Baby Shower Dessert Bar....do I need to serve food too???

[curious3069]

Just remember that nuts and mints taste better in those little paper nut cups!!!


My .02...no need for savory foods since it's at 2:00 pm. A fruit selection would be nice though.

I love reading the regional differences. Growing up in the Midwest, showers, bridal and baby, were never ever at a meal time and were strictly cake/punch/nut/mint affairs.

 

[amg35]

Just remember that nuts and mints taste better in those little paper nut cups!!!


My .02...no need for savory foods since it's at 2:00 pm. A fruit selection would be nice though.

I love reading the regional differences. Growing up in the Midwest, showers, bridal and baby, were never ever at a meal time and were strictly cake/punch/nut/mint affairs.

See, over here in my part of the mid-west, all showers and weddings are held at restaurant halls, and there is most definitely food. Lot's of food. And an open bar. Geez, we even have open bars at the luncheons after funerals!

Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmation parties are always held at the house though.....still lot's of food and booze.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I certainly don't think providing a meal for your guests is over the top- unless you are talking a 7 course meal or something. The only place I have EVER heard of this cake/coffee party or wedding cake/mints and punch parties is on the DIS...never have attended one in real life nor do I know anyone that has!

But that's one of the great things about the DIS - it exposes all of us to different customs in different regions of the country (and sometimes beyond)!

 

[The Princess]

I probably would have something light not a full meal, munchies always works.

 

[aprilgail2]

See, over here in my part of the mid-west, all showers and weddings are held at restaurant halls, and there is most definitely food. Lot's of food. And an open bar. Geez, we even have open bars at the luncheons after funerals!

Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmation parties are always held at the house though.....still lot's of food and booze.

Oh yea- the after funeral parties are usually at halls and include alcohol!! We were at a Christening last month and it was a sit down meal with an open bar but I have never been to a Christening, Communion or Confirmation party at a house-always out at a hall or restuarant..

 

[C.Ann]

DD's baby shower was a dessert/fruit/cheese affair at 7 p.m.. Of course there was also cake, beverages, nuts, mints, chocolate dipped strawberries, etc. - and everyone just raved about it..

It was late enough in the evening that people had already eaten their dinner, so "dessert" was exactly what they were hoping for..

On the flip-side, I went to a baby shower for my Dstepdaughter's DD that was held at 4 p.m. - in a restaurant - with a full sit down dinner.. (Your choices of entrees came with the invitation..) To me that was a bit "over the top" - more along the lines of a wedding reception - but to each their own..

As long as your guests have no reason to expect a full "meal", I think you'll be just fine..

 

[luvmy3]

I agree with the pp's about adding fruit, veggies and cheese/meat/cracker tray.
Where I live we would serve a full meal at a bridal shower but I would love to go to one where it was just desserts and snacks.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Here too. I think it depends on where you are from & how you were raised. I am from an Italian family in New York. We have food for everything and tons of it. Honestly, until I joined the DIS, I never heard of a church basement wedding reception with cake and punch, but I have no problem with it, to each his own. It's just not something we do here.

OP - I think you should do it how you want, but I would also add some fruit, cheese & crackers, etc. as others have suggested.

I never heard of a groom's cake until I watched Steel Magnolias.

I have family all over the country and will admit that our bridal showers (in NJ) are sometimes more elaborate than the weddings that some folks have in other parts of the country.

Two o'clock is still lunch time to me. I would add some finger sandwiches to the menu, fruit salad and maybe some chips and dips, etc. to snack on in case some can't eat sweets.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have to say I'm really shocked at some of these answers. Why on earth would a meal or real food be required for a bridal shower at 2 in the afternoon AND if it was specified on the invite that it was sweets only? I don't get it.

This is the problem with showers/birthday parties these days. Everyone thinks they need to be over the top. There IS such a thing as a cake/coffee party, and these days it's an economical way to entertain. I really, really don't get it.

I don't think serving "real food" at a shower is over the top. In our family a meal of some kind is served for every occasion. I don't think it is wrong no to offer a meal and realize that different regions have different norms.

OP_ if you have not specified on the invitation that only dessert will be served I would serve finger sandwiches. 2 PM is still "lunch" time for a lot of people attending a shower.