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Glam Journal

What do you serve at a simple wedding reception

Author

Andrew Henderson

Updated on April 23, 2026

Potsticker Spoons. … Bar Munchies. … Veggie Skewers. … Soup Shooters. … DIY Taco Bar. … Mini Pigs In a Blanket. … Potato Salad Cups. … Mexican Corn on the Cob.

What do you serve at a 2pm wedding reception?

One great option for early afternoon weddings are finger foods and/or passed hors d’oeuvres alongside beverages or cocktails. Some food ideas include kabobs, bruschetta, specialty cheeses, and deviled eggs. Consider small plates of crab cakes, oysters, and shrimp if you’re a seafood lover.

What is cocktail style reception?

A cocktail party reception is a type of reception where no formal meal is served and instead guests indulge in a variety of hors d’oeuvres. You can create a party that includes only the meaningful-to-you traditions, and host a celebration that still feels like a wedding—minus the hefty price tag.

What is the cheapest way to cater a wedding?

Food Trucks For Your Wedding Arranging a set menu is the most affordable option. Set menus are often inexpensive choices, like barbecue, pizza, tacos, falafels or kebabs. A set menu will also help you avoid long lineups. If each guest has to order, then wait while their food is made, the lineup will be terrible.

What kind of foods do you serve at a wedding reception?

  • Caprese Cups. If you and your partner plan to feed your guests Italian cuisine, then these Caprese cups are the perfect savory appetizer for cocktail hour. …
  • Bruschetta. …
  • Sliders. …
  • Mini Tacos. …
  • Veggie Roll-ups. …
  • Meatballs. …
  • French Fries. …
  • Spring Rolls.

How much is a simple wedding?

The average cost of a wedding in the US was $28,000 in 2019, according to data from The Knot. The venue is the single most expensive part, at an average of $10,000 alone. Rings, photographers, and videographers are the next largest expenses.

Do you have to have appetizers at a wedding?

So whether you are trying to cut costs, or just unsure on which way to go, just know you don’t HAVE to have appetizers. There are plenty of options instead of appetizers. Fill your guests time with a bar, photo booth, activities, an engaging venue, and a lively atmosphere.

What is reception style dinner?

The most traditional reception style, a plated meal is what the majority of couples choose. This is when all the guests are seated and served a formal dinner. Typically, it consists of two courses (an appetizer and an entrée), plus dessert if it’s served tableside.

Is pizza at a wedding tacky?

Even if they had a meat dish with no dairy, they don’t know the source of the meat. Pizza at the reception is fine, it’s your attitude here that is tacky.

What do you serve at a wedding cocktail hour?
  • Mini Meatballs. A mini meatball should be easy to devour in just one bite. …
  • Lettuce Cups. …
  • Satay. …
  • Deviled Eggs. …
  • Cocktail Shrimp. …
  • Pot Stickers. …
  • Pretzel Bites. …
  • Savory Shortbreads.
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What order should a wedding reception go?

  • Cocktail Hour. After the ceremony, the couple, their families, and wedding party head off with the photographer to pose for pictures. …
  • Arrivals. …
  • Dinner. …
  • Toasts. …
  • First Dance. …
  • Dancing. …
  • Bouquets & Garter Tosses. …
  • Cake Cutting.

What should you not serve at a wedding?

  • All meat, all the time. If you’re a meat lover, it might be tempting to serve nothing but meat at your reception. …
  • Food that requires a big to-do. …
  • Raw food. …
  • Mini versions of everything. …
  • An eight-course meal. …
  • Overly complex dishes. …
  • Only exotic eats. …
  • Typical wedding foods.

What is the most popular wedding food?

  • Pulled pork sandwiches.
  • Grilled chicken with sweet summer vegetables.
  • Brisket with mashed potatoes.
  • Lobster mac and cheese.
  • Shrimp and grits.

Is a buffet at a wedding tacky?

There is no right or wrong here. People sometimes ask if a buffet dinner is tacky for a wedding reception. It’s not a question of tacky or not. … On the other hand, if you’re having an informal fun party at a nightclub, a cocktail reception might be your best option.

What is the meaning cocktail hour?

Definition of cocktail hour : a time when people drink cocktails (such as before dinner)

Do you need a cocktail hour at a wedding?

Plus, the food and drinks served during cocktail hour are usually what guests remember. … But if you’re eager to get the real party started, or otherwise pressed for time and looking to stretch your reception, there’s no rule that says you have to have a cocktail hour.

Can you skip cocktail hour at a wedding?

You don’t NEED or HAVE TO have a cocktail hour – there’s absolutely no rule about this, and you have the right to decide what’s best for you. … Even more, many of them remember the drinks and the snacks served during the cocktail hour more than they remember the details of the actual wedding reception.

Who covers what in a wedding?

Bride and family pay for bride’s dress, veil, accessories and trousseau (read: lingerie and honeymoon clothes). Groom and family pay for groom’s outfit. All attendants pay for their own clothing, including shoes. (Here’s a list of the bridesmaid expenses the bridal party is expected to cover.)

What is the cheapest place to get married?

  1. The courthouse. The courthouse has long been a go-to choice for affordable ceremonies — and for a good reason. …
  2. At home. …
  3. An Airbnb or hotel rental. …
  4. Parks and beaches. …
  5. In the street. …
  6. Libraries and museums. …
  7. Aquariums and zoos. …
  8. Cafes, restaurants and bars.

Is having a cash bar at a wedding tacky?

Many of us have abused an open bar. … “But when you have a cash bar, your guests will drink less—or at least be better aware of how much they’re drinking—simply because they have to pay for it.” It’s not tacky—because your guests aren’t there for the alcohol.

How do I keep my pizza warm at my wedding?

If your pizza has just been delivered, but maybe you and your guests are not ready to eat, you can keep it warm at a low temperature. This also works for any leftovers that you want to keep warm for later. Set your oven at the lowest temperature (170 degrees Fahrenheit) and place the pizza in its box inside of it.

How do you cater a wedding pizza?

  1. Rent a pizza truck for your rehearsal dinner. …
  2. Eat pizza as you get ready for the big day. …
  3. Replace the traditional wedding cake with a tiered pizza cake. …
  4. Serve pizza during cocktail hour. …
  5. Incorporate a reception buffet.

How do you serve dinner at a wedding?

  1. Sit-Down. You can offer your guests the opportunity to experience being catered to by presenting a sit-down meal. …
  2. Buffet. Let your guests choose their own menu items and portions by showcasing a buffet at your wedding reception. …
  3. Family Style.

Is it rude to not serve dinner at a wedding?

You definitely don’t want to have your guests drinking too much without anything available for them to eat. Even if your wedding is going to be pretty small, it’s still not the most polite behavior to expect guests to show up to a celebration for you and not have anything for them to eat.

What is a floating dinner?

A Floating Dinner is a new concept that’s become really popular over the last couple years. With this style there’s no assigned seating, but plenty of food, fun, and dancing!

What is a passed appetizers?

Passed appetizers are hors d’oeuvres or “finger foods” that are served from a tray carried directly to guests at a social gathering, such as a cocktail party or reception. … Passed appetizers come in many varieties and can add a touch of elegance to your next party.

What is a cocktail food menu?

What is cocktail food? Cocktail food is essentially small portions of food that can be eaten without cutlery, and due to this is it is often referred to as ‘finger food’.

What snacks go well with cocktails?

  • Prawns on toast (toast skagen) …
  • Blue cheese tarts with waldorf salad. …
  • Crab and corn fritters for your last-minute gathering. …
  • Crab and corn fritters. …
  • Homemade rye and ale crisps. …
  • Cheat’s blinis with jamon and figs. …
  • Crumbed fish bites.

What do guests do at a wedding reception?

In addition to a delicious feast, flowing drinks and a killer wedding playlist, some couples like to get the party started with wedding reception games, ice-breakers and other interactive experiences, which might include everything from classic lawn games to bride and groom trivia, a photo scavenger hunt, a well- …

Who gives first toast at wedding?

This first toast is most often made by the parents (or father) of the bride and should combine both a toast to the happy couple and a welcome message to the guests. If you would like the parents of the groom to speak, they should do so following the parents of the bride.

Who walks down the aisle first?

1. Officiant. Your officiant is generally the first person to walk toward the altar, signifying the ceremony is about to commence.