Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Weddings

Chat to other Mumsnetters on our Wedding forum.

Are we feeding people enough?

267 replies

Yissie · 11/04/2022 09:41

1pm ceremony (hoping guests will think to have brunch before coming?)
2pm-4pm pancakes, waffles, ice creams, teas and coffee food trucks (2 servings of anything each)
6pm-10pm pizza food truck (1 9inch pizza per guest, lots of various toppings)
We will have a wedding cake in the evening
We can also bring crisps, little cakes and snacks like that and do a snack table?
I'm worried it's not enough but we are on a budget. I personally wouldn't need more than that but I don't want people to be hungry obviously so wanted a wider opinion?

OP posts:
ProseccoStorm · 11/04/2022 10:01

I'd struggle with that as someone that can't eat much sugar and is careful on carbs. I'd skip the waffles and wait for the tiny pizza.

I've been to an event with a pizza truck, it was carnage as everyone was hungry and it took hours to get through everyone there. Everyone grumpy, hungry, fed up.

9 inches is too small for an adult pizza for this type of event.

So yes, your guests will certainly be hungry.

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 11/04/2022 10:01

I think it's a bit strange to only offer sugar filled stuff before pizza at 6pm (I would be happy with the pizza). Can you swap the sugary treats to something a little more healthy? Or at least warn people in advance so they can bring something themselves.

I'm diabetic so would have to bring my own food if that's all that's on offer.

LookingThroughYourEyes · 11/04/2022 10:01

Your wedding sounds great and a wee bit different which is always good!

Personally, the amount of food sounds ok to me but what about moving the timings of your food trucks slightly? That way people are eating something substantial (pizza) earlier and then have the options of sweet treats later? Just thinking if people have breakfast at 10am and then are drinking alcohol for example, come 6pm they'll be more likely to be quite hungry. Weddings can be a long day even though your guests will be having a great time.

Definitely agree with snack table idea to go with pizzas (salad, crusty bread, meats, cheese etc?) Or make up trays of sandwiches or wraps to go on a table during the day? We done this for a big family party and it keeps costs low!

Have a wonderful wedding day Flowers

Pugfostermum · 11/04/2022 10:02

A bit weird to have sweets, then pizza.

Firelogbridge · 11/04/2022 10:02

I'd rather have the pizza earlier and the sweet things later. My 7 year old would polish a 9 inch pizza very quickly! As an adult that wouldn't fill me. Perhaps if there was salad , pasta or other sides it would be fine. I would not have had lunch for 1pm wedding, probably a later breakfast but I would be getting ready for at least 1-2 hours beforehand.

FleurDeLizz · 11/04/2022 10:02

No that’s not enough food. If you’re expecting people to shell out to attend you have to cater for them properly. I would be seriously rethinking this if I were you

thisplaceisweird · 11/04/2022 10:03

No lunch is a bit odd. Could you maybe do the pizzas first and then the waffles after along with something else?

Or perhaps along with the waffles you have a ton of sarnies? Bit like afternoon tea? You could easily make a load and freeze and then have them defrosting overnight day before, put them on nice platters, get your family to do some as well?

Porridgeislife · 11/04/2022 10:03

The OP's not under any obligation to do something like that. Her wedding, her timings. People should be perfectly capable of planning to eat beforehand if they think they need to.

The OP can do whatever she likes but given people will be eating no later than 11.30am, then not eating again until 6 bar a sweet snack, and dinner isn’t exactly a bountiful offering, then she has to be realistic and accept that some people will simply leave & probably not return as they are too hungry.

As I said I went to a wedding with similar fare and timings and all anyone ever says when it’s brought up is “I was so hungry!”, not how otherwise lovely the wedding was.

toomuchlaundry · 11/04/2022 10:04

Travelling may also cause issues for people trying to eat beforehand. We have this issue with the lunchtime wedding we are going to with no lunch and reception at 8pm. Having to leave home at 8am and then have an hour to eat and get ready before getting to the venue.

Petronus · 11/04/2022 10:04

I think it would work if you were getting married around 3pm/4pm and people had definitely had lunch, but essentially you are spreading a small pizza and a dessert just served the other way round across a whole afternoon/evening. I’ve been to weddings where people have been starving and it’s a real downer.

Comedycook · 11/04/2022 10:04

2pm-4pm pancakes, waffles, ice creams, teas and coffee food trucks (2 servings of anything each

2 servings of any of these is not appealing. It's too much sugar. I doubt anyone would want two of these. I'd rather forgo one and have a sandwich instead.

RussianSpy101 · 11/04/2022 10:04

Sorry OP, I don’t think it’s enough. Why not have a 3pm/4pm ceremony and just one lot of food around 7pm?

LassoOfTruth · 11/04/2022 10:04

Are you committed to the sweet things food truck? Since there’s no lunch as such (fine, this can certainly work) maybe a truck serving bacon rolls, wraps, sandwiches, baked potatoes - I don’t know but “lunchy” type things would be better than waffles and pancakes etc. I mean I could eat pancakes all day long myself but I know many who might struggle with this type of menu. I don’t think your guests will expire but you don’t want such tight rations that they’re all drunkenly heading for the nearest fast food place. Friends of mine on a very tight budget had a hog roast with lots of salads and sides. I was veggie then and got plenty to eat. It’s a cheap way to feed lots of people 🤷‍♀️.

ProseccoStorm · 11/04/2022 10:04

Our timings were:

1.15 ceremony

2.30-4.00 canapés and drinks (minimum 6+ large canapés each).

Early evening: 3 course wedding meal.

8pm - Dancing

10.30 ish - savoury buffet (sandwiches, cheese, sausage rolls etc), wedding cake, tea / coffee

thisplaceisweird · 11/04/2022 10:04

I would be absolutely pissed out of my mind by 5pm OP if I'd only had a waffle and lets say 5 glasses of wine since arrival

toomuchlaundry · 11/04/2022 10:06

@bringincrazyback if you are hosting an event it usually involves hosting and providing food. If you are starting an event at lunchtime most people would expect a lunch and if it then goes on until late in the evening you would expect a meal then too.

Sebastianthecoo · 11/04/2022 10:07

I wouldn’t waste your budget on ice cream and waffles. I don’t enjoy either and doesn’t go with alcohol if guests are having a few glasses of Prosecco. From brunch at 11.30 till small pizza at 9 pm that’s a long time drinking on an empty stomach and I think most people would be ready for home before then.

Could you do pizza at 5/6 pm? Then maybe bacon rolls at 9? All junk food so not great but would keep in with the relaxed theme of the day.

felulageller · 11/04/2022 10:08

This is a disaster waiting to happen.

There's very little choice and nothing for anyone on a diet/ low fat/ diabetic/ vegan/ gluten free.

I like the food but I'd be starving.

I'd be leaving the house by 12 as I'm assuming 30/40 min journey/ parking then would want to be there 1/2 hour before start time in case of delays/ to say hello to other guests.

I wouldn't want to get dressed before I eat lunch so I'd have to eat at 11am then get dressed.

So even by 2 I'd be hungry and would want more than one portion (ie one pancake?) Of carb and one portion of ice cream (one scoop?).

So by 6pm I'd be queuing at the van for my 9inch pizza (not enough in itself anyway). But so would everyone else! If the pizzas take 90s and only one can go in at a time, I'd assume they need 2 mins between them going in to make up and take orders/ serve. So some people aren't going to get fed until 10pm if they even get through that many.

I'd have collapsed or left by that point.

You need a good selection of food continuously available from 2-10pm.

It doesnt need to be expensive/fancy but you do need healthier options and lots of them.

Comedycook · 11/04/2022 10:08

What about hotdogs at same time as the sweet truck...cheap and easy!

Comedycook · 11/04/2022 10:10

I do think when the pizza truck comes out, it will be carnage....people will be starving by then!

gogohm · 11/04/2022 10:10

Sorry that is a nightmare menu. Far too much stodge and no vegetables.

Pizza is fine as an evening snack but I would opt for a buffet instead of waffles and ice cream which are at best dessert

BuanoKubiamVej · 11/04/2022 10:11

One 9-inch pizza is too small for a full meal for an adult with a normal appetite. It's fine for weightwatchers.

Each pizza being 90 seconds in the oven doesn't mean that they are made that quickly - there's time needed to sort out toppings etc, it will take a long time for everyone to get a pizza and a lot of people will still be hungry.

I appreciate that you are on a budget but cut the guest list down to 40 and feed them a decent meal rather than inviting the extra 20 and then letting them be hungry.

CornishGem1975 · 11/04/2022 10:11

For our wedding recently ours was

1pm ceremony
1.30pm savoury canapes
3.30-6pm three-course dinner
8pm hot buffet and wedding cake
and there was also a big sweetie table for people to nibble on

I ate about three mouthfuls all day!

NeedleNoodle3 · 11/04/2022 10:11

You need to provide something in the afternoon to soak up the alcohol, I’d worry it could end up an Eastenders style wedding.

gogohm · 11/04/2022 10:12

Because it's so early most people will not have eaten lunch - if it was 4pm you wouldn't have the same issues.