5 hour cocktail party buffet

tina83 Posted: Jun 05, 2003 09:19 AM

5 hour cocktail party buffet

Have any ladies look into this type of wedding yet? i don't want a sit down dinner

rosebud Posted: Jun 05, 2003 09:23 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

I am having what they call an 'extended cocktail party'. I do not want a sit down dinner either.

Some people are under the impression that this is more reasonable, but that is not the case (at least where we looked). Some places even charged more for it, but where we booked it is exactly the same price as a sit-down.

If you have any questions at all please FM me...I love talking to other brides who are opting to do this! It makes me less nervous b/c it is still not the norm - one of the reasons we are doing it.

Our wedding is also a Sat. afternoon, on the water, the day before the 4th of July - so, who wants to sit down??? NOT ME!!!

Good luck with your planning!

Sandy&Ben Posted: Jun 05, 2003 09:27 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

we're having a cocktail reception. following the typical one-hour preliminary cocktail hour, we are going into the dining room where the cocktail hour will continue for another 2 hours. then dessert. i have been to soo many weddings where everyone says 'i wish the cocktail hour lasted longer' or 'wouldn't it be great if we could get this food inside the ballroom instead of the sit-down dinner' so i decided to do it! we still have some details to work out but my reception place has done this before and assures me it will be great!

gertyrae Posted: Jun 05, 2003 10:49 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

We are having a 'cocktail reception'. The first hour is in the cocktail hour room with passed hors'd euvres only. Then the guests go into the main room where there is a preset(mozzarella and tomato, i think). After the introduction, the maitre'd is going to go to the tables and let the guests know that the buffet is open. We are doing the buffet as stations so that there isn't one long line...hopefully. Good luck

karen32 Posted: Jun 05, 2003 10:55 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

i looked into having a cocktail reception, but found the prices to be higher than a sit-down. according to the places i visited - the cost is more due to 1) increased number of waitstaff if you're having passed cocktails and 2) more labor intensive to make 1000's of individual cocktails as opposed to 100 dinners. in the end, i couldn't see spending the extra money, but that's just me.

good luck!!!!

Jan60504 Posted: Jun 05, 2003 10:59 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

We're having 1 hour cocktail hour with passed hors'd euvres and then the 'light dinner buffet' will be opened. But the passed hors'deuvres will be passed for another whole hour as well overlapping when the buffet opens and also helpful because we're not going to be in one big ballroom but have the run of a townhouse with a courtyard. I'm hoping between the space we have to roam and the 2 hours of passed hors'deuvres all people won't head for the buffet at once!

My cocktail reception will be from 4-5 hours. They'll probably cut the cake after the 3rd hour and then it just depends on when the guests decide to leave (but we have to pay overtime)

kelly6273 Posted: Jun 05, 2003 11:00 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

I am actually having a six hour cocktail reception. There will be food stations all over the room served until we say so. No difference in price at my place for this.

butterfly20 Posted: Jun 05, 2003 11:01 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

at my prom(carlton on the park) they did 'stations' set up in the corner of the room.. like one chicken station, one beef etc... there was no assigned seats... you just walked around and got what you wanted.. I thought that was a nice alternative to formal sit down.. and plenty of food

swags1016 Posted: Jun 05, 2003 11:10 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

This is what we wanted. They called it a Gatsby style wedding. We were told:

1) With 200 most places would not do it (Timberpoint was the only one that would)

2) Many places tried to turn it into a buffet which is not what we wanted.

3) Several places would not even see us

We gave up and we are having a sit down dinner

christine1221 Posted: Jun 05, 2003 11:33 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

I actually would have preferred this style of wedding vs the formal sit down. I always said the best wedding would be a long cocktail hour ... lots of dancing & desert! Who wants to sit down to eat on a Sat night at 10:30 PM?! I'd rather dance all night & not be interrupted so many times!

good luck!!! I hope this works out for you!!

maysie18 Posted: Jun 06, 2003 12:34 PM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

It may take some doing but a cocktail party reception can def. be done & beautifully!

My mom got remarried last July 5. She & her hubby were both married before & didnt' want a typcial reception.

They had a cocktail party at the Top of the Tower in midtown Manhattan - it was BEAUTIFUL!!! Hor derves (sp) were passed throughout the evening & there was no alcohol served except champagne & wines. She became bridezilla for a sec when they bought out those little hot dogs in bun which she specifically said NOT to be served, but they quickly got rid of it. A piano played throughout the reception. & the view was fabulous! Windows went all the way around w/terraces & you could see the city from all angles.

I was her MOH & honestly thought it would be a very boring affair, but it was really beautiful & she got nothing but compliments.

It took them awhile to find a place to accomodate their requests, but in the end it was worth the search! Good luck!

Edited to add: it wasn't cheap - I think she paid $75-$85/pp, but the service was excellent & they got the reception they wanted so it was all good.

wacky Posted: Jun 06, 2003 01:09 PM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

Thats what I wanted and got turned down. I still want that, I think it will just as much fun as a traditional wedding

Good luck

gertyrae Posted: Jun 07, 2003 02:24 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

I just wanted to add that there were a few places we went to that said they wouldn't do it, period.
Some places charge more, but we ended up with a few who would do it at a reasonable price. The Meadow Club and The Vineyard both charged less. I have worked at a country club that does weddings and my FI and I both were set on a cocktail reception. The halls shouldn't have to have more people on for this type of thing cuz it's easier on the waitstaff to just do drinks and clean up tables than take food orders, drinks, yada yada.

dubliner Posted: Jun 07, 2003 07:09 AM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

Our friends are doing it in September, I'm really looking forward to it

tina83 Posted: Jun 17, 2003 05:14 PM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

where are they having it?

minniebride14 Posted: Jun 17, 2003 05:15 PM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

I actually think that's a great idea for a sat afternoon on the water in the summer. I would love to be invited to a 'non-traditional' wedding. Don't worry - people will welcome the change!

Sassyz75 Posted: Jun 17, 2003 05:26 PM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

My friend had this at her wedding.. different stations such as middle eastern with hummus, a seafood bar, dim sum & peking duck, etc... for the cocktail hour she had passed hor'ds NO stations- I believe she had served salad & soup...

she had assigned seating and everything else 'normal'... I like the fact that they had served salad and soup because it gives everyone a chance to do toasts, etc... and all the guests are seated..

she also had a small wedding (75 people)... I wouldn't want to be waiting for stations with more than that many guests.

jessnjoey Posted: Jun 17, 2003 05:33 PM

Re: 5 hour cocktail party buffet

I'm doing a midifed version this July at Atlantica..we're having a small wedding 50 people. 1/2 hour passed hor'evers (spelling????)then 2 hours open stations...then hour desert. and yes at my place the cost the actaully the same as a sit down dinner...
But I agree who want to sit down on the beach (in my case) on a July Friday afternoon?????
good luck..I think it's worth looking into !