Food at weddings
Aug 22nd 2010, 3:39 pm
#16
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,605
Re: Food at weddings
On food, my favourite bar in NYC serves only what the owner describes as "Jewish wedding food". Knishes and such like - smashing.
Aug 22nd 2010, 7:53 pm
#17
Last orders please...
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Re: Food at weddings
we spent all of £4,000 on our white wedding, it was a small affair at the church but we used the majority of the money on the evening do, plenty of food and drink for everyone to have a good knees up..
Aug 23rd 2010, 12:07 am
#18
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Re: Food at weddings
Aug 23rd 2010, 9:01 am
#19
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Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,172
Re: Food at weddings
Sounds lovely.
Last wedding we went to was for a cousin, and only because we're family that we got the invite...we only went because we knew it was $100 a head and it'd annoy them
Food weren't bad, but not brill and portions were shite and it took forever, it didn't start till around 9, but when the wedding was at 5, but of a mare...especially when there wasn't any AC and it was 100F and swamp weather out....and we had to fend for ourselves to find a slice of wedding cake.
Still, weren't a bad do and at least we didn't have to spend the night there like some folks did
Last wedding we went to was for a cousin, and only because we're family that we got the invite...we only went because we knew it was $100 a head and it'd annoy them
Food weren't bad, but not brill and portions were shite and it took forever, it didn't start till around 9, but when the wedding was at 5, but of a mare...especially when there wasn't any AC and it was 100F and swamp weather out....and we had to fend for ourselves to find a slice of wedding cake.
Still, weren't a bad do and at least we didn't have to spend the night there like some folks did
Aug 23rd 2010, 11:37 am
#20
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Re: Food at weddings
What do you ladies mean by 'evening do'? Do you mean there is an afternoon reception and an evening reception?
In a US wedding all you have is the wedding ceremony and the reception. Depending on the time of day of the ceremony, the reception may be during the day and only lasts a few hours. I wouldn't say there is a 'typical' wedding per se. I've been ones where there is a simple finger food buffet and weddings that weren't buffets, some were open bars, some were no bar at all, and some were cash bars. About the only thing that may be typical are veggies and small appetizers before the main entrees are ready, and champagne toasts. No two wedding cakes seem to be the same - all different flavors and designs.
For our wedding we went away to a small chapel that organized everything except our apparel. We even had a very short 'cake & punch reception' after the ceremony, and then were promptly kicked out so the next couple could get hitched. Our 17 guests (immediate family only) then went out to dinner, which we paid for.
In a US wedding all you have is the wedding ceremony and the reception. Depending on the time of day of the ceremony, the reception may be during the day and only lasts a few hours. I wouldn't say there is a 'typical' wedding per se. I've been ones where there is a simple finger food buffet and weddings that weren't buffets, some were open bars, some were no bar at all, and some were cash bars. About the only thing that may be typical are veggies and small appetizers before the main entrees are ready, and champagne toasts. No two wedding cakes seem to be the same - all different flavors and designs.
For our wedding we went away to a small chapel that organized everything except our apparel. We even had a very short 'cake & punch reception' after the ceremony, and then were promptly kicked out so the next couple could get hitched. Our 17 guests (immediate family only) then went out to dinner, which we paid for.
Last edited by Bluegrass Lass; Aug 23rd 2010 at 11:50 am.
Aug 23rd 2010, 11:55 am
#22
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Re: Food at weddings
Aug 23rd 2010, 12:05 pm
#23
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
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Re: Food at weddings
Yes, traditionally we have the rehearsal dinner the night before (with the closest relatives, wedding party, etc.) and the bigger to-do the next night, after the wedding. Seems to serve the same purpose.
Aug 23rd 2010, 12:16 pm
#24
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Re: Food at weddings
So whats the food like in a US wedding? do you have traditional staple food that is always served or is each wedding different? can you stereotype weddings from the north or south like we can?..
And whats your best/worst wedding memory, whether it be your own or somebody elses...
And whats your best/worst wedding memory, whether it be your own or somebody elses...
I really liked our wedding, actually. We got married in Sedona, Arizona at Tlaquepaque chapel. http://www.tlaq.com/ The chapel held about 40 people, only our closest friends, family, and two longtime co-workers who flew out to join us.
The men wore Mexican wedding shirts and black slacks and my bridesmaids wore sundresses from Ann Taylor Loft. (Everyone was comfy and not out an arm and a leg as a result.)
The reception was held at my parent's house and really was quite special. Because it was not a huge group we were able to really mingle with everyone. My mother made the food and hired caterers to serve/clean up leaving everyone to enjoy themselves.
We also had a brunch reception in Cincinnati afterwards and that was a disappointment in comparison. If I had to do it over again, I'd skip the second reception, but we were trying to host everyone who hadn't come to Arizona.
Another fun wedding I attended was one of my girlfriends. She grew up in the Polish part of town, and all of the food was Polish as were many of the dances, etc. at the reception. Everyone danced around and had to go before the couple and do a shot of whisky (blech!) to wish them luck in the future. It was a very inexpensive wedding but was one of the best I've attended.
Weirdest/worst wedding memory? Hmmm ... I attended a wedding in which the minister had a dangling band-aid hanging off his chin that wobbled as he married the couple, that was a bit off-putting. I also attended a wedding once in one of those new-age churches with plasma tvs ... maybe you know the type ... the bride was chewing gum during the ceremony and that blew my mind.
I do think people blow so much money and get so worked up about weddings sometimes and it's a let down for them when it's over.
Aug 23rd 2010, 12:23 pm
#25
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: From a beautiful part of Scotland, now in Colorado
Posts: 265
Re: Food at weddings
I had what most people would consider a big wedding (and it was expensive), but 10 years later, we're still happy. All of my friends and family who had 'big' weddings are all still married too.
Incidentally, I've never heard of black forest gateau being served at a wedding!
Aug 23rd 2010, 12:25 pm
#26
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: From a beautiful part of Scotland, now in Colorado
Posts: 265
Re: Food at weddings
Well I went to my first UK wedding last night since returning...the last one in the UK that I went to was erm about 6 years ago so I was curious to see what things had changed and what had stayed the same, especially the food..so here's our story..
I told my DD (who had never been to a UK wedding) what kind of food to expect, the usual suspects used to be:
sausage rolls
sandwiches (ham, roast beef and egg mayonnaise)
pasta salad
crisps
chicken legs
and of course not forgetting the black forest gateau for dessert
so in we went and of course everybody is hanging around the bar getting the orders in, the bride and groom are stood at the entrance greeting everybody and trying to remember their twice removed second cousin's aunty s name....
DD soon spotted a gang of kids playing balloon football on the empty dance floor and promptly dumped her cardigan with me and off she went to join them..the next 30 mins were spent saying hello to everyone and pointing out DD on the dance floor saying "that one's mine"..of course she then spent the next hour asking me "whens food going to be ready I'm starving" before running back off to play with her new mates..
The food was served at 9pm and what we didn't know is that in the back they had been cooking a whole hog on a slow burning spit and the chef went out, cut the pig up and was serving it on barms with stuffing and apple sauce and yes we were the first ones in the queue..
and then of course out came the rest of the buffet...and we were not disappointed...bread rolls, ham and beef on platters, Swedish meatballs, onion bhaji's, pasta salad, sausage rolls, coleslaw and mini kebabs..the only thing missing was the black forest gateau..now as someone with a massive sweet tooth, this was not on..
I was having murderous thoughts about the Chef, how in the hell could the Chef had missed this massive oversight when they brought out the wedding cake, all sliced up..DD was making sick noises because she thought it was fruit cake, but I was happy and ran over to get my share..only it wasn't fruit cake it was chocolate cake and lemon cake..oh I was in heaven and so was DD, so we snaffled 2 pieces each and of course I got two more and wrapped them up in napkins to take home for MIL..like you do..as you always get the "don't forget to bring me home a slice of wedding cake" request..
we were thoroughly entertained with an Irish band (as the groom was Irish) and of course the irish family members were all up doing their version of Riverdance (which was awesome) but made sure us english clod hoppers were too ashamed to go near the dance floor and embarrass ourselves, except for the kids they had now progressed to playing battle of the balloons...girls v's boys..(girls were winning by the way)
they did play the fiddle tune from Deliverance though, the banjo guy went up against the fiddle guy and had a play off..whilst everyone was clapping and stamping their feet..
Now if anybody's watched Peter Kaye, you'll know about weddings up north..and it was pretty much that to a T..uncle knob head got up dancing and sliding all over the dance floor and showing off his crappy dance moves, the oldies got up when YMCA came on with Rave-On the DJ took over from the band ( and yes he was really called Rave-On)..the kids were either running around chasing each over or showing off their air guitar moves on the dance floor..and the old fellas were all sat next to the bar holding fort and chatting to all the young ladies that came near them..
anyway, a great night was had by all, the bride and groom got raving drunk and so did all the guests.. most of the ladies had removed their high heels from dancing for soo long..and not one of the kids were bloody tired at 12am, the little buggers were still energized (probably from all the sugar in the cake)..
so it would seem that the food at weddings haven't changed much for as long as I can remember, a few variants, but not many..
so whats the food like in a US wedding? do you have traditional staple food that is always served or is each wedding different? can you stereotype weddings from the north or south like we can?..
And whats your best/worst wedding memory, whether it be your own or somebody elses...
I told my DD (who had never been to a UK wedding) what kind of food to expect, the usual suspects used to be:
sausage rolls
sandwiches (ham, roast beef and egg mayonnaise)
pasta salad
crisps
chicken legs
and of course not forgetting the black forest gateau for dessert
so in we went and of course everybody is hanging around the bar getting the orders in, the bride and groom are stood at the entrance greeting everybody and trying to remember their twice removed second cousin's aunty s name....
DD soon spotted a gang of kids playing balloon football on the empty dance floor and promptly dumped her cardigan with me and off she went to join them..the next 30 mins were spent saying hello to everyone and pointing out DD on the dance floor saying "that one's mine"..of course she then spent the next hour asking me "whens food going to be ready I'm starving" before running back off to play with her new mates..
The food was served at 9pm and what we didn't know is that in the back they had been cooking a whole hog on a slow burning spit and the chef went out, cut the pig up and was serving it on barms with stuffing and apple sauce and yes we were the first ones in the queue..
and then of course out came the rest of the buffet...and we were not disappointed...bread rolls, ham and beef on platters, Swedish meatballs, onion bhaji's, pasta salad, sausage rolls, coleslaw and mini kebabs..the only thing missing was the black forest gateau..now as someone with a massive sweet tooth, this was not on..
I was having murderous thoughts about the Chef, how in the hell could the Chef had missed this massive oversight when they brought out the wedding cake, all sliced up..DD was making sick noises because she thought it was fruit cake, but I was happy and ran over to get my share..only it wasn't fruit cake it was chocolate cake and lemon cake..oh I was in heaven and so was DD, so we snaffled 2 pieces each and of course I got two more and wrapped them up in napkins to take home for MIL..like you do..as you always get the "don't forget to bring me home a slice of wedding cake" request..
we were thoroughly entertained with an Irish band (as the groom was Irish) and of course the irish family members were all up doing their version of Riverdance (which was awesome) but made sure us english clod hoppers were too ashamed to go near the dance floor and embarrass ourselves, except for the kids they had now progressed to playing battle of the balloons...girls v's boys..(girls were winning by the way)
they did play the fiddle tune from Deliverance though, the banjo guy went up against the fiddle guy and had a play off..whilst everyone was clapping and stamping their feet..
Now if anybody's watched Peter Kaye, you'll know about weddings up north..and it was pretty much that to a T..uncle knob head got up dancing and sliding all over the dance floor and showing off his crappy dance moves, the oldies got up when YMCA came on with Rave-On the DJ took over from the band ( and yes he was really called Rave-On)..the kids were either running around chasing each over or showing off their air guitar moves on the dance floor..and the old fellas were all sat next to the bar holding fort and chatting to all the young ladies that came near them..
anyway, a great night was had by all, the bride and groom got raving drunk and so did all the guests.. most of the ladies had removed their high heels from dancing for soo long..and not one of the kids were bloody tired at 12am, the little buggers were still energized (probably from all the sugar in the cake)..
so it would seem that the food at weddings haven't changed much for as long as I can remember, a few variants, but not many..
so whats the food like in a US wedding? do you have traditional staple food that is always served or is each wedding different? can you stereotype weddings from the north or south like we can?..
And whats your best/worst wedding memory, whether it be your own or somebody elses...
I take it that's an evening buffet? What did you get to eat during the day?
Aug 23rd 2010, 3:00 pm
#27
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Food at weddings
I know it's trendy to slag off big weddings these days, but I don't necessarily agree.
I had what most people would consider a big wedding (and it was expensive), but 10 years later, we're still happy. All of my friends and family who had 'big' weddings are all still married too.
Incidentally, I've never heard of black forest gateau being served at a wedding!
I had what most people would consider a big wedding (and it was expensive), but 10 years later, we're still happy. All of my friends and family who had 'big' weddings are all still married too.
Incidentally, I've never heard of black forest gateau being served at a wedding!
Aug 23rd 2010, 3:06 pm
#28
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,062
Re: Food at weddings
I know it's trendy to slag off big weddings these days, but I don't necessarily agree.
I had what most people would consider a big wedding (and it was expensive), but 10 years later, we're still happy. All of my friends and family who had 'big' weddings are all still married too.
Incidentally, I've never heard of black forest gateau being served at a wedding!
I had what most people would consider a big wedding (and it was expensive), but 10 years later, we're still happy. All of my friends and family who had 'big' weddings are all still married too.
Incidentally, I've never heard of black forest gateau being served at a wedding!
My daughter tells me a wedding with less than 150 guests is considered small. 
She can have whatever type of wedding she wants...within reason...or she can have a chunk of cash towards a home. The decision is hers...but she can't have both.
Aug 23rd 2010, 3:44 pm
#29
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Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Charlotte,NC
Posts: 1,717
Re: Food at weddings
Divorce comes though in 2 weeks
Still was a great bash
Aug 23rd 2010, 6:54 pm
#30
Last orders please...
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