Would you expect some sort of wedding cake if you'd already had afternoon tea?

[NibbyNibs]

We're having an early afternoon ceremony followed by afternoon tea and then an evening pizza buffet. We're contemplating not having a wedding cake. We're not bothered about the pictures and our original plan was to maybe do desserts alongside the pizza. However, I don't know if that's too much in the way of desserts given the afternoon tea and we're also trying to trim down the budget. Would you expect some sort of cake in the evening of a wedding if you'd already had afternoon tea? I appreciate the evening guests won't have had afternoon tea but they will be getting pizza.

I don't really class wedding cake as a dessert. I don't remember ever eating it, or thinking it was delicious. I guess the ones I've had are just like a fruit cake. Totally don't have one. Nobody wants to eat it. Some people are vaguely interested in looking at it. But not much. Often people use non edible ones?! So nobody will mind or care.

As pp.... don't invite more people than you can afford to feed properly.

I too also have a take of the wedding reception disbanded for the local chippy at about 8.30pm.

Afternoon tea is totally fine, as long as people know that's what they're having.

It's traditional to have a wedding cake, they're mostly for show though IMO. I like seeing them but don't usually eat them. It would probably dawn on me three days after the event if there wasn't a cake.

I would be aggrieved at Afternoon Tea in place of a meal / proper buffet at a wedding (but wouldn’t say anything, obviously). Too sweet, too bread / pastry heavy, nothing of substance. It would leave me bloated too. No fun in a wedding outfit.

And then to have pizza in the evening? I would be (privately, silently) exhaling a sigh. More carby, unsubstantial food.

I’d have no problem with the pizza if the wedding breakfast had been a proper meal.

I agree with some PPs saying that they don't really regard the wedding cake as food. I don't think I've ever eaten wedding cake at any wedding I've been to. I usually take a bit home or just don't have it. So I really wouldn't worry about the cake being something to fill tummies.

I would just make sure that the afternoon tea has some good savoury choices along with the sandwiches, maybe sausage rolls, pork pie or something to fill people up and soak up the alcohol!

You'll get a real mixed bag of responses on here but of course so many weddings are non-traditional now that it really doesn't matter!

At least you are providing some food. I was invited to one and the invite said there would a pizza van outside the venue for those that would like to BUY THEIR OWN meal, along with the price list! I could understand this, if the invite also said 'no presents' but no, it didn't!

OP- will your guests be aware that the 'meal' is afternoon tea then pizza?

If the wedding breakfast is an afternoon tea, no, I wouldn't expect a wedding cake as well. We had an afternoon tea at our wedding and didn't have wedding cake. No one went hungry. Every table had a platter of multiple types of sandwiches, 2 large scones each, savoury muffins and lots of little individual desserts like fruit tarts, chocolate tarts etc. In the evening there was a small buffet.

We had afternoon tea at our wedding. Ceremony 4pm, then canapés & afternoon tea at 6. Everyone was so stuffed we barely ate the bacon rolls, chips and sausage on rolls later. We just got a sticky toffee pudding cake too and had half left!

I don't think I'd notice the lack of a cake.

I love the idea of afternoon tea and I'm stuffed after I have one BUT it's a very carby meal and I'm hungry again in hours.

Similarly pizza, I'd want something more nutritious if I was going to last the night. I couldn't go from breakfast through the whole night without more protein and fat and veg. Can you have nice salads with the pizza, a Greek salad would be good.

I'd expext a sweet treat with the evening service, if there are kids they'll definitely want something.

Your menu is hell for any one watching their weight or who prefers to eat real food. Salads, good bread and cheese would be a useful edition.

I wouldn't be worried about the cake. Plenty of folk don't have a traditional cake and it's not missed (assuming there is some sort of dessert!).

What people remember MORE than anything else at all is if they are hungry or thirsty, even if it's just because of timing.

I think you need to find a way to get some more robust food for your guests, if you're expecting them to be with you from e.g 1.30 pm until late evening. Being stuffed on snacky picky bits isn't the same as having had a proper meal.

Oh gosh that's rubbish. I wouldn't expect guests to pay for their own food. Yes absolutely guests would be aware of the food options.

Good job I said "my idea" not kilkennycats's idea.
Op asked for opinions, I was giving mine.

As was I 😁

My cousin had,an afternoon tea at her wedding with a bbq in the evening. She had,a chocolate wedding came that was,served as desert

No wedding cake wouldn't bother me at all. If you don't want one for photos etc then don't bother

Have a cheese wedding cake - three wheels of cheese, stacked.
Cut the cake then divvy slices onto cheese and fruit boards to be grazed.
One wedding I attended had cheese toasties and baked bean jaffas offered late. So many young men wooffed them down while dancing.
Other filling ideas .. along side pizzas, roast lamb bagettes, an ice cream bar - scoops and toppings, lollies; a pavlova bar - similar serve yourself. Cup cake towers for wedding cake - some sweet, some carrot cake etc..
Also chocolate and berry pizzas are delish.

My cousin had an afternoon tea with a bbq in the evening. She had a chocolate wedding cake which was served as dezert

@NibbyNibs Canapes, sandwiches, savouries, quiche, 2 mini scones per person, little patisserie style desserts, gateaux and a cheese board.

It’s not just the variety you’re offering, but how much of each there will be per person. One sliver of quiche per person, a tiny finger sandwich, one cheese straw and one canapé, for example, or several of everything each?

Also, it is very wheat-based. You may know if any of your guests are gluten-intolerant. Will there be enough cheese (and coleslaw and salad in the evening) for them?

I wouldn't be bothered about a wedding cake or not if you as B&G don't want pictures of one.

Be prepared tho with a menu of afternoon tea and then pizza that your guests may well get very drunk very quickly. I was evening guest at a wedding where the reception meal had been afternoon tea and everyone (apart from anyone not drinking obvs) was totally hammered when I got there at 7pm - bc all they had eaten was a few sandwiches and a tiny cake or so.

Pizzas in the evening sounds like possibly snacky too – what if you get to the table and there's only a slice or so left for you?

RTFT - ah I see others have said the same.

I had much the same experience in the same part of town! One ONE asparagus spear 🤣 luckily I don't drink alcohol, but everyone else did....

Have a cake as part of the afternoon tea.

Surely nobody would be this rude?! Wow.

I’d have something sweet after pizza.

The comments about carbs and ‘where’s the prtoein’ are absolutely baffling. This isn’t a long term nutritious diet it’s a single day of celebration and if you don’t find scones, quiche, cakes and pizza filling I think you have quite an unusual appetite.

I personally have a hard time with afternoon tea as it is at a time I usually eat so I don’t eat much and then I don’t quite want to eat at the usual time later and then I’m absolutely famished. I think if there’s alcohol and all the guests are meant to stay for the duration, you’ll have some very drunk and hungry guests.

I don’t like cake or formal sit down meals either so at our wedding we had international stations. So a room with a Greek style buffet, one with sushi, one with a pasta bar and then a table of crudite. For after we had platters of mini pies (like apple pie and lemon meringue - I’m American) and tray bake type stuff (brownies etc).

Am assuming a lot has been booked but if you can think about the entire day a bit that would be helpful. Are there evening guests? What else besides pizza? Etc. You are likely to have some dairy or gluten free guests too.

Your day sounds lovely. (I work for a caterer that does afternoon teas, there is always food left over and enough.)

We didn't have traditional cake - although I bought 2 m&s cakes so we could cut them and offer them if wanted. No one - except one or two people had a slice and I took them home. (We already had desserts and it wasn't wanted after the pizzas at night.)

Enjoy your day. Spend money on the things you like and enjoy.