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do you plan for them to stay long? because it seems guests dont like to stand for long.. and yes if i saw cocktail reception i would assume not much food
Yup, cocktail reception I would assume not much food. I think you can call that "stations" if you want, but I think you're safe with just "reception to follow" on the invites. And even though people can move around and eat as they please, please make sure you have seating for people!
I think you could just say "reception", that sounds like a buffet to me just in stations!
meat + potatoes + pasta = buffet in my book. technically i'm having "stations" but its dinner-type food so i'm calling it a buffet.
Unfortunately, many people have prejudgements based on what folks around them (including online blogs and magazines) tell them is how "it should be done or else". Cocktail receptions are no exception when it comes to the food provided and the amounts served. You can tell people until you are blue in the face what your definition is and if other people around you do not agree, then you don't get anywhere. Countless folks have a predisposed idea that cocktail receptions are nothing more than a cheese platter and a finger sandwich platter with overflowing alcohol (and nothing substantial at all served to absorb that alcohol to keep people from getting sick and drunk), but there is nothing you can do to convince them that you are having a cocktail reception *and* serving large quantities of food, as they cannot (and will not) wrap their minds around that novel idea. For the same reason, those same folks say it is absolutely impossible to serve a cocktail reception during a meal time and have guests go home stuffed, yet people do successfully pull it off with no problem and are not having hallucinations either.
In your case, change the wording to heavy hors d'oeurves reception and leave it at that. Guests are supposed to graciously accept without complaint or prejudice whatever you offer them, but unfortunately many people do not. At the same time, what you are serving is also considered a buffet of sorts.
I'm having a "heavy hors d'ourvers reception" which sounds exactly what you are having. Its not sit down, not buffet, but there will be tons of food and seating (for about 75%). Its actually very popular at our wedding location. I also made a point to spread the word early to explain to people what exactly it is. The heavy hors d'ourvers reception is cheaper and has WAY more food than the buffet.
I think if an invitation simply said "cocktail reception" I wouldn't plan to bring my full appetite... I'm not sure the best way to phrase that, but you're definitely serving enough for a meal and I don't think that "cocktail reception" really gets that across.
I like the idea of just saying reception to follow so people don't go out an eat ahead of time. Cocktail reception makes people think of drinks and "snacks" but not a full meal.
I just went to a reception with the exact same menu except minue the pasta bar. Everyone was very well fed by the end of the night. Agree you should just say "reception to follow". Even though your food isn't all served to you on one plate, what you have described is certainly dinner. Do make sure you have seats for everyone as someone else suggested!
do you have tables and chairs for everyone? if so, what you've described is dinner to me
do you have tables and chairs for everyone? if so, what you've described is dinner to me
Thanks everyone for responding.
Yes seating for everyone!
We stated that "light refreshments will be served immediately after the ceremony". But then again, we had an early evening wedding and a pig roast the next day.
I think your reception food sounds delicious! I would just put "Reception to Follow" because there is certainly going to be enough there to be considered a meal as opposed to just appetizers and drinks.
Call it heavy hors d'oeurves. If someone goes home hungry with that spread or arrives stuffed, that is not your problem.
Even with the huge spread you are serving, some people will insist that you are starving them no matter what. That's just how some are but it is not representative of the majority. Spread the info via word of mouth if you are truly concerned that your menu will go to waste due to folks eating beforehand.
yes i would assume that. I would say something like hor doevres and meat carving reception to follow. i don't know, but cocktail reception just makes me think drinking and maybe cake. i would go out for my own dinner if i read that on an invite.
maybe "buffett-style reception to follow" ? either way I would rather people expect less food and get more than they were hoping, then show up and get less than what the were hoping for.
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I am having a "cocktail reception" not a sit down, not buffet style but there is gonna be a lot of food and everyone can get their food when they please.
5 different types of hors d'oeuvres
2 meat carving stations
bread/ cheese/ fruit display
mashed potato bar
pasta station w/ meat and add ins on the side
If i put cocktail reception to follow on my invitations would you assume there would be less food than i plan.
Would there be something better to say other then cocktail reception?