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I think you should have a variation of both. Have some crab for the adults who want to actually crack it open, and then have other crab items for those who don't want to bother. Crab cakes, crab pasta salad...that sort of thing. I think your photos will be so cute with your guests wearing bibs! As long as you provide bibs and wetnaps, the fancy attire should be fine.
Oh, and you might want to provide small alternative too. My FH is allergic to shellfish, so just imagine that one of your guests may be as well. Such a cute idea!
I think you should start talking up crab balls, if you want anything other than a really casual atmosphere.
I love crab feasts, but let's be honest, that Old Bay gets everywhere, there are tables covered in butcher paper with piles of shells and crab intestines... it's just messy. I would certainly dress casually - no matter what "dress code" you put on the invitation if I knew I was going to a crab feast.
If you want something more upscale for the actual wedding, why not do a crab feast rehearsal dinner? The atmosphere at the rehearsal dinner is usually more casual anyway, and it'd be a fun laid back environment for people to get to know each other before the wedding!
I love crab feasts!! However, I like the idea of a rehearsal crab feast better than a formal wedding reception. They get messsssy!! Even if you have some people crack crabs, the smell and juice can be overwhelming.
I love crab feasts! With that said, I wouldn't be comfortable attending one in nice clothes. Picking crabs is so messy! If you do it, I would definitely have jeans & t-shirt as attire. I would also have people ready to instruct as some guests will be clueless as to what to do. You'll also want to have other choices as some people don't eat crabs.
If you don't, there is nothing wrong with crab cakes! Also could you have a crab feast for your rehearsal dinner?
I agreed with @pumpkinspicechai that it seems more suited to a rehersal dinner- unless you want a super casual atmosphere. I would be hesitant to dig in if I was wearing nice clothes- I always end up a mess!
If you do i would suggest church clothes.. so people can wear sundresses and khakis. Although you might have to add (no jeans) since some people where jeans to church... or if you are okay with people wearing jeans then just say church dress.
I love the hell out of crab feasts and think it would be awesome for a wedding, but I think a lot of people would be hestitant to participate due to the messiness. I think it would be better suited for a rehearsal, but if you did if for the actual wedding, I am thinking that you do steamed crabs without the old bay, so you don't need to worry about the messiness. And maybe offer crabcakes for those who don't want to participate but still want to indulge in crabs.
I agree with the others, do the crab feast for the rehearsal dinner and keep the wedding reception a more formal affair.
I think the rehearsal dinner crab feast will be more fun. The old bay does get a mess! Thanks for your perspectives and logic.
Now the parents will just have to talk us out of the Natty Boh cake topper, lol. I guess that'll go with the rehearsal dinner too.
Thanks y'all!
Crab is messy, period, even when you aren't eating it but you're sitting across from someone who is. While you should definitely serve food you love, and crab is considered uber fancy/formal, it also does not work with formal clothing. If the crab is completely removed from the shell before it is served, then formal clothing is fine. Most guests would not appreciate being asked to dress up formally (weddings are semi-formal by default which is translated to business casual, unless specified otherwise as to what dresscode is required by the venue) and then being given messy food that requires bibs. Providing wetnaps is fine but bibs automatically make the event informal.
Also, something that wasn't mentioned in your post, do you have any guests who do not like seafood (they do exist even when everyone else around them loves it, and most couples do not ask every single guest on the list what they like or don't before they decide on a menu but instead just the parents, etc) or who are allergic to shellfish? If so, what will they be offered and how will you let them know this?
@Rayean516: I actually think the Natty Boh cake topper could be fun! It would be awesome if you could get one that incorporated this image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjornmeansbear/2429359140/. That's Baltimore fun at it's best!
i love love love a crab feast, but even i would stay away from it if i was wearing a nice dress. i am usually covered in old bay and crab guts by the time i'm through picking a dozen or so crabs. i agree that a rehearsal dinner crab feast would be the way to go, with crab cakes and such at the actual wedding. sounds like a good compromise to me.
Good food is more important than clothes to me, so I'd be very happy to go to a wedding with a crab feast! I think it would be fine to have sun dresses and khakis. That was the dress code for our wedding, we called it dressy casual. The parents dressed up a little more than the guests, which I thought was appropriate since they are our parents and it's their special day too, so if they want to be a little fancier than I'd let them.
I like your ideas, artbee.
We really want to incorporate things we love, such as food, cause we DO like food more than we care about formal attire. (I'm sure there's plenty of tee shirt, jeans and ponytail girls out there.) I think for this wedding, and I plan on this being my one and only, getting all fancied could be fun. We love crab cakes just fine, and we are considering other options for guests besides crabs, too.
Right on, PumkinSpicedChai! But what's with Utz Girl and her lack of legs? I have a couple different sketches to try and resolve that issue. I saw that someone had them full length in tux and gown, which is cute.
I've been on this site for a few weeks and this is my first post. Loving it, Ladies!!!
Here is the perfect wedding cake for you...yes it is a cake.
crabcake.jpg (63.3 KB, 48 downloads) 1 year old
@Rayean516: Haha! When I copied that image I did notice the disturbing lack of legs! I can't wait to see what you come up with! Your wedding sounds like it is going to be very fun!
Crab cakes can be nice and elegant and I personally LOVE them, but I would not want to crack open crabs. Those things are hard as heck to get open. So I think have some crab crackin' stuff for those that like it and then have crab puffs, cakes, balls, etc. for the other who don't.
And it's a wedding. I THINK people will get the hint that it needs to be a little nicer attire.
@Rayean516 - Natty Boh cake topper? You should soooo do the Utz girl and Natty Boh guy, like the Smyth jewelers billboards!
Hi Rayean,
Did you end up having your crab feast wedding? I found your post because my guy and I would also like to have a crab feast wedding in the Annapolis or Baltimore area. Do you have any suggestions for a good place? Did this idea work out for you?
All the best!
Lucy
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We want a Maryland themed wedding, so we've got to have crabs. He insists that we pick 'em, not crab cakes or crab balls. I know that all sides of the family would love a crab feast wedding, but so far everyone I've spoken with seems to think this would have to be a jean and tee shirt occasion. Parents want the gown and tux. We think that we can meet somewhere in the middle with the dress code.
Ceremony and reception at same site, so guests/bridal party couldn't really change outfits.
Is it acceptable to ask people to dress "nice" and provide bibs and wetnaps?(I found a post that referred SandScripts for personalized bibs. AWESOME!)
Or do I start talking up crab balls?