Hi All,

We've booked our reception venue today. We've had a really good deal on the venue, £14.99 per person. This includes a 3 Course Sit Down Meal & Coffee, Wine with the Meal, Bubbly for Speeches, Master of Ceremonies, Colour Co-ordinated Linen, Table Centre Candelabras, Traditional 2 Tier Wedding Cake with Stand & Knife, Complimentary Honeymoon Suite, and Free use of Banqueting Suite for the Evening Party. This is a good job because were on quite a tight budget but I was just wondering whether we would have to add an evening buffet to this? Will people be expecting a buffet? HELP x

Its up to you at the end of the day, whether its what people expect or not. I'm gonna be having one but a lot of ladies on here are just doing light snacks, like bacon butties etc. which would be a much cheaper option than a huge buffet that might not even get eaten! Welcome to ukbride by the way! xx

it all depends on what time you are getting married and on your reception time. If you are going to be going on til late then people wud probably expect something tho you can get bacon or sausage sarnies for people for say £5 pp. i recently went to a wedding where they had sausage sarnies and chips it was nice!! though if you have any vegetarians then maybe have to think of something else for them. hope that helps

we got told as well that you should only cater for 70% of your evening guests as not everyone will want to eat.

I would add an evening buffet tbh. but you could have a late wedding and change the 3 course meal to a buffet for everyone

although it depends if ure familys n friend r big eaters like mine r... my uncles pile there plates very high lol...

If you having a daytime meal and its the same people there all day they may not expect food, but if your inviting others for the evening they may. I guess it depends on your budget as well.

Food soaks up alcohol.

well were catering 4 70 people and that will be plenty and if it isnt its tuff lol thats how i see it people want 2 think them selfs lucky that there getting a invite lol thats how i see it lol

Its always good to have some nibbles etc even if you don't go for the whole banquet. If you are not doing a buffet then I would state on the invites so the guests all know to get something to eat before it starts.

People never eat it all and you always get left overs. We had to cater for 100% of our guests so we just told them we were having the same 60 and then the other 20 that are coming on the night will be unannounced. We won't be going over the fire regs for the room so tough they came at last minute.com. I can't see them counting each head in and out of the room.

My only problem with the evening buffet is that if I say less than the number actually coming, the right number of puddings wont be available as each pudding is individually plated. So if I say 30 to the evening but 50 are actually coming, there will be 20 people who wont get pudding. So I have to cater for 100% of numbers :(

Why not hire an outside catering company? We have been looking at having hot pot at our evening do - and there is a company near me who do it for £1.99 a head (including wedges)