A question about English weddings please

[meriad]

One rather odd custom (well I think so ) they have here in the UK is that some guests are invited to an evening reception only. Back in SA and in Germany you're either invited to the whole thing or not at all; but hey....

Anyway - Karl, Nadine and I have been invited to a friends wedding; evening bit only. Starting at 7.30pm finishing at midnight. I'm just trying to figure out if there will be food there? I've only been to one "English" wedding and from memory they did serve BBQ'd sausages in a breadroll (so not quite hot dogs a bit more substantial) but I gather that it's not always given there will be food

Do we need to have dinner beforehand do you think / would you recommend?

It's a 2 hour drive for us to get there and poor Karl has said he doesn't mind driving there and back the same day / night so it's going to be a long day for him so I do want to make sure that at the very least he's fed and watered properly

What is normal at these things?

[Workingman]

I would say that those invited to the wedding ceremony are also invited to the 'Wedding Breakfast' as well, so will get food. The Wedding Breakfast, btw, can be at any time of day - it is just what the reception meal is called.

Those invited to the evening reception might, or might not, get a buffet meal, and that depends on the wedding.

To be safe I would take at least some nibbles, just in case.

There is no 'normal' as far as I can tell.

[meriad]

Thanks Frank - we definitely will pack some things into the car

And whilst I'm on a roll asking... what about drinks? Would it usually be a pay bar or some free drinks? I'd hate to go there with just a tenner in my purse to find that I can't even afford a glass of bubbles

[Workingman]

Another unknown, Ria.

Michael's wedding had an open bar till about 8pm, then it became a pay bar.

It was not dear, cheaper than the pubs, and these places have to make money somehow.

Cover both options would be my advice.

Prosecco will deffo not be free.

[Diflower]

Yes, a minefield
Preferably you'd know either the bride/groom/mother/father well enough to ask some basic questions, but we've been to weddings/reception/evening do's totally ignorant too
There is 'almost' always food of some sort, but that can vary from full barbeque to a few bowls of nibbles.
Bars are 'nearly' always paying ones for the evening do - can you google the venue to get a clue??

Unless it's an Indian/Turkish/anything similar wedding, then you'll get several courses of food, 300+ people packed into a basement, and bottles of whisky (cue Osc's special smiley) on every table

Maybe have a decent lunch, pack some sandwiches to have in advance of going in? And bags of crisps/packets of biscuits for after - and bottles of water

[meriad]

Thanks you two

Maybe have a decent lunch, pack some sandwiches to have in advance of going in? And bags of crisps/packets of biscuits for after - and bottles of water

Di, I suspect what we'll do is leave a bit earlier than planned and have a dinner there before we go to the wedding. Nadine and I won't want to be travelling 2 hours in our party frocks so we do want to find somewhere anyway where we can get changed; gastro pub not ideal but it'll do

But good idea re the snacks for the way back - I'm also going to prepare a flask of coffee for Karl so all we have to add is hot water.

[Diflower]

Tripadvisor is your friend

[Workingman]

I am with Di on this.

If you are not stopping over take something that will not spoil to nibble on and drink on the way back.

Whatever happens, enjoy the day and evening, and have a safe journey home.

[miasmum]

I'm not the person to ask, I hate evening do's. I always find some excuse to not go. By the time you get there half the guests are drunk, there's nowhere to sit, people have formed little groups during the day.

But there is usually food and in my experience usually a buffet, which it has to be said do range in substance

[Diflower]

The ones I have been to have not been like that at all Mm, they must vary a lot
The daytime lot have been mainly family, then in the evening more people but a fresh input, friends, work colleagues etc, and all arriving more or less at the same time.