• HOME
  • PLANNING GUIDES
  • DIY WEDDING IDEAS
  • FASHION
  • BEAUTY
  • LIFESTYLE + RELATIONSHIPS
  • DIY ENTERTAINING
  • ALL POSTS

How to Plan a Wedding | Wedding Planning Tips | DIY Guides

  • HOME
  • GRAB YOUR FREE WEDDING PLANNING KIT
  • DIY WEDDING STATIONERIES
  • RINGS | BRILLIANT EARTH
  • FREE INVITATION SAMPLES | MINTED
Discussions•Q & A

Do Not Want To Have A Wedding Sit-down Meal?

Do not want to have a wedding sit-down meal? Mingle & Enjoy! Is it normal not to want to have a sit-down meal at a wedding? Considering a cocktail-style wedding instead of a full sit-down dinner? What are the essentials for a cocktail (non-sit-down) wedding? Hosting a cocktail wedding and wondering how you can pull it off? Wondering what are the pros and cons of a cocktail wedding versus a seated (sit-down) wedding? What to consider before planning a cocktail wedding? In this guide, we are sharing our insights on a cocktail-style wedding!



Is it normal to not want to have a sit-down meal at a wedding?

Here is the full question:

“Is it normal to not want to have a sit-down meal? And do a stand-up / hors d’oeuvre and food stations for the reception?”

Absolutely! It is your wedding, and there are no “hard” rules! It will be so much fun!

When choosing a cocktail-style reception instead of a sit-down dinner, there might need to be some things that you will have to pay a little more attention to:

VIBE

It’s a more laid-back, intimate- “take it easy” type of vibe. You can still make it absolutely formal or casual; this is still all up to you. But this is something that you would like to set and advise your guests so that they can prepare ahead (i.e., not wearing super high heels)

TIMING

Since most of the guests are mingling and not actually sitting down, cocktail weddings tend to be shorter in length, which is how you will most likely pocket some savings.

SPACE & DESIGN

Design your cocktail wedding AS IF it is a sit-down wedding. Incorporate your theme and creatively set up areas for your guests to enjoy the experience.

You can still use longer banquet tables but maybe opt for shorter widths since there is not much to be placed on the tables. You still want to consider providing them with areas and make them feel that “full dinner” wedding vibe even at a cocktail reception style.

Of course, you can always speak to a consultant / designer to help you develop great designs and creative options.

Do Not Want To Have A Wedding Sit-down Meal? - comfort

COMFORT

Even when your guests are not sitting down (literally), ensure that there are comfortable lounge areas where they can still hang out and enjoy the night. You will still want them to sit down and lounge.

Mix cocktail/high-top tables with bar stools with cushions, and comfortable lounge seating with tables. We would usually suggest adding a few regular tables if you expect some elderly guests, or even use it as a “grandparents” and “kids” table.

SEATING AREA

Add an extra 10-20% of the seating area. Remember, guests will be grouping themselves, which you have no control over since there will be no assigned seating. Having extra space/s or area/s where they can hang will help with crowd control.

FOOD

Set the mood with light appetizers: bread bites, mini salad cups, mini soup cups, Caprese skewers, and the like. (See how they are literally appetizers but in bite-size form?)

Then go into the mains: pulled pork sliders, mini burgers, falafel balls, chicken and waffles, meatball skewers, mini pizza, mashed potato balls, sushi/poke bites, and the like. (See how these are all heavy hitters? No hungry stomachs in your cocktail wedding for sure!)

Also, consider having signature drink or wine stations for your guests to have access to the “bar” as they walk around and mingle during the whole wedding.

CLEAN-UP STAFF

Ensuring that you have extra bussers is essential. A passed appetizer has such a quick turnaround, meaning guests will be leaving empty plates and glasses on tables quite often.

The last thing you want to see at your cocktail wedding is a pile of dishes on a table – that no one has picked up yet!

SIGNAGE

Have signed up to help your guests navigate the space. It will be a little trickier to find the washroom since everyone is standing! Put up signs to help them know where to go.

Another thing you can share or have on every table and/or lounge area is a breakdown of the timeline.

For example, if entertainers are coming at a specific time, let them know to miss anything if you have your DJ announce what will be happening next, the better.

Here is an article to help you plan your cocktail wedding in detail, and here are some entertainment ideas to ensure you and your guests have a blast!

There you are! Our insight on your question: Is it normal to not want to have a sit-down meal at a wedding?

We are delighted to be able to share our insights! All the best! Happy Planning! xo

All insights and advice provided by the Peppermint & Co. Ltd. Team are generic and should only be used for informational purposes. Read the full disclaimer here.

RELATED GUIDES

Q & A

Are Printed Wedding Menus Necessary?

Discussions

How to Not Stress About Your Wedding

Discussions

Intimate Wedding Guide: Why Should We Do It?

Q & A

Who Pays For The Wedding Rehearsal Dinner?

Discussions

Are drink tickets at a wedding tacky?

Discussions

Reasons To Have A Long Engagement

Q & A

Do We Need Ushers At The Ceremony?

Discussions

At-home Engagement Party Tips: Budget-Friendly

Discussions

The difference when having real bouquet and fake center...


THE AUTHORS: creatives, researchers & event consultants

With over a decade of experience in the wedding and event industry, our designs and planning services have been featured in notable blogs and publications in Canada and the United States. Our team's goal is to share inspirations and guides to help you plan your wedding and event in style while having fun and pocketing some savings along the way!

Inspiring you to celebrate life and love! xo, Maria & the WPR team : Good vibes always bb! ~xo~

Previous Morganite Engagement & Wedding Ring: What you need to know
Next City Hall Wedding Dresses Under $500

Primary Sidebar

Listen to guides on the go!

Spotify

YouTube

PO Box 91156, Bayview Village M2K 2Y6
wpr@peppermintandco.ca

Contact | Advertise | Careers

Guides | Advice from the Experts
Social Events | Fashion
Q & A

Affiliate Disclosure
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2023 How to Plan a Wedding | Wedding Planning Tips | DIY Guides
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT