My fiance and I have always dreamed of having afternoon tea for our wedding...

Hi I don't think it would worry me about the stands the most important thing is that there is enough food :)

I’d pay for the stands as I’d worry without it would just look like a buffet

I dont think it would matter too much. Have you looked into seeing if you could hire them yourselves? Or find a joblot for sale 2nd hand? X

Seer if you can outsource them maybe? I'm confused why they would offer 'afternoon tea' without the stands. Where ever you see afternoon tea they are always on stands. I'd put my foot down and insist on them. Be stern and talk about the worry of having to find another venue just for this small detail. I'm sure they will face if you stay strong. Xxx

I think if you are set on having the stands I would work out how much that would be per person and if you can justify it? Another idea that I have seen people do is get vintage plates from charity shops to serve on (may work out more expensive) but failing all that I don't think people will mind if there are no stands - as a guest I would be more concerned about if there is enough food to go around 😂 good luck! 😊

Buy a stand which you can have after the wedding as a keepsake, and give it to the venue just to serve the top table and for photos
Everyone else can just have plates and they probably won't even notice so long as it tastes good!

I would pay for the stands as it is crucial to your look. However I am not very good at sticking to budget and once ive set my heart on something I want it! x

We had afternoon tea for our wedding and I wouldn't have been happy either if it wasn't served on stands. If I was in your situation, I'd start buying 2nd hand vintage style 3 tiered stands from eBay, charity shops etc, asking friends if they've got one you can borrow, and tell my catering company to use them. Pretty sure you'd get them for a lot less than £340 then you can sell them on afterwards.

Maybe see how much the stands would cost to buy rather than hire? Might cost less, and you can always sell on afterwards

I would want the stands too, I would try and source them elsewhere though as £340 sounds like a lot especially if as you say it’s an intimate wedding.

Buy old vintage plates from charity shops and a tile drill and make your own stands I think you can get the bits needed from eBay fairly cheap it would save you money plus you could then sell them on after the wedding

I’d be getting down to the local charity shops and eBay, buy a selection of stands if it’s w
How you really want it to be served x

Are u set on matching my friend had afternoon tea and got all the stands plates and tea cups from charity shops... it looked amaxing and was under £100 for it all x

eBay sell them starting at £1 if your set on having them can’t you provide your own definitely be cheaper than the price they have quoted you to hire them!

How about these then the China ones to cut cost https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/352156106399

Personally I wouldn't mind as a guest if it wasn't on the stands, however as a bride I would want them. I've just bought some white plant pot stands for the garden from ebay - I think it was about £20 but you'd fit loads on there. Or, I bought 5 x 3 tier cake stands for £27, also ebay. To feed 200 you'd probably need about 40 of them which would total over £200 however cheaper than the hire option and you could sell them on after. Feel free to message me if you want links.
Other option maybe just have some of them on stands to reduce cost but aesthetically pleasing with the theme? Halfy-halfy x

Could you possibly look into buying the disposable ones? I have seen thick, sturdy cardboard type ones for baby showers and things? I imagine there would be different designs on eBay or maybe even wish.com?

I'd get your own stands if not for everyone then at least use one in each table as a centre piece to achieve the overall look of the wedding you wanted then either with flowers on them or maybe a certain cake out of the selection just on centre piece so u get that uniform look. (Think I'd be annoyed as it's a picture you have in your head..it's not a major deal breaker but I wouldn't pay what they want) x

I’m having afternoon tea for my wedding breakfast, luckily enough the catering company that we’re using has them if they didn’t I was pre paired to buy my own as to me that’s part of having afternoon tea.

I would as a guest expect afternoon tea to be on stands but I wouldn't pay them any more money they should have told you before it would look like a posh buffet which is served to you on plates but it's how you feel about it and what you have paid but I would be disappointed if my venue told me this but it's about you and your husband it's your day not the food but whatever you decide hope you have a lovely day x

What about something like this from Hobbycraft? Or you can get ones made of vintage crockery that could easily be sold on (or make your own by raiding charity shops and using fittings from eBay) https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/three-tier-pink-polka-dot-ceramic-cake-stand/625941-1000?glCountry=GB&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh7zWBRCiARIsAId9b4o7KE54miprCnqF30F_BTLHnjwPdt24V9xVD-onPMkEM1BqBH10ZE0aAkfyEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-3-Tier-Cake-Plate-Stand-Cupcake-Fittings-Silver-Golden-Wedding-Party-UK-STOCK-/253230265458

I would like it done properly....can you buy them yourself ...I have just started am afternoon tea business in your own homes....we bought bits online at a fraction of that costs x

I don't know how many you need but you can buy them on eBay for £5-10 each then re-sell them afterwards.

If you're that worried look at hiring the stands from another company- should be able to do it cheaper x

I'm sure your day would be beautiful no matter how your food is served however if the stands are something that you want, then I wouldn't compromise. Have you asked if suppling your own stands would be an option? xx

If that’s what u want then u have it it’s ur day not there’s if there happy to share ur special day then there pay whatever xx

Talking Tables Truly Scrumptious Floral 3 Tier Cake Stand for Tea Party, Weddings and Birthday Party, Multicolour https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0088GU792/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_124ZAbPYPFBN5

You can get really pretty cardboard ones x

£340 sounds an awful lot especially as you have said it’s an intimate wedding so I’m presuming not that many people? Either they have gone to a very very high end supplier or they have put an on-cost on top to increase their profits! I would also be a bit miffed if all cutlery and was supplied and this turns out to be an extra.

I think it’s worth checking out a few suppliers yourself see if they have put a massive on-cost on themselves and if you find one cheaper point them in that direction and say you’re only willing to pay up to this amount extra for the stands and especially as it’s effectively a hidden extra - considering all afternoon teas are normally severed on stands it’s a pretty standard thing for afternoon tea so would be an expected detail of their offer of ‘afternoon tea’.

On the other hand if it won’t bother you very much and you can’t stretch to it then don’t worry about it, there will be plenty of little details that you put your heart into which will be appreciated by your guests as long as the food is good you will have a great time!

Look into getting your own stands! Look at costs for buying and hiring - that way you know you'll have something you want and love!

Can you provide your own? You can buy them pretty cheap then sell them on afterwards too

Buy your own cake stands, try charity shops, or borrow.

https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/two-tier-porcelain-cake-stand/610156-1000?glCountry=GB&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh7zWBRCiARIsAId9b4qglQ4l9VoqWW_DOKxK5duhRrCac2fiM3Zjs0DZZ91zWS2Bp4OcDEUaAo7XEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Reasonable price and can even be used as centre pieces if dressed up a bit

We are having afternoon tea & like yours our venue does not provide the 3 tier stands so we have purchased these ourselves but using the venues crockery, knives etc...

have you looked into buying your own? maybe get some second hand ones ebay or amazon maybe? xxxx

Make your own! Just buy second hand plates and drill holes in, plenty of instructions on Pinterest. They will seem more special as well! Plus you can sell them after and make some money lol.

Go talk to the tea rooms in burton that serve their tea on cake stands they might do you a deal

Have a look on sellmywedding.co.uk there's 10 for £125

https://www.sellmywedding.co.uk/view-item/?id=12606

Just found this, hopefully it’s useful to you!! X

We are having afternoon tea as our wedding breakfast and we are not having stands. Its up to you as to whether it is important to you or not. The food is more important to me x

U can buy second hand plates from charity shops and buy the kits for makin the stands..also try charity shops or put adverts in your local shops.someone will have some .x

Only you !
Love you

Scour charity shops for them. Then after the wedding you can sell them on.

I would say it should be served on stands I work for a venue that does weddings and whoever quoted u that for cake stands is insane ask the venue to hire them in for u we would defo do this if asked luckily we have a massive stock of cake stands xxx

Hi we hire or sell or vintage cake stands if you need any help
https://www.facebook.com/beespokeandbeautiful/posts/1780048055349917