Wedding reception invite?

[maslex]

So my cousin's daughter was married out of state back in December. Just immediate family and a couple friends attended the wedding.

Just received an invite to a reception to be held in May. No mention what type of reception it is (meaning it doesn't say whether it's a buffet dinner or sit down dinner, etc) it's at 6pm, so I'm assuming some kind of dinner would be served, no?

Have you ever had a situation like this (where the wedding and reception were held months apart?)

 

[Handbag Lady]

So my cousin's daughter was married out of state back in December. Just immediate family and a couple friends attended the wedding.

Just received an invite to a reception to be held in May. No mention what type of reception it is (meaning it doesn't say whether it's a buffet dinner or sit down dinner, etc) it's at 6pm, so I'm assuming some kind of dinner would be served, no?

Have you ever had a situation like this (where the wedding and reception were held months apart?)

Happens all the time. I'm thrilled they didn't ask for gifts or tell you what to bring or ask you to pay for anything.

I would assume there is dinner involved. I'd RSVP, dress nicely, bring (or if you can, send a gift ahead) and have fun. How nice of them to include people who couldn't attend the ceremony.

 

[mommasita]

Once. Friends eloped in Vegas, and then had a party after. I think it was a great idea, because everyone could not get to the venue...

Great advice above.

 

[akhenaten]

I have heard of destination or out of state weddings and then receptions held back at home!

I have never seen an invite indicate buffet or sit down... any wedding reception invite I have received has always been for a dinner...

 

[Rora]

Happens all the time. I'm thrilled they didn't ask for gifts or tell you what to bring or ask you to pay for anything.

I would assume there is dinner involved. I'd RSVP, dress nicely, bring (or if you can, send a gift ahead) and have fun. How nice of them to include people who couldn't attend the ceremony.

 

[maslex]

I have heard of destination or out of state weddings and then receptions held back at home!

I have never seen an invite indicate buffet or sit down... any wedding reception invite I have received has always been for a dinner...

I guess what I meant was, usually when I received a wedding/reception invite there would be a card included indicating (if it was a sit down anyways) whether you wanted chicken, beef, fish, etc. Or it would say, please join us for a buffet dinner at 5pm, etc.

But it never stated anything about dinner. I think it's a nice idea though that they're having this party since we weren't able to make the wedding.

 

[disykat]

I would not assume a wedding reception automatically meant a meal - unless it was being held at meal time. I can't imagine anyone hosting a party at 6:00 and not serving food. I suppose it could technically be just a cocktail hour thing, but I'd think it would say that on the invitation.

 

[Art 1]

I would eat before going just in case. It's never good to look hungry anyway at a reception.My guess would be at that time they would have something to eat.

 

[scrapquitler]

I've been to several receptions where the wedding was held out of state months before. My aunt and uncle did this because they got married where they lived (in CA) with a few close friends there. Later in the summer on their vacation schedule, they came to CT and had the reception with both families.

As far as the dinner: I've never been to a wedding where the invitation specified if it was going to be buffet or sit down dinner. At 6PM I certainly would expect dinner UNLESS the invitation stated "Cocktail Party" or "Hors de'ourves Reception"

Sometimes you can figure out the type of meal based on the invitation. If there is a choice to make, then you know it will be sit down (the reply card will ask chicken/beef/vegetarian or whatever). But if the choice is not given on the reply card, it could mean that there is only one entree (no choice), or that they will ask when you are seated (I went to a wedding once where they asked our meal choice while we were seated...I had never encountered this before, but it does happen at some venues), or finally, it might mean that it is a buffet.

 

[shortbun]

We had a big party when we returned from our honeymoon. Wedding was family only.
Our party was a 'no gifts please' event. We just wanted to party with our friends. It was a knock down-drag out, crazy fun party. We had a chocolate-chocolate, german chocolate cake with chocolate roses all over it and champagne flowed all day. Shoes were off, dancing was enormous and we pretty much collapsed at the end- all of us. We had a lot of good food, it got eaten mostly.

 

[aprilgail2]

or that they will ask when you are seated (I went to a wedding once where they asked our meal choice while we were seated...I had never encountered this before, but it does happen at some venues), or finally, it might mean that it is a buffet.

We always order when you sit down- never had one that asked in advance! I have also never been to a wedding with the exception of one down south in virginia that did not serve a meal. Doesn't matter if its a 2pm reception or a 9pm reception--always a sit down meal!

 

[akhenaten]

I guess what I meant was, usually when I received a wedding/reception invite there would be a card included indicating (if it was a sit down anyways) whether you wanted chicken, beef, fish, etc. Or it would say, please join us for a buffet dinner at 5pm, etc.

But it never stated anything about dinner. I think it's a nice idea though that they're having this party since we weren't able to make the wedding.

I see..most weddings I have been to don't offer a choice..

I agree it is nice to be able to celebrate with the couple!

 

[akhenaten]

I would not assume a wedding reception automatically meant a meal - unless it was being held at meal time. I can't imagine anyone hosting a party at 6:00 and not serving food. I suppose it could technically be just a cocktail hour thing, but I'd think it would say that on the invitation.

Really? must be a regional thing again... in NYC area, there is ALWAYS a meal... if someone was not going to serve one I would expect it to say...

 

[Disney Doll]

I guess what I meant was, usually when I received a wedding/reception invite there would be a card included indicating (if it was a sit down anyways) whether you wanted chicken, beef, fish, etc. Or it would say, please join us for a buffet dinner at 5pm, etc.

But it never stated anything about dinner. I think it's a nice idea though that they're having this party since we weren't able to make the wedding.

I have been to a couple of weddings where you got a mixed grill type plate for the dinner....it had veggies, a coupleof different kinds of meat etc., so maybe it's something like that?

 

[Duchie]

Really? must be a regional thing again... in NYC area, there is ALWAYS a meal... if someone was not going to serve one I would expect it to say...

Yep, it's definitely a regional thing. Where I grew up dinner (of any kind) at a reception was the exception, not the norm.