Help - Should I limit choices for menu/drinks at reception?

[happilyeverafter]

We are having a lunch reception at a local restaurant. My Fi and I are at odds on what we should do for the drinks/food menu. We are having 24 including us. We will have appetizers out for everyone while they wait for us to join them. For drinks I had wanted to do beer/wine, and a few specialty "Christmas" drinks, such as spiked apple cider and spiked hot chocolate, and maybe another winter coctail. However Fi worries that people won''t like the selections and will want something else. It is the same with the menu, I want a choice of 3 or 5 menu selections (and to make up my own pretty menues

) but he wants them to be able to choose off the restaurant menu (which is definitely not pretty).

My concern is that we are trying to keep costs down, and i''m afraid if people can choose whatever drinks/food they want it could quickly get very expensive. It isn''t an overly expensive restaurant, but I imagine most people will order a supper entree. But I see Fi''s point, we don''t want people to feel limited/disappointed in the selection either.

Calling all ladies that had their reception in a restaurant - what did/would you do? 24 isn''t that many people, but we do have a budget in mine (albeit a flexible one since it''s a very minimalist wedding).

 

[Pandora II]

Do the restaurant have rules?

In my experience most restaurants would limit you to a choice of 2 or 3 options for each course at best. Many will insist on a set menu.

 

[jcrow]

i would definitely limit the full menu to be able to design your own menu cards. we had our rehearsal dinner at the same restaurant we held our food station reception at. for the rd, we chose 2 menu options for the entree. fish & meat. it was perfect for the guests we were having. we labeled the catfish "The jcrow" and the mignon "The jcrowhub" everyone LOVED the idea.

as far as the drinks, if i were going to a wedding and they had beer, wine and a couple of sig. drinks, i would be More Than FINE with it! I usually stick to my same ole same ole, but i''d be trilled to try new cocktails. and if i didn''t likes, i wouldn''t be too sad to sip on some yummy wine.

 

[Sha]

I think the drink selections you mentioned sound lovely. I think most people attending a wedding would expect to have a set menu.

 

[Independent Gal]

Limiting the menu is COMPLETELY normal, even at a restaurant, as is limiting the bar. I''ve never been to a wedding or other big family event where you could just order whatever you happened to want. It''s like going to someone''s house for dinner: when you''re a guest, you enjoy what is offered.

I''m having my reception at a restaurant, and we will be offering a choice of two appetizers and two mains (plus a veg option) and printing our own menu cards.

In terms of the bar, it''s not only completely normal and COMPLETELY acceptable, it''s also wise. One of my cousins ran up a $1000 bill at my dad''s most recent wedding by spending the evening drinking 25 yr old Mccallan scotch.

We will be limiting the drink selection to things $X dollars and under. That will cover wine options, beer options, mixed drinks (like g&t''s) and a few cocktails. Within that range, people can order what they want. They simply won''t be OFFERED anything else, so it won''t be like they say ''I''ll have a 25 yr McCallan'' and the bar tender says ''NO!'', it simply won''t be ''available''.

Can you ask the restaurant if they can put a $ cap on what htey offer, without specifying what EXACTLY will be offered? Anything $5/8/10 and under, e.g.?

 

[neatfreak]

Our restaurant requires us to limit our entree choices, they won''t let us order off the menu. So I think most people would think it''s the restaurant''s decision not yours.

We''re having wine, beer, champagne, juices, and soda at our luncheon reception. Everyone will have a choice of 2-3 appetizers and entrees.

 

[happilyeverafter]

Wow, thanks ladies! It looks like everyone has the same opinion, offer a limited selection, which is good cause it''s the option I wanted.

I haven''t checked with the restaurant yet to firm up menu ideas, so I don''t know if they even allow ordering off the entire menu, but I just wanted Fi and I to be on the same page when we went in to meet them. Thanks for your help!

 

[Gypsy]

I would do max 5 or 6 choices and no prices listed on the menus. I wouldn't do full menu. People can be irresponsible and inconsiderate, and I wouldn't risk it. At a 'regular' sit down resception people only normally get 2-3 menu options red meat, white meat or fiish, and maybe a vegetarian. So you are already being really accomodating. PLUS the more choices, the less likely the kitchen will get them all out at the same time.

Limiting drinks is fine too. And sensible.

BTW we did this for my lawschool graduation party at al local DC restuarant, it went over GREAT. Everyone gave us compliments on how wonderful the event was.

 

[Sabine]

Going to a wedding with "Christmas-y" drink options like you described would make my night! Great choices!

 

[Jas12]

For sure limit the choices!! This is a wedding, not a dinner party at at restaurant (anyone can do that anytime) now is your chance to put your mark on everything--including the menu.

Immediately following my outdoor ceremony i served a signature pomogranate/strawberry cocktail with fruit skewers and small quotes on each skewer...in addition to beer/wine and soda only. No one complained and everyone loved the personal touch.

At the reception we chose 4 locally brewed signature canadian beer selections and made a sign to highlight these choices. Guests tried drinks they normally wouldn''t and loved it.
At dinner we had a choice of 3 entrees

Your christmasy drinks sound wonderful! ( How about an egg-nog concoction as well--maybe a non-alcoholic eggnog latte ala starbucks? hehe)

Don''t worry about pleasing everyone--that''s impossible, from the sounds of it you have more than enough choice

 

[happilyeverafter]

More excellent advice, thanks ladies!! We will definitely go the "limited choice" route. I love to hear what everyone has done or prefers.

Date: 8/22/2007 7:06:02 PM
Author: Jas12

At the reception we chose 4 locally brewed signature canadian beer selections and made a sign to highlight these choices. Guests tried drinks they normally wouldn''t and loved it.
At dinner we had a choice of 3 entrees

Your christmasy drinks sound wonderful! ( How about an egg-nog concoction as well--maybe a non-alcoholic eggnog latte ala starbucks? hehe)

Jas, great to see another Canuk on the board!

I have seen a few of us around. What prov are you in? I''m in SK. My Fi actually asked if we could do an eggnog drink tonight at supper, so that will definitely be added to the list! Great suggestion.

 

[bastet]

I have to agree with everyone else I work at a caterer''s (in the wedding department!) and having a limited menu is really the best route to go. Just choose 2 or 3 things that almost everyone will like and you should be set. I think you''re on the right track with the drinks menu...having beer wine and signature cocktails is a very good idea.

I know you''ll have a fabulous reception!

 

[Jas12]

Hi Happilyeverafter--i am in Northern Ontario. We had our wedding in the Muskokas.
Ya, there seem to be a few canucks here and there...
keep posting your wedding progress. Did your FI give in to the ''limited choices''?

 

[happilyeverafter]

Date: 8/23/2007 10:05:08 AM
Author: Jas12
Hi Happilyeverafter--i am in Northern Ontario. We had our wedding in the Muskokas.
Ya, there seem to be a few canucks here and there...
keep posting your wedding progress. Did your FI give in to the ''limited choices''?

Haha, yeah he did give in.

I had him read all you lovely ladies'' responses! We go to meet the contact at the restaurant next friday. I sent her a slew of questions via email today to get a lot of questions out of the way. This is one task i''ll be happy to cross off, it''s so much effort, makes me want to have a nap!