Cocktail Reception

[Heather333]

I was thinking of having a Recption with just appetizers and drinks (both alcholic and non). I was walking through the greenhouse of a nearby nursery and thought that I would be great to have it inside a greenhouse. Having the waterfalls and small portable ponds with Koi fish, windchimes, strings or white christmas lights, and all that greenery. It would be beautiful. However it can get quite warm in there. Does anyone know if it would be warm inside at night in the early fall (September 23rd 2006)? And does anyone know where a greenhouse is (MA area) that I could use for the reception? And do you think my guests would be upset that I'm not having a meal for them?

[Kelly1Mickey]

I don't have any help about the greenhouse, but I think a cocktail reception is fine as long as it is not during a meal hour and that you it is clear to your guests that it is a cocktail reception.

[Marsha]

HEY HEATHER,
well try a botinical garden or arboretum(sp) i dont think a cocktail reception is bad i love that idea. It just seems that you might want to do it before the dinner hours come into play.(before 5 definitly)

try this for an idea.

have your ceremony, and cocktail reception. and then you and your new
HUSBAND can go to a verry romantic dinner for 2. or go back to your hotel and enjoy some room service.

[Heather333]

have your ceremony, and cocktail reception. and then you and your new
HUSBAND can go to a verry romantic dinner for 2. or go back to your hotel and enjoy some room service.

That is a fantasic idea. Maybe having a private dinner for just the bridal party and our parents. hmmmmm. Thanks for the idea.

[Heather333]

The Cocktail Reception is a no go. I talked to my finacee last night and he felt that since alot of our guest will be coming from out of town that we should have something a bit more for them. Its a very good point so we decided to go with a full dinner. We still have to decided between a buffett or a sit down.

[sfo]

Well maybe then, I can take up this thread.

Our reception will be a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres.
It will take place in San Francisco.
Church at 6:30 pm and Reception from 8pm to 1am

Question:
1.
if it is an open bar, do I need a liquor license? I'm not selling any alcohol, just providing it for my guests.

2.
trying to save money, can anyone suggest Hors D'oeuvres that would go well in this kind of setting?
Here
http://sfwmpac.org/greenroom/gr_index.html

Thanks very much

SFO

[kyzmit]

I like buffets a lot better. I'm a vegetarian and other people have dietary restrictions and it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to say "here are your choices. eat up" than "here's your food; if you don't like it, suck it up" which I actually have been told more than once; some people are extremely rude, others don't realize that it's beyond a choice at this point. I haven't eaten meat in 15 years and any time I accidentally do have a tiny piece, I essentially end up with a few days of food poisoning.

Anyways, so especially if you have vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, food allergies... buffet is so much easier.

[Kelly1Mickey]

Well maybe then, I can take up this thread.

Our reception will be a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres.
It will take place in San Francisco.
Church at 6:30 pm and Reception from 8pm to 1am

Question:
1.
if it is an open bar, do I need a liquor license? I'm not selling any alcohol, just providing it for my guests.

2.
trying to save money, can anyone suggest Hors D'oeuvres that would go well in this kind of setting?
Here
http://sfwmpac.org/greenroom/gr_index.html

Thanks very much

SFO

Are you providing the liqour yourself? If your venue or the caterer are providing they will have the license.

[kyzmit]

Well maybe then, I can take up this thread.

Our reception will be a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres.
It will take place in San Francisco.
Church at 6:30 pm and Reception from 8pm to 1am

Question:
1.
if it is an open bar, do I need a liquor license? I'm not selling any alcohol, just providing it for my guests.

2.
trying to save money, can anyone suggest Hors D'oeuvres that would go well in this kind of setting?
Here
http://sfwmpac.org/greenroom/gr_index.html

Thanks very much

SFO

1) I think it can depend on the location and local laws; Mine's at my uncle's farm (private property), so I don't need a liquor license... at least... I'm not getting one since I don't expect it to get rowdy and I'm related to most of the local cops... legally, I'm actually not sure. Since I'm getting my own alcohol instead of getting it from the caterer, even though they have a liquor license, they can't serve it. If I was having them serve it, they would have to provide it and have a liquor license to serve it.

2) I'm having a vegetable crudite platter and a cheese and cracker platter; I think they can work anywhere (but mine does have a dinner, not just hors d'ouevres). I'd also recommend... sliced fruit and dip... one of my friends makes these little bite things that are incredible... I can't think of the name of the vegetable, but all I can think is avacado, asparagus... it's a spread that usually has crackers... anyways, he makes little cups out of crescent roll dough, cooks them most of the way, then puts the stuff on it and cooks it a little more... I know I'm making no sense, but it's good and what I thought of, so... :p

[Kelly1Mickey]

I like buffets a lot better. I'm a vegetarian and other people have dietary restrictions and it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to say "here are your choices. eat up" than "here's your food; if you don't like it, suck it up" which I actually have been told more than once; some people are extremely rude, others don't realize that it's beyond a choice at this point. I haven't eaten meat in 15 years and any time I accidentally do have a tiny piece, I essentially end up with a few days of food poisoning.

Anyways, so especially if you have vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, food allergies... buffet is so much easier.

I agree with you..I much prefer buffets at weddings. I have never been to a sit down weddinf where the food was not cold when it was served. And the portions were TINY! With a buffet, people have more choices and the servers aren't trying to get 150 hot meals out all at once!

[kyzmit]

I agree with you..I much prefer buffets at weddings. I have never been to a sit down weddinf where the food was not cold when it was served. And the portions were TINY! With a buffet, people have more choices and the servers aren't trying to get 150 hot meals out all at once!
Yeah... most of the (few) weddings I've been to have been buffet... and almost all the banquets (even the ones that didn't really have choices of food) and I have to say... the one plated wedding I went to... sucked. People weren't considerate enough to wait until everyone at their table had food... the food was either cold or way too hot, depending on when it was put on the plate... and I kinda half picked at the couple things I could eat that weren't right smashed up against something else I didn't like... most of my food was left untouched and I felt really bad since they'd paid for me to not eat. They actually had 2 receptions (lunch and the regular reception stuff at the reception hall, then going back to his father's house for more appetizers and stuff). I ended up going to a restaurant to scarf some food down in between the two.

[reecey]

Well maybe then, I can take up this thread.

Our reception will be a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres.
It will take place in San Francisco.
Church at 6:30 pm and Reception from 8pm to 1am

Question:
1.
if it is an open bar, do I need a liquor license? I'm not selling any alcohol, just providing it for my guests.

2.
trying to save money, can anyone suggest Hors D'oeuvres that would go well in this kind of setting?
Here
http://sfwmpac.org/greenroom/gr_index.html

Thanks very much

SFO

What a beautiful room! As for the liquor license, you won't need a full fledged license, that'll be up to the establishment and location - you'll have to ask them if you'll need a permit. You may want to consider or at least ask about liability. Each state and even some counties and cities are different on these ordinances.

As for what type of food - what do you like? I've seen everything from beanie-weenies to mahi and cream stuffed mushroom caps and focaccia bread with an aziago cheese dip. are you looking to do the menu yourself or have it catered?