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Original poster

what food for a super relaxed wedding?!

89 replies

hsegfiugseskufh · 03/06/2019 13:55

I need help!

we are having a 3pm wedding, next july.

Ceremony in a local council owned property (think old beautiful house, nice gardens etc) and reception literally directly over the road at a rugby club. Its been entirely re built, with a nice terrace etc and we have free run of inside and outside.

We want it to be really relaxed, people inside or outside whenever they want (hoping the weather wont let us down!) no speeches, no first dance, no cutting cakes etc.

We just don't know what to do about the food.

So there ceremony will be at 3pm, food about 4:30/5ish?

But what?! what fits with the relaxed summer theme? I don't want a sit down meal, we wont be having seating plans and ideally its something that can be eaten inside/outside

I don't really like the idea of a BBQ because its too easy to give people food poisoning and I probably wouldn't eat it myself (I don't have massive issues with food but stuff like that is my worst nightmare)

also, if the weather's shit we would be done for.

can anyone help!?

also we will be having maybe 10 extra evening guests - do we then have to do more food in the evening? I think we probably do but DP isn't sure people will want to eat again so soon?!

Thanks!

OP posts:

Angbunnyboo · 03/06/2019 15:38

What about getting a wood fired pizza van in, or a paella van?

Street food would be really yummy and will have a relaxed vibe and is something out of the ordinary.

As for later on in the evening, we are having a cheese wedding cake and serving with crackers and chutneys etc so that people have something to nibble but you don't have the hassle of a full buffet to do.

cleanhousewastedlife · 03/06/2019 15:40

Given your timings can I suggest doing similar to what we did?

After our early afternoon ceremony, we went back to reception place for tea and cake (we did speeches then too). Then we had general relaxing (games for kids), photos etc until a 6.30 actual evening meal, which for us was pie and mash from the pub over the road. Worked really well - people ate at 'normal' times but no one went hungry because of the cake (well we had many cakes). Super relaxed. We also put up a 'tough timings' board so no one would fret about not knowing when they would eat

MissMoodyMoo · 03/06/2019 18:27

Fish and chips!! Hire a chip shop van to come and tell them how many guests are attending so they have enough! That would be amazing! I'm having an ice cream van at mine whilst I'm away getting the pics taken the guests can get a cone, slush puppy or candy floss

PregnantOnPurpose · 03/06/2019 18:30

Fish and chip van?

Cold buffet? Think cocktail sausages, quiche, sausage rolls, spring rolls, veggie rice, chicken drumsticks, stay sticks, triangle sandwiches with some egg, some ham, some cheese and tomato.

You cant go wrong with a buffet, enough food that noone can complain about being nothing to like.

Original poster

hsegfiugseskufh · 04/06/2019 10:11

All good ideas thanks! Quite like the idea of having tea and cake first... hmm.

Am looking into fish and chip vans and other street food!

We are thinking possibly pizza late evening? Just from a local pizza shop which is always really really nice. Is that really awful?!

Also going to have a cake which will get eaten, doughnuts and sweets as well.

I hate being hungry at weddings and being stood around so really trying to avoid that! Xxx

OP posts:

FrederickCreeding · 04/06/2019 10:14

All sounds great, but I think you definitely have to do food for your evening guests!

NoWittyNamesAvailable · 04/06/2019 10:21

We had a relaxed wedding, didn't want a formal sit down meal so had a buffet instead. It was 'posher' than your typical party food but nothing over the top, we then had a more standard one later in the evening.

JuniperBeer · 04/06/2019 10:23

Iocal pizza sounds amazing!!

curiositycreature · 04/06/2019 10:26

We had a pizza van and I was so nervous about it, but everyone seemed to love it! I think we did a few sides just in case people didn’t eat pizza but it turns out 99.9% of people do

Sundaychiller · 05/06/2019 06:28

We have booked a street food caterer for our wedding next June. Their set up looks really pretty and they serve guests over a 2 hr period a choice of 3 meats, we are having bourbon chicken, chilli beef and a pork dish. It comes in wraps or over fries with a choice of 3 sides and 3 salads. They have a big choice you can select from. They are very affordable. Message me if you want more details.

MoreSlidingDoors · 05/06/2019 06:35

Friends have just had this sort of wedding - they asked their guests to bring a plate of food to share as a buffet instead of a wedding present. Worked really well. There was loads of food and lots of really interesting things to try, not sandwiches and sausage rolls. Everyone loved it.

In the evening they did a hog roast which seemed to go down well.

MoreSlidingDoors · 05/06/2019 06:35

It was a bit of a nightmare for a non-carb eating veggie though. Your pizza can would be a no-go for me.

Isitmybathtimeyet · 05/06/2019 06:38

We had a fish and chip van and people said it was the best food they’d ever had at a wedding!

We also asked friends we knew enjoyed cooking to bring some canapé type things along, just a plateful. I hope none of them minded (just literally struck me as something to worry about, ten years down the line!) but people really put loads of effort in to the stuff they brought and we had a lovely selection to hand round during drinks.

user1474894224 · 05/06/2019 06:43

Just had almost exactly the same type of wedding as you. We had a caterer do the buffet....it was BBQ style street food - pulled lamb, fish tacos, burgers, grilled halloumi, chicken slouvaki, salads, rice, etc They did individual desserts. We had canapes first, food at 5, cake and sweets after then a pizza van at 8-9;30. There was too much food. But I really didn't want hungry guests. We chose our caterer based on him in the end. He was great. Absolutely a professional so no worries or concerns in the run up to the day. But he also was lovely and I knew he understood the vibe we wanted at the wedding. His staff were lovely too and it was the right decision.

BikeRunSki · 05/06/2019 06:47

The best wedding I have ever been to (not mine!) has afternoon tea in the church hall after the service. So - church - group photos - guests went for tea, which was all set out in the church hall for meat eater/veggies/kids etc. whikst the guests very having tea in the hall, the bride and groom were having their photos.

The B&G then rejoined the guest in the hall for speeches and toasts; then dancing (celiligh), buffet, and more dancing.0

ImNotNigel · 05/06/2019 06:50

Why does the phrase “ super relaxed “ seem to actually mean

“ We are so cheap we are only serving one type of food ( probably carbs with meat ) so those of you who can’t eat this can just fuck off with your religion / medical condition / disability / eithics “. Just remember to bring us a large gift”.

I’d rather go to a “non relaxed “ wedding and eat, if i had the choice. Having nothing to eat but not wanting to complain because you are someone’s guest is so stressful.

I’d probably not tho to a wedding like this because it would be so upsetting for me and my family .

Balloondog · 05/06/2019 06:53

Do a huge charcuterie/cheese board(s). You can also have a fish/mezze one and of course huge baskets of bread, which should most people's dietary requirements.

stucknoue · 05/06/2019 06:55

Indian buffet? Most restaurants do catering (our local one charges £7.50 per head for vegetarian or £9 for meat) hog or lamb roast, giant paella!

Isitmybathtimeyet · 05/06/2019 06:57

Um, we had a veggie option with our fish and chip van. No one at our wedding had any other dietary requirements affected by our choice of food but if they had we would have catered for them. Same presumably as any other wedding buffet/menu.

ComeBackBarack · 05/06/2019 06:59

I think it’s nice to have a speech or two. It doesn’t have to be the formal FAther of bride etc. But a thank you to people for coming from you and the groom....or a friend saying something. It kind of punctuates the day.

Food, street food van. And pizza vlater....sounds perfect.

ComeBackBarack · 05/06/2019 07:00

Oh and cheesy disco. It’s the law. And can the ten evening guests not just come to the whole shebang?

moreismore · 05/06/2019 07:03

Where in the country are you? In case we can recommend specific companies

TheRedBarrows · 05/06/2019 07:42

“I’d probably not tho to a wedding like this because it would be so upsetting for me and my family .”

Or you might find that actually they do have vegan wheat free options in the buffet table or amongst the street food options.

MoreSlidingDoors · 05/06/2019 07:58

Or you might find that actually they do have vegan wheat free options in the buffet table or amongst the street food options

Fleetingly rare. There may be a stick of celery if I’m lucky.

MoreSlidingDoors · 05/06/2019 07:59

I take my own food to events because I can’t guarantee my dietary needs will be accommodated. I’m off to a conference today and am taking a fridge with me.

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