Our wedding will be at 6:00 PM with the reception immediately following. The reception will be a formal cocktail and hors d’ oeuvre type of affair. The hors d’ oeuvres will be heavy (mini crabcakes, rumaki, shrimp cocktail, mini quiche, meatballs, etc. along with cheese/crackers/fruit/vegetables and the like).
With the reception card wording I want people to know what type of reception they will be attending and also to let those who may think their children are invited (even thought they will not be listed on the invitation) that this will be a formal adult type affair).
I would like to word the reception cards as follows:
The pleasure of your company is requested at the cocktail and hors d’ oeuvre reception immediately following the ceremony
Ceremony Location
City, State
Here is my question:
While the food I will be serving will certainly be as filling as a meal, I don’t want the guests to think that I will just be serving a few snacks and that they might need to eat a meal before coming, since the wedding/reception will be during normal dinner time.
Do the experts think that people will assume meal like hors d ‘oeuvres or will they assume they will be only served a few snacks? If the latter, how might I change the wording on my reception cards?
Thank you so much for your help. You are all so wise!
Biggest Day Expert
Dear X-Cited,
If your wedding/reception is informal, you could use this wording because we have more leeway with informal events. But, it seems as if yours is more formal, which means that we don’t mention what type of food will be served on the invitation. It is considered an insult to your guests’ mentality–thinking that they wouldn’t know what is served at this time of day. I know it seems a bit silly, but it is what it is.
So, perhaps you could mention that this is a cocktail and heavyhors d’ oeuvre reception on an enclosure. This is also how we mention that it is cocktail attire. Many guests appreciate a bit of direction, but it is not considered proper to list it on the invitation unless the dress code is black tie or formal.
If you prefer no children, you may have to get-the-word-out (big time) through family and friends. It seems that no matter how we word our invitations, or how formal the event, or event the time of day of our events, some feel that their children are entitled to attend all events, invited or not. But, we never list “adult only event” on our invitations. It appears that you know this already though. Thank you.
Best wishes,