Hi, bees! You always have such good advice, I thought I'd try to get some of my own. :)
Okay, I've erased most of this post because it was way too long and crazy. I'll stick to this question, for which I feel I might be able to get some real help:
Our caterer wants to take down their tables (which they are providing) while most (if not all) of our guests will still be there. Is this normal? Is it totally weird to have a catering staff breaking down tables while dancing is still going on?
if they are tables that held food from cocktail hour, or from the buffet after guests have eaten, for example, i wouldn't think it was too weird. if they are the tables that guests sat at, then that would be weird. and a not-so-subtle sign that it was time for everyone to go home.
The weddings I've gone to with a catering company all packed up the leftover food and tables after the dancing began. As long as the buffet table, etc., is not right by the dance floor, few people will notice a discreet caterer who packs up while the party is going on. But, by tables, do you mean the tables that the food was set up on, or the guest tables themselves?
Thanks, lauracare (I'm a Laura, too!) and loveatfirstsight... I should have clarified that the tables are the tables where guests will be seated! I know, it's going to be totally awkward, and I copletely agree about the "not-so-subtle sign that it's time to leave" thing. It's like when a store turns its lights off at 8:50PM! I want to avoid this problem by asking the rental company if they could come back the next day to get everything. it will probably cost me, but do you think that's a possibility?
We had some table breakdown/shuffling during the reception - but that was because we had the ceremony at the same location, and the ceremony room was then cleared and set with tables during the cocktail hour. I do think it's odd to have tables disappearing during the reception. After all, your guests are going to leave their evening bags or wraps at their seats while they go get a drink - leave their cameras on the tables while they dance - and return to their seats periodically to have a drink, rest their feet, and chat a little. I would think that having their table disappear while they are up dancing would cause some distress and confusion. Our tables stayed in place until everybody left - I think that they actually weren't broken down and the room reconfigured until the next morning.
I went to a wedding where the catering company came by an TOOK AWAY THE PLATES AND CUTLERY DURING DINNER! And it was a buffet, and our table was last, so we had finally sat down with out food, and the catering people came and literally grabbed our plates and scraped the food off of them into bins! It was horrific, but the bride and groom were trying to save money by having same-day take away. let it be a lesson - it might be worth the extra $ - now nobody mentions anything but that when their wedding comes up in conversation!
Hi, bees! You always have such good advice, I thought I'd try to get some of my own. :)
Okay, I've erased most of this post because it was way too long and crazy. I'll stick to this question, for which I feel I might be able to get some real help:
Our caterer wants to take down their tables (which they are providing) while most (if not all) of our guests will still be there. Is this normal? Is it totally weird to have a catering staff breaking down tables while dancing is still going on?
I would really, really appreciate any advice. :)
posted by lofi Newbee: 11 posts 4 months agoif they are tables that held food from cocktail hour, or from the buffet after guests have eaten, for example, i wouldn't think it was too weird. if they are the tables that guests sat at, then that would be weird. and a not-so-subtle sign that it was time for everyone to go home.
posted by lauracare Newbee: 28 posts 4 months agoThe weddings I've gone to with a catering company all packed up the leftover food and tables after the dancing began. As long as the buffet table, etc., is not right by the dance floor, few people will notice a discreet caterer who packs up while the party is going on. But, by tables, do you mean the tables that the food was set up on, or the guest tables themselves?
posted by loveatfirstsightlover Worker bee: 62 posts 4 months agoThanks, lauracare (I'm a Laura, too!) and loveatfirstsight... I should have clarified that the tables are the tables where guests will be seated! I know, it's going to be totally awkward, and I copletely agree about the "not-so-subtle sign that it's time to leave" thing. It's like when a store turns its lights off at 8:50PM! I want to avoid this problem by asking the rental company if they could come back the next day to get everything. it will probably cost me, but do you think that's a possibility?
Thanks again!
posted by lofi Newbee: 11 posts 4 months agoWe had some table breakdown/shuffling during the reception - but that was because we had the ceremony at the same location, and the ceremony room was then cleared and set with tables during the cocktail hour. I do think it's odd to have tables disappearing during the reception. After all, your guests are going to leave their evening bags or wraps at their seats while they go get a drink - leave their cameras on the tables while they dance - and return to their seats periodically to have a drink, rest their feet, and chat a little. I would think that having their table disappear while they are up dancing would cause some distress and confusion. Our tables stayed in place until everybody left - I think that they actually weren't broken down and the room reconfigured until the next morning.
posted by suzanno Bumble bee: 2,425 posts 4 months agoI went to a wedding where the catering company came by an TOOK AWAY THE PLATES AND CUTLERY DURING DINNER! And it was a buffet, and our table was last, so we had finally sat down with out food, and the catering people came and literally grabbed our plates and scraped the food off of them into bins! It was horrific, but the bride and groom were trying to save money by having same-day take away. let it be a lesson - it might be worth the extra $ - now nobody mentions anything but that when their wedding comes up in conversation!
posted by shortcake Helper bee: 375 posts 4 months ago