options for them too. We had some vegan scones for example, vegan chocolates as favours. Vegan sandwiches. I can't remember what else but essentially I made sure they were properly catered for and not just as an afterthought or with a much smaller selection than everyone else.

People on special diets often get a very poor offering, not enough food, no choice and/or poor quality (I've seen a plate of unpeeled fruit served as a pudding ffs! I wanted everyone to feel welcome and considered and properly catered for.

Twigglets

If you have any gluten free people you can get gluten free bread and scones. No one needs to feel left out.

I'm assuming afternoon tea includes fancy sandwiches, scones, fairy cakes etc? I'd want a cup of tea with that.

Remember also to check crisp ingredients abs make sure that some are gluten free(if needed) and vege or vegan. Make sure the food is labelled so people with dietary requirements know what they can eat.

Yes I did tea with mine in vintage china. Some people don't drink, can't drink or just prefer tea.

I'm sure you know your guests OP and what they like so it'll be fine.

But in my world, the majority of people are fairly health focussed so they wouldn't want to eat cakes or sandwiches so afternoon tea would be a disaster. No-one would want to eat crisps either. People would leave early to go and get a decent hot meal (with vegetables!!!) But I appreciate that some people's idea of heaven is cake and crisps so I guess it takes all sorts.

Noooo don't change the afternoon tea time! You want time for pictures and mingling without it all being cut short because it's time for food. We had two hours between the end of our service and the start of food and that definitely wasn't too long.

I raised an eyebrow at crisps (I went to a wedding once with bags of walkers on the tables...) but I could get on board with retro crisps. Haven't had skips in years!

And really really really don't worry about 'entertainment'. People can entertain themselves perfectly well chatting.

Oh and for welcome drinks we had a cocktail and a selection of local bottled beers and ciders.