Post # 1
Member
40 posts
Newbee
I am normally a big beef person, but when we did our tasting with our venue last weekend, my fiance and I really enjoyed the chicken dish. Often times, beef is not cooked to the liking of the diner, and can go uneaten, and for the money, I would rather not waste it on uncooked or underdone beef.
We thought we would serve a chicken that is stuffed with cheese and spinach, has a lemon buerre blanc sauce, and asaparagus and potatoes. We could do beef as a passed appetizer with satay or mini tenderloin sandwiches to appease our carnivorous guests. Will we appear cheap if we don’t go the beef route and only offer one entree option?
We have upgraded the bar to top-shelf, and are doing a fireworks display – so hopefully guests won’t see it as the "cheap" choice to serve chicken.
Am I being a ridiculous bride?
Post # 3
Member
1428 posts
Bumble bee
I don’t think you’re being ridiculous at all! I personally almost always choose chicken if it’s an option when I am a guest, & the dish you described sounds delicious.
Post # 4
Member
286 posts
Helper bee
I think if you are going the 1 entree route, chicken would be the safest bet since a lot of people are cutting down on red meat. I don’t think people would mind. Do you have a vegetarian entree as well?
Post # 5
Member
40 posts
Newbee
Yes, we have a vegetarian option that we will provide to the handful of known vegetarians in the crowd (out of our 150 guests we know the 3 who are veggies). I just want to make sure our guests don’t see chicken and think "oh, great, they were cheap" – when the chicken we are using is 80 a head!!!!
Post # 6
Member
69 posts
Worker bee
I don’t think so at all! Especially if you tasted the chicken and love it! My fiance insists on having filet mignon at ours because he loves filet. We may give our guests the option of filet or chicken, but then that causes confusion and forces us to do assigned seating on top of table numbers haha.
Your wedding sounds wonderful-and a fireworks show! My goodness! How awesome! I wouldn’t worry about your guests thinking you are being cheap or ridiculous-they are there to celebrate your big day and in all honesty, if they think otherwise about having chicken, THEY are the ridiculous ones!
Good luck!
Post # 7
Member
290 posts
Helper bee
youre chicken entree sounds yummy! I don’t think anyone will really care all that much about only having one choice. We did a lemon pepper chicken but we also had a bbq pulled beef dish that was inexpensive and really yummy. the best dish at ours was the chessy hash potatoes, DELICIOUS! Its your day, dont worry so much about making everyone happy because its impossible. If it makes you happy and feel that its a good choice then go for it.
Post # 8
Member
469 posts
Helper bee
Ha, I hope not; I served chicken at my wedding!!! i think chieck is usually the safest route because people are pretty particular about their beed. I like mine well cooked (like, no blood anywhere) but my husband really likes his medium rare, and if it’s cooked too much, he will hardly touch it. If you want people to eat up, you really can’t go wrong with chicken 🙂
Post # 9
Member
495 posts
Helper bee
I don’t think so at all-I suppose if it were really dry gross chicken maybe people would think, oh bad chicken again, but I sure hope your chicken if fabulous at $80 a head!!
Post # 10
Member
5282 posts
Bee Keeper
A chicken only option is just fine. When most people go to work or community related banquets, conferences, or huge meetings at hotels you don’t get a choice of food, the plated dinner is always chicken (at least it has been in my experience.) You are treating your guests to a top shelf bar, fireworks display, and a very delicious sounding entree, I’m sure everyone will be thrilled 🙂
Post # 11
Member
2640 posts
Sugar bee
Personally, I think your chicken dish sounds wonderful. I usually get chicken over beef. With that said, I’m surprised no one is standing up for another entree choice. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if some guests were unhappy about not having a choice. What about salmon? It might not be typical for a conference, but all the (many) weddings I’ve been to, that weren’t buffets, had options.
I’m not sure if your guests would think you are being cheap. I suppose it’s possible. But you know your guests better than any of us. I’m not sure I’d be as concerend with negative judgements as simply trying to create a good time for all. Fireworks and topshelf sound wonderful, but why top shelf over another entree selection? And as for vegetarians, you are having a second option for three vegetarians, but no other option for people who might not like or prefer chicken… From my own experience (and some comments read on this board) with 2+ options for a sit down dinner, beef gets the most nods, despite predictions that it won’t be cooked to someone’s liking. Maybe it’s just me, but where I’m from guests expect choices.
Have there been weddings in your family, that you can ask somone how many people picked beef, chicken etc.? That might give you a feel about whether or not the guests would be unhappy.
Post # 12
Member
2434 posts
Buzzing bee
If it tastes good, nobody will mind. A delicious chicken dish is better than a poorly prepared piece of cow!
Post # 13
Member
183 posts
Blushing bee
I am only offering chicken and a veggie pasta option at my reception. People in my family always choose beef and always complain about it. (Apparently they always think that "this" will be the wedding where it is cooked perfectly to order. Haa.) I doubt that anyone will consider it cheap, especially if other meats (beef, fish, etc.) are served as appetizers/ hors d’oeuvres. That said, I can understand if other posters would be reluctant to not provide guests with an option. I anticipate that some of our carnivorous guests will choose our pasta dish rather than chicken just because. Have you considered offering everyone the option of either chicken or the vegetarian dish?
Post # 14
Member
40 posts
Newbee
The issue arises from the fact that our venue does not offer an upgraded bar with the upgraded food package (offering of beef) – it is just house brands. Which, in most cases, would be fine, but my Father-In-Law is offering a top-shelf bar for the rehearsal dinner the previous night, and we know our guests would much appreciate the upgraded bar package since most are traveling in from the East/West coasts. Since part of the budget is going to the upgraded bar, the other part can either go towards the beef option, which we really didn’t enjoy at the tasting, or the chicken – with a fireworks option. The chicken entree also had a pork loin with a veal demi glaze alternative. Should I offer chicken or pork, (with the vegetarians obviously getting their meat-free pasta primavera) or offer chicken and the vegetarian option? Our venue said we can only offer 2 options to our guests on RSVP cards.
Oh, the drama…..
I should also preface this by saying that my parents are hosting a welcome barbeque that will be catered at their home for guests arriving on Thursday before the wedding. We will have PLENTY of beef, as well as pulled pork, smoked turkey, and lots of great organic salads, plus a bar. I think with the offerings they will have Thurs and Fri for dining, they will be less reluctant to accept a chicken offering come Saturday night.
*whew*
Post # 15
Member
208 posts
Helper bee
We’re doing chicken or salmon. As much as I’d love to serve beef, it just wasn’t in the budget….and I’d rather use the money on something else! No one will starve.
Post # 16
Member
2695 posts
Sugar bee
I really don’t think chicken only is a big deal. I would choose veggie as the second over the pork though – and just make it open to anyone (so non-veggies can get veggie option too). Don’t stress about this at all, really. You are providing a very nice meal and people will make do! I know vegetarians who have thrown veggie only weddings, and those guests were ok, yours will be fine. I would personally never judge – or even think – that chicken only meant anything about you being cheap and you shouldn’t worry about people who would, they have problems if that is what they take away from attending a beautiful wedding!
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