What is the proper way to have a wedding reception? A sit down meal or finger food?

I am planning to get married, and I was wondering what is the proper way to have a reception

There is no real "proper" way to have a reception. It all depends on your budget and where you are located. The number of guests will also be determined by your budget. While a lot of couples think that doing a cocktail reception is cheaper, it really isn't by much. If a plated option isn't working with your budget, then you can either cut the guest list down or have a buffet reception.

Either way, it just depends on what your budget will allow you to do.

you can do either. A buffet style works well. Finger foods can be a little costly though. We are having a buffet style with 2 diff. meats, 4 varities of sides and 2 diff. desserts besides the cake.

A sit down meal (or even buffet)

I think a cocktail reception w/ hor d'oevures is just too informal.

But, then again, where I'm from you have cocktail hour, then a 3 course sit down dinner and dessert table w/ wedding cake. You also have complete open bar.

But, then again, I've learned on here that this is not typical.

I was raised finger food because everything is beatiful and light at a wedding, you don't want to sit down and have everybody spilling stuff everywhere or be full and heavy.

It's proper to provide your guests with a meal. It doesn't have to be a plated meal - most people have buffets, which can be as elegant or simple as you plan.

If you want to have dancing its best to have a full meal, this would be more of the traditional 4-5 hour recption. If you want to do a finger foods reception, it would be more of a cocktail reception lasting no more than 2 hours and would generally be held in the early afternoon, not at dinner time.

that would be up to you. if you can't choose, try having a variety of things

I would do a sit down buffet dinner. it is one of the nicest and cheapest affairs to go to. we had that in our first wedding and now in our second renewal wedding. find a good caterer and have a good time...

It depends. What time is your wedding going to be? If you are having an evening/night wedding you might want to think about serving dinner, if it's morning or afternoon finger food is ok.
BUT I ahve been to both and they have been completely opposite if what I just said.
It's really up to you how you want to approach that.
The most important thing is to do what is going to make YOU and Your future spouse happy not everyone else!

People do either, depending on their tastes, budget and what type of thing they are hoping to have.

a wedding reception is whatever you want it to be, but most I've been to are sit down meals or buffest. if your not doing a meal and are doing finger foods then thats fine, but make sure it says that on the invite or else people are going to come hungry thinking there will be dinner and may not be able to fill up on finger foods which might cause people to leave early.

it is totatlly up to you. take the cost into consideration. sometimes the cost for a dinner is way more.

good luck

Either is proper, it depends on your budget and what you want. Finger foods can be very expensive and time consuming to make. Dinners can be expensive also if you have it catered. I would weigh the cost from estimates and go from there. Only you know what you can afford.

Depends on what time of day your reception is. If it is around lunch or dinner time then I would say have either a buffet or sit-down dinner. If it is in the middle of the afternoon, have finger foods.

You could do a budget-smart buffet even if finances are tight. Check with local restuarants who cater.

Either is perfectly proper. The thing that makes the difference there is what time you hold the reception. If it is being held at a time when people normally expect a full meal, then give them a meal. If it's in between, then appetizers and finger foods are fine.

Anything from punch and cake to a four-course formal meal is perfectly proper, so long as it is served at the proper time.

Both are "proper". Many factors will decide which is best for you.

Time of day does play a part though. For instance it wouldn't really be proper to serve only appitizers at a peak mealtime like 6pm when people havn't had a chance to get a full dinner.

I don't think there's a "proper" way to do it. I've been to receptions where it was just appetizers and finger foods, ones where there were only desserts, ones with plated meals and ones with buffets. It's totally up to your preferences, tastes and budget!

both are fine.

i had a buffett and everyone loved the food.

A sit down meal with place cards is always more formal, then you dont have a million people rushing around in a buffet line!
Much easier to deal with and its very nice, I had a sit down dinner at a country club, it was wonderful!

Actually you might consider sit down meal for something
FANCY.Or you can get finger food for a nice, simple,
wedding.But you know, there is no proper way, and hey,
it's YOUR wedding and choose the one you feel most comfortable with.
Hugs and kisses,
PRETTYBRUNNETE :}

We are planning to have ours at home. So it will be more informal. But I still want it to be beautiful. We have planned a buffet of finger foods, cold cuts, cheeses and such. Then for people who want something more substantial, we are having a hot pasta dish. Desserts to follow and cake. So I guess it is a combo. lol
What i guess I am saying is these days you do what ever you want or whatever your budget can stretch to.
Good luck