Food - We are going to do our own food! This way it will have to be good!

Would family members coming to the reception be willing to help? It's sort of a family tradition for my family to make the food for reception--the hard part I have found is asking. But, if you think they'd be willing to ask people to make some of the food. We're having finger rolls with chicken salad, ham salad, sliced ham and sliced turkey, chips & dip, veggie platter, fruit salad, pasta salads, green salad, meatballs, baked beans, macoroni and cheese and so on.
Good luck!

Sandwiches are good when they are easy to eat. For sandwiches I recommend something bite sized.

Also, how about Mini burgers?

Mini meat balls as hor d'oeurves, served on cute toothpicks?

Bruschetta?

What about platter ideas? Cheese platter, meat platter, veggie platter, fruit platter? I imagine they are easy to put together as well as inexpensive if you buy in bulk.

I don't recommend anything "messy" for a buffet style reception. Anything that involves carrying tomato sauce items from buffet to tables is never a good idea. Anything that is difficult to carry, that might be sliding on plates or might go bad if left standing for too long should be avoided.

I would also avoid saucy items.

For drinks, what about a coffe, tea station especially open during dessert?

Thanks guys! I love the meatball idea and mini burgers, how fun. Let me know if you think of anything else! ;o)

We recently had a heavy hors dourves affair at my church for the anniversary & there were some delicious, simple & affordable foods that you may be interested in, which were all purchased from Sams Club. Even though they were simple choices, people got full & were very impressed with the taste & especially the presentation & layout. You could have chips & dip, as long as its displayed in a pretty way.

Caprese-we made this Italian appetizer & placed on a silver platter. Has fresh slices of mozzarella & tomatoes, with Italian dressing & basil. Very good.
Shrimp cocktail- small, acrylic, clear cups (size of a swish cup) were purchased from party store & partially filled with cocktail sauce, then 3 shrimp were hooked around tops of cups.
Veggie Cups- The same little clear cups were paritally filled with ranch dip & celery sticks & carrot sticks were placed inside.
Fruit skewers, or fruit parfait in clear cups are always pretty.
Chicken skewers are good...add peppers, mushrooms, or nothing at all with a teriyaki or bbq dipping sauce.
TGIF frozen foods has these battered greenbeans that you just heat in the oven. They were a big hit!
Mini quiches are good too. Hope some of this helps.