Is anybody going for an 'afternoon tea' style wedding breakfast

im trying to work out if an afternoon tea style wedding breakfast will work for day guests and if it will be cheaper...

i don't want to not feed people enough but as it's a summer wedding we don't 'have' to have the whole hot 3 course meal but then i don't want it to only be sweet things, how have others found the afternoon tea? either as a guest or if you are doing it at your own wedding?

so the day guests would have the following...

2pm ceremony

2.30- 3.30pm a selection of canapes (4 each) and champagne after the ceremony

(pictures/mingling etc)

4pm afternoon tea style sit down meal including sandwiches, cakes, scones and then im thinking a couple of cheese and pate boards to bulk it out or maybe something else savoury e.g mini tartlets/quiches on each table with a couple more glasses of champagne (or tea if they want!!)

then the evening will start at 7/7.30pm and an evening buffet will come out (more substantial/hot food etc) around 8-9pm

will the day guests starve? any suggestions on how to bulk it out? or has anyone done a 3 course type afternoon tea but with different things bought out at different times e.g trio of mini tarlets to start, selection of mini sandwiches/scones for 2nd course and selection of mini cakes etc for dessert or is that just silly?

i've got so many random ideas in my head i can never seem to contain them and think rationally so any sensible ideas welcome!

also if anyone is going for afternoon tea, how did the cost compare to a tradition 3 course? and what does it include?

x

I went to a wedding like this last year. It sort of worked except the unruly kids ate the cakes before the adults had had the sandwiches - one reason we're not having kids at our wedding! Each round table had a traditional afternoon tea stand on it, with sandwiches on the bottom, then pastries, then scones/cream/jam. There were also trays of ciabatta with various toppings that didn't make it to the posh stands, but were laid out on a buffet table to the side, so there was extra if anyone wanted it.

Just make sure that kids know a) not to touch food they aren't going to eat, b) not to eat more than their share and c) not to eat cakes until all adults have finished their sandwiches and the table as a whole is ready to start the next "course". The kids at that wedding totally ruined it for me - I hardly had anything to eat since I don't think a sandwich a child has half licked then put back, is acceptable food!

We went to a wedding where they had this. We had a few sandwiches and a cream tea scone....there didn't seem to be much to go around as some people on the table took loads before realising they're wouldn't be enough for everyone. We were all very hungry after and all the boys sneaked out to get a KFC! 

We are having a cream tea and sandwiches at 3pm (2pm ceremony). Then a hog roast and BBQ with lots of accompliments as the 'wedding breakfast' served at 7pm.

I think its nice if the afternoon tea is served in the traditional manner on cake stands with teapots etc at the table but if it just served buffet style i think it can end up looking a bit corporate lunch IMO.

I stumbled on this company the other day that you might be able to use or steel a few ideas from.  http://vintagepatisserie.co.uk/

thanks for the input, it's hard to imagine when you haven't experienced it at another wedding! we aren't having children at the wedding so no worries on the sandwich licking!! haha ew! but like some of you have said we would need to make sure there was enough and not just a few nibbles! thanks for the website suggestion i will have a nosey! i really like the idea and it is looking to come up cheaper, we would serve it on cake stands on the tables for people to share not like a buffet! mmm...it's another idea in the pot anyway! god knows how im ever going to settle on one...thanks!! x

Sounds good to me, especially if you bulk it out with a few quiches, pies or tartlets of some sort

We are having a 'mini' tea party in the morning with only sweet things like cupcakes etc, then a meal, then a buffet at night, i would have liked to do a high tea type wedding breakfast but unfortunately it would have worked out more expensive at the venue than their caterers!!

S x

We did this and it worked really well.  We had a first "course" of different types of sandwiches on vintage cake stands, and then a 2nd course of all sorts of cakes, scones + jam etc.  The sandwiches were really high quality, not just ham on soggy white bread or anything, and there was loads, so everyone was full.  In the evening we had wedding cake, an ice cream truck and nibbles and it worked out fine.

It wasn't cheaper though, because they had to "design" the menu for us rather than just make one of their usual staples, and because we specified that we wanted something really special.

Mrs*W*2B:

 

4pm afternoon tea style sit down meal including sandwiches, cakes, scones and then im thinking a couple of cheese and pate boards to bulk it out or maybe something else savoury e.g mini tartlets/quiches on each table with a couple more glasses of champagne (or tea if they want!!)

then the evening will start at 7/7.30pm and an evening buffet will come out (more substantial/hot food etc) around 8-9pm

This is exactly what we're doing. Afternoon tea at 4pm, bbq at 8pm. We're not having canapes so we're a bit concerned about people being hungry. We haven't yet decided if we're doing canapes yet.

Its not cheaper though. In fact its £30 per head.

Yes, we are. We're having sandwiches, scones, and petit fours. Our ceremony is at 2pm, we're having canapes then we'll sit down about 4.30pm. We're then having a hog roast at 8pm when the evening guests arrive. We've also put 'afternoon tea reception' in the invite so people are aware! We've bought cake stands as the centre pieces for each table where scones/cakes can go. 

If I were doing this, I'd do the 1st course savoury things, then, have the 2nd course sweet things.  This would slow people down with the eating & seem like more food.

I'd also make it clear on the invites or order of the day, that the wedding breakfast is afternoon tea style with the evening buffet later.  Otherwise people may just have a small breakfast or none at all, thinking they will have a hearty, 3 course meal.  If people are made aware beforehand thats its a lighter style meal, they can be prepared & know what the expect.

You could add variety to the sandwiches by adding various wraps, pinwheel sanwhiches, mini kebabs on skewers, fritatta, stuffed eggs, brushetta, toasted goats cheese crostini etc.

Hi

I was bridesmaid at my friends wedding last weekeend that was exactly what you are after and it worked a treat. We had the ceremony at half 1 then some photos outside (bit chilly!) then a short coach journey to a village hall. We arrived there at around 3.30/4pm and had canapes and a glass of bubbly for an hour or so and then everyone went down to their table for afternoon tea. There were sandwiches, sausages rolls and some little savoury pastries and loads and loads of cake. The caterer that my friend hired was amazng and they kept coming round to top up the cakes and sandwiches as they were being eaten. I was stuffed by the end. Then there were speeches about 5.4/6pm and then there was an hour break between that and the band  starting and the evening guests arriving. I know the bride was worried about this hour but it worked out really well. People just stayed chatting at their tables and cracked open the alcohol (as we had only had tea with our sandwiches) and the time flew by. Before we knew it it was first dance time and cake cutting and then the band started and we danced until 11.30pm.  BTW The evening food was just some party food at 7pm like crisps and cheese and cracker etc, then at 9.30pm the caterer made bacon rolls for everyone which went down a charm. I was a little worried how it would all work out, and it was a lot more work than a 'wedding venue' as there were 10 of us there the day before setting up tables/chairs and bunting etc., but the day itself went so well I would definitely recommend it if you want to save a bit of money. I know my OH was concerned he woudl be hungry and it woudl be broing, but he admitted that he'd a great time and his fill of food.

My biggest recommendation would be is to get the right caterer. My friend had originally booked with another caterer who was offering a lot less food for the same price and then also added a massive fee for her waiting staff at the last minute (she claimed they needed to be paid £14 a hour and all of them should be there for a minimum of 7 hours!!) After a last minute change of caterer the price stayed the same as the firsdt original quote but the amount of food increased to invlove canapes and more food per person during the afternoon tea aswell. So try and get a personal reccomendation on the caterer. I would recommend the lady we had to you, but she is based in East Sussex and I see you are in Manchester.

i'm really starting to like the idea! we were planning on a slightly (not too OTT) vintage theme so it would go really well thanks for all the recommendations and tips!! i think we would need something extra to bulk it out and really like some of the suggestions so thanks! x