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An hors d'oeuvres reception is a great option for a small wedding. It's a reliably new option on the wedding scene, something more than a traditional champagne and dessert reception and less than a meal. You can easily create a festive atmosphere where everyone gets to socialize, and you can serve creative, tasty tidbits for less than the cost of a full meal. If you are catering your wedding yourself, or if preparing the food is a communal effort, an hors d'oeuvres menu is fun and easy to tackle.
Unlike a cocktail reception, which requires a well-stocked bar, the alcohol at an hors d'oeurves reception is usually limited to a champagne cocktail.
An hors d'oeuvres reception generally lasts 2-3 hours, at a time of day when guests would not be expecting a full meal, so they are most appropriate after a wedding that takes place at about two o'clock in the afternoon or in the evening.
Let your guests know not to expect a full meal. Include a note or line with your invitation. Appropriate word would be:
"Hors d'oeuvres reception to follow at ______ (insert time)"
Serve heavy tidbits, not just vegetables and dip, since people will also be drinking alcohol.
The little bites can be served from a buffet or passed on trays, or a combination of both. Having at least some of the food passed on trays helps set the tone that this is a special event and ensures that your guests do not spend a lot of time hovering around the buffet table.
Although an hors d'oeuvres reception is not as labor intensive as a serving a full meal, you will want some people on hand to help with food and beverage service. If you are using a caterer, their experienced staff can be very helpful. If a professional caterer is not in your budget, hire some responsible young people and hire an on-site coordinator. You'll want someone with food service experience so that they can instruct your servers.
Have a cake-cutting ceremony half-way through the reception. Make a moment of it, with one or two short toasts that bring everyone in the room together.
Middle Eastern Stuffed Dates Hors d'Oeuvre Recipe
One or two sweet hors d'oeuvres make a nice counterpoint in an otherwise savory menu. These Middle Eastern stuffed dates, datils rellenos, are a popular Sephardic treat brought to us by Gil Marks in his fabulous cookbook, The World Of Jewish Desserts: More Than 400 Delectable Recipes.
Ingredients for Stuffed Dates Hors d'Oeuvres
Makes 36 hors d'oeuvres
* 1 cup almond paste
* 36 medium (1 pound) pitted dates
* C cup dried apricots
Instructions
1. Mince the dried apricots and stir them into the almond paste.
2. Slit the dates open lengthwise, form the paste into thin rolls, place in the center of each date, and press to close.
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Source by Maria Bywater
