The Cocktail Wedding Reception Requires Careful Planning

Marilyn Chapman shares her insight from the front lines:

The trend for Cocktail Wedding Receptions is definitely gaining in popularity but is somewhat problematic from a Off Premise Catering standpoint. The typical Bridal Client does not understand that a Cocktail Reception with "finger foods" is designed for a short, stand up party with a full liquor bar where the guests generally leave to dine elsewhere.

The Wedding Reception is a much longer party, often 4-6 hours. The real challenge is to convince the client that based on many years of experience that they require more food for a full length evening reception. If they are going to use Cocktail Foods they will need a large amount of it.

There is also a common but false perception that Hors D' Oeuvres should be less expensive than a full meal. I routinely have to explain that the Hors D' Oeuvres are made from expensive ingredients and are labor intensive. We explain all this in advance as we have learned that the absolute worst thing that can happen at a wedding is to run out of food.

Cocktail foods are not very filling and running out of food can and will happen at a full length evening reception without careful planning. In fact, it will be the Families and Bridal Party that will miss out on the food!

We work very hard to make the event a success which is not about up selling in this case although often the customer does not understand that. I can usually can add a Station - either a Carving Station or Pasta Station with exotic breads for the same budget but the issue is frequently one of their "Vision". This is where I meet with the most resistance and have to tread very carefully.

I advise them to put "Hors D' Oeuvre Reception" on the Wedding Invitation, to consider their male guests with hearty appetites, and to recognize that most guests will have been gone from home for hours preparing for the event. I also strongly encourage seating, if not tables, for a wedding which is most often a multi-generational event. This is where I lose some clients altogether. The "Vision" of a stand up Cocktail Lounge Wedding for 4-6 hours is attractive but just does not work as guests get belligerent and demand seating from the the Catering staff who can not provide it.

Marilyn Chapman
Wedding Event Coordinator

Delectables Fine Catering, Inc.
"The Bay Area's Most Prestigious Caterer"
969 Virginia Avenue, Inc.
Palm Harbor, FL 34683

E-mail: info@delectablescatering.com