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I think that's fine. Just put the word hor d'oeurves in the invitation and then have your MC or DJ say something about the set up (help yourself at any time or something along those lines).
As long as you call it out on the invite that it's a cocktail / hors d'oeuvres reception, it's perfectly fine.
You didn't mention what time it was. I thought I'd just add, if it's later in the evening, that's fine. But if it is around dinner time (5-7pm, or so ??? taking a guess here) it would be considered improper not to serve dinner. You mentioned a couple of stations, but you didn't elaborate on what those were. If there is dinner there, you'd be fine.
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I don't think it's stupid or wrong to not have a dinner! I think if you're feeling self conscious about it, maybe try to go for "heavy" rather than "light." My friend had a hors doeuvres-only reception in August, and it has been my favorite wedding food ever! There was plenty of food to constitute a "meal," and then some, and because each was an appetizer-like food, I liked them all. Honestly, when I get a side of green beans or grilled asparagus with my fancy dinner, I don't really care about the veggies. But when I can have lox and cream cheese, and canapes, AND baked brie--I am in heaven!
Btw, that friend indicated in her invitations that there would be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and dancing to follow.
Ok cool... It would be like a 5:30pm ceremony and a 7:00pm reception... the introductions would happen at like 8:00pm (giving the feel of a cocktail hour still). IDo you think 7:00pm is still considered dinner time???
We would still have plenty of food but the feel of the reception would just be different. And I'm alittle nervous on how the DJ would ask everyone to take a seat without it being tacky! I was thinking like 6 different types of "passed" foods and two carving stations (maybe turkey and pork?) along with veggies and dips, and some pasta... and the reception site we want to use has a station where they make flaming cheese and its AMAZING!
I also love the thought of doing sliders, mini-grilled cheese, etc... cute little foods like that, which might give it more of a dinner feel? I just don't want to only serve two choices for a sit down dinner and expect my guests to like it.
I think it fine! In the south people do cocktail/hors d'oeuvres receptions as dinners alllll the time. Like the previous comments suggested, just make it clear on the invite!
This is actually what I'm doing, it saved us a few hundred dollars. Hey, every little bit helps, right?
We put on our invites that a cocktail reception will follow the ceremony. On our website, we've listed what the cocktail buffet will include (hors d'oeuvres, dips, etc). That way people will have a good idea what to expect.
We're also having our ceremony late enough (7:30pm) that most people will know it's not a dinner reception.
Hope that helps! The cocktail reception is becoming more and more the trend lately.
I wanted to do the same (cocktails, hors d', a grill station-yum with swordfish/chicken/beef kabobs)...BUT with our caterer it is actually less expensive to do the sit down menu because it is easier for them to calculate how much of each food will be needed. I am still not completely convinced of this but it may be just because I really, really want those kabobs! The other thing is that the stations usually need some sort of "side" to compliment whatever the station has which adds up too. I hope you get your cocktail pary! good luck!
I think this is a great idea. I feel like all the stations and hors d'oeruves are so chic. You can infuse so much personality into the presentation and food choices.
I don't think this is stupid or wrong at all! If your reception is at or around a meal time, your guests will anticipate food of some kind, but you aren't by any means required to serve a traditional sit down meal.
Receptions like what you described are actually very common among the weddings I've been to, and I don't think you have to communicate it to your guests at all. Just invite them to join you for a reception celebrating your marriage, and if you feel the need to let them know exactly what to expect, you could put it on your wedding website. :)
I think this is a great idea! We are doing the same thing, and the feedback from the guests we've told has been really great. They all have said that the sit-down dinner is the worst part of any wedding so they were happy to not have it included! We are renging loungey furniture and will have a few round tables if people want to sit. I think it will encourage more dancing and more overall fun for everyone!
this is actually quite common where I live--i don't remember the last time I went to a sit down dinner. I've never walked away hungry, and i personally enjoy it better--i can pick and choose what i want to eat and not be stuck with the beef, chicken, or veggie meal.
If people will be getting enough food that they don't need to eat ahead of time, I don't think you need to explain that you're doing stations instead of sit down.
If you don't think the food you are providing is enough to constitute dinner (meaning guests should plan to eat before) you could say something like, "Reception to follow. Cocktails, Food stations and passed hors d'oeuvers will be served."
That's totally fine -- in fact the food's often better that way, and no one ever has to wait long to get something to eat. You also get a nice laid back vibe with an hor d'oeurves reception. When I did catering, the guests always seemed to be more relaxed and having a much better time than during sit-down meals.
Just make sure you have plenty of food! I know some brides assume that people will eat less if it's hors d'ouevres, but many tend to eat as much or more than if it were a traditional meal!
And like others mentioned, just mention it like "Cocktails and hors d'ouevres will be served" or something :)
I'd probably be inclined to end it before dinner time... I'd say 8PM is the latest that you could end the reception. I think if your crowd is younger you could get away with having Hors d'oeurves only, but I'm not sure it would go over well with an older crowd.
Also, one thing to think about, and this is purely my own experience: as a young person I'd probably unintentionally get very very drunk if I went to a wedding with heavy hor d'oeurves and no sit down meal. Usually if I catch up with old friends, I don't really want to take time out to go get food... I'll really be into talking and chatting and laughing with friends, and I'm pretty good about refilling my drink but never my food. I'm the kind of person that gets kind of embarassed to go "grab" food, or take time out of a conversation to get food, so I'd end up drinking a lot and not eating... not an ideal wedding guest I guess. I suspect a lot of women are the same way. Unless the food is put in front of me I don't like to look like a pig and go "hunt" my food from stations. So beware of people getting a little more sauced than you'd like them to be at your wedding because they are embarassed to go around and grab food for themselves.
I think Mrs. Penguin's point is really good--I am the same way! I love the idea of food stations right now, but they can kind of be a lot of work to make sure you get enough to eat. And if a person is having a great time, s/he may not think about getting some food until it's too late. Some people (particularly older guests) can get confused, too, and not realize that you can hit all the stations because they have different stuff.
i am planning to do the same thing!!!! i dont think that there is anything wrong with it!! (Obviously) 
I looked into a "station" reception with some passed hors d'oevres and no sit down meal, but with the caterers I looked into, it would have actually been more expensive for the stations. Cost aside, I love this type of reception and they are very popular right now.
I think that an hors d'oevres and cocktail recpetion is great! You're gith though RIbride, sometimes the passing around hors d'oevres is more costly.
If on the invitation you state hors d'oevres and cocktails, then your guests will be expecting just that! Here's is a more in depth article, http://tinyurl.com/cocktailreception, that I wrote on this kind of reception. I hope you find it informative! And that it helps with your confidence in hosting this kind of wedding day reception.
Enjoy!
I don't think it's bad, but based on the time you've mentioned I'd either move it back or move it forward. I think from 5-7 guests expect dinner, because it's dinner time. If your reception isn't in that time block, you're fine. Put "Cocktail reception to follow" on the invitations.
I'm doing this!! Its called a cocktail style reception, not to be confused with a cocktail reception. If you have a wedding website, you can tell them there that its going to be hors d'oeuvres and light fare only, or even put that on your invites. If its' going to be a later reception, people shouldn't expect a full meal, but I would def put it somewhere for the people who aren't sure
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I am in super money saving mode and have also always thought we'd have a unique twist to our wedding. I wanted to know people's thoughts on holding a later ceremony and reception, and only offering cocktails, hor d'oeurves, + a couple food stations and not having a traditional sit down dinner. People would still be assigned to a certain table and we would include the traditional introductions, cake cutting, first dance, toasts, etc... but people could just eat at their leisure.
How could I do this and convey to my guests that a sit-down dinner will not be served. There will still be plenty of food available, but people can eat right when they get there and go up for seconds, thirds, etc throughout the night. Is this stupid and wrong to not serve a big sit-down dinner?