Post # 1

Member
9 posts
Newbee
We are having our wedding at a summer day camp in NJ. Our original plan was to have the ceremony around 5:30 (it’s on-site) and then have a big barbecue with a very short "cocktail hour" (30 minutes or less) while we do portraits. We anticipated the party going til about 10pm.
Last week, I found this vendor and totally fell in love: http://www.nomadpizzaco.com/! My fiance and I are both pizza-holics and I’ve read amazing reviews of this pizza. Needless to say, I really got my heart set on having this at our wedding adn was crushed when I found out they are booked for a 7pm party on our date! They could come and leave by 5pm, but that would mean moving everything up a few hours. When I imagine my wedding I always envision a crazy fun nighttime dance party! I’m afraid if we change the timeline, this would not hppen. On the other hand, it is amazingly affordable and I think everyone would absolutely love it (esp my fiance and I). This would also help with another issue we are having at our site. we have to rent generator-run lights for the parking lot, which according to our research are fairly expensive. Changing the wedding timing would eliminate the need for that.
My questions: Is it crazy to rearrange the whole schedule around this one vendor??? If we did change things, what should our new timeline look like? Is it weird if dinner is at 4pm?? Advice please!
Post # 3

Member
40 posts
Newbee
hmm, i unfortunately don’t have lots of advice for you. i totally feel you on the night-time dance-a-thon. i think such an early dinner wouldn’t be terrible, but also not ideal.
one (totally different) option is to move everything back enough that you don’t have to feed people (maybe have the ceremony at 7-ish), and then use the pizza as a late-night treat for your guests around 9 pm. or have the ceremony at 5.30, cater the main meal with someone else, and then have the late-night pizza as an unexpected treat.
just a thought!
Post # 4

Member
40 posts
Newbee
oh, and i forgot to add… that pizza looks AMAZING. i’m now craving some myself ๐
Post # 5

Member
85 posts
Worker bee
We have a saying in my industry, pizza is not a meal. (My employer has to feed me.) Neither are sandwiches or chinese.
If you feed people early and then are planning to party a couple hours, pizza will not be enough for everyone. You will have to feed everyone again or people will leave if they are hungry.
I would be pissed if I came to a wedding, and all I got to eat was a slice of pizza, even though it looks like great pizza. Plus pizza like that is good straight out of the oven. It might be hard to feed a lot of people at once.
I’d forget the pizza unless you want to spring for a late night snack. Or you could do it for your rehearsal dinner All the wedding food I’ve had from high end to normal has not been memorable. But I would remember not having enough to eat. Also, you are there to have a good time with your friends and family. What’s more important? Good pizza or the wedding you imaged?
Go out for pizza! You live near NY!
Post # 6

Member
9 posts
Newbee
I would love to have them cater late night, but they have another party at 7pm about an hour away from our site so it’s erlier or not at all =(
Post # 7

Member
7081 posts
Busy Beekeeper
Well, I changed our date for a vendor, so I’m probably the wrong person to ask about this… but I would say there are a few factors to consider… Is it going to be hot and the dead of summer? We’ve set our time to late afternoon so that we miss the heat of the day. Would you consider having some snacks late night? Maybe like a Sundae bar or appetizer bar?
Anyway, stuff to think about. I think pizza sounds great!
Post # 8

Member
297 posts
Helper bee
Are there other pizza caterers? Or could you go out to your favourite pizza joint for your Rehersal Dinner? I know I personally wouldn’t be too impressed with pizza dinner because I’m allergic to wheat/gluten and have other allergies. I would suggest going with an actual BBQ to offer a bit more variety – you could even have a pig roast! – but that might just be me.
Post # 9

Member
9 posts
Newbee
I’m sorry but I’m a bit taken aback by some responses. I wasn’t really looking for feedback on our food choices (we are having a small intimate low-budget wedding and I know that our guests will be as excited to have pizza as I am; we will also be serving some other catered items to round out the menu), and I’m upset that I’m now doubting our unconventional choice because of those responses. As for a late night option, we are renting an ice cream truck to come for the last hour (whenever that may be). If anyone has more feedback on the timeline, please share your thoughts!
Post # 10

Member
4 posts
Wannabee
since your wedding is intimate, you would know what would or would not work with your group. so I say nevermind the menu critiques.
yeah, "dinner" at 4 is unconventional, but if you have your ice cream snack sooner than the last hour, as well as end the party earlier, it would probably work out fine. if you’re really set on having that nighttime dance party though, I suggest some more vendor seeking until you find one that is available at the time you want.
Post # 11

Member
85 posts
Worker bee
Didn’t mean to be harsh in my comment, just straight forward!
A meal for a lot of the invitees for my wedding is a 1/2 lb of meat a man. (heart attack!)
If you are having more than pizza, then it would prob be quite nice. From the menu on the website, it’s only pizza and salad.
Also, it says if it rains you are out of luck, they can cancel with 24 hours notice! I’d hate to have to scramble for a caterer on my wedding day.
I’ve seen other pizza trucks in the ny metro area. (and waffles, coffee, dessert, etc)
Good luck!
Post # 12

Member
21 posts
Newbee
Don’t doubt your choice. I think the pizza looks so amazing! It reminds me of this place I saw on tv that is world reknowned in Naples, Italy. Plus it goes with the camp and ice cream theme. How original and creative! I will be dreaming about that pizza tonight! ๐ Sorry, but I don’t have any timeline suggestions. That’s a toughy.
Post # 13

Member
360 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: September 2009 - Westwind YWCA camp
I know this wasn’t supposed to be a thread on your choice of food, but I think it’s a great idea to serve the pizza! besides, you stated in the title that you’re an "unconventional" bride, so who says you have to feed your guests a "conventional" wedding meal. I wouldn’t be at all irritated to be served pizza and a salad at your wedding! Especially at a summer camp! That rocks! (I might be biased, though – we’re getting married at a summer camp, too ๐ )
With regard to your actual question – have you looked into other pizza companies? I don’t personally think you should re-arrange your entire day-of timeline for one vender.
Post # 14

Member
360 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: September 2009 - Westwind YWCA camp
I just looked at the website – that pizza does look awesome ๐
and a traveling wood-fired brick oven! so rad!
Post # 15

Member
596 posts
Busy bee
You mentioned that you will have some other items catered so that it wouldn’t be just pizza. Could you serve the pizza earlier and have those other items brought out as the pizza is done so that dinner won’t feel so early and it won’t be over as fast? If dinner was from 4pm – 6pm, it might be doable and it wouldn’t feel too early for dinner. That way, guests can dance and enjoy themselves for awhile until maybe 8pm or so, when you bring out the ice cream?
Post # 16

Member
1145 posts
Bumble bee
I’ve been to a pizza party at a volunteer dinner and it was such good fun! I , too, had to change my wedding time because I was set on the date but the time wasn’t working for me. I wanted a breakfast as I always pictured a great morning wedding and am a morning person. Well, it went to a brunch and now ..because of menu choices and budget, it’s actually an early lunch. So yes, I was disappointed at first because it wasn’t my vision but now I’ve come to love the advantages to having it later that I never realized at first. Maybe that will be the same as you.