After a formal wedding, is a family style dinner ok?
We're marrying at my church. The only reception we can afford with a guest list of 250 is a family style reception. My mother hates that the food service is not as elegant as plated, but she doesn't want to cut the guest list.. so.. Is it ok to have a family style dinner? do people look at that and automatically think that you're poor? Will it embarass my mother?
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Dec 22, 2007, 8:43 PM
Post #2 of 2
(561 views)
Re: [southsidebride] After a formal wedding, is a family style dinner ok?
[In reply to]
Dear Southsidebride,
The formality should be the same for both events if held on the same day. So, it may be better to either cut the guest list or to have a less formal wedding. Your guests just may be very confused if the wedding is formal and the reception very informal, especially about how to dress. Formal wedding attire for men could be suits or tuxedos and informal could be anywhere between slacks and sport jackets and jeans.
You and your fiance should be creating your guest list with consideration for your parent's wishes. But, the bottom line is that you two are wholly responsible for the planning and hosting of your wedding. So, the embarrassment wouldn't really be your mother's if not planned correctly. It would be yours and your fiance's.
All of that said, there is nothing wrong with a family style reception. You would just want to scale down the formality of the wedding, which may be a bit difficult if yours is Catholic, which is typically formal.
After a formal wedding, is a family style dinner ok?
