Help! A 7 PM wedding is planned at the home of the bride and the reception will be immediately following. The bride's family is local, but all of the groom's family lives 2 hours away.
The bride is planning on only having a desert reception. No other food of any kind will be served. They plan to have dancing after the wedding. ("Desert Reception Immediately Following" is on the invitations that are already printed).
As the groom's family, we feel like we have to serve a full dinner to our traveling family members before we go to attend the wedding at 7:00 PM
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think there should be a full meal served at the reception or are we being unreasonable?
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Nov 8, 2008, 8:22 PM)
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Post #2 of 2
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Re: Full meal for 7 PM wedding / late reception
[In reply to]
Dear Helpinala,
It really doesn't matter what any one else thinks, really, unless, of course, you or others wish to offer to pay for the food and beverages. The couple is planning and is responsible for hosting. So, all guests should be good guests and not ask for more.
This is not to say that they shouldn't be good hosts. In some regions, people so eat later than others and the good host takes this into consideration when planning. This would include taking into consideration our guest's travel time and considering if they had time to eat before attending.
Where I am located, 7pm is a perfect time for a dessert only affair. We can assume that our guests have eaten by then. The guests who must travel for 2 hours will most likely have eaten earlier than usual--4 pm is not an unusual time to eat dinner here. If you are living in a region or area where people typically eat a meal around 7pm, then the couple should provide one.
Having said all of this, if it were me, I'd at least provide some sort of small meal even if it were the makings for great sandwiches. But, then again, it is their choice.
Full meal for 7 PM wedding / late reception
