Is it ok to ask the people that you invite to your wedding to bring food?

Me and my fiance both live in a small town and both of us have TONS of family that also live in the same town. The problem is that we don't have a lot of money for the wedding. I don't want to not invite everyone because I want them all there, plus I think it would really hurt their feelings. The main thing I am worried about is paying for the food. If we provide the main course is it ok to ask our guests to bring a dish with them in place of a gift?
Is it ok to ask the people that you invite to your wedding to bring food?
I would ask a few close relatives if they could do this for you in lieu of a wedding gift but do NOT ask it of all your guests as it will come across as a demand or payment for attending the wedding...





in this way, you family will be 'throwing' your reception for you...perfectly acceptable. To ask or require a food item in order to attend your wedding.....not that acceptable.
Reply:For my wedding, we asked my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law (who is a chef) if they could handle the food. They were happy to do it. We didn't have enough money to pay for catering service either. That was my mother-in-law and brother-in-laws wedding gift to us. And if you want, you can help make it too. But you should not ask your guests to bring food. Just ask someone in your immediate family if they could do it and to make it there gift to you.
Reply:Not a problem at all. Chances are they all know how much food/catering costs and how much money you have or don't have. Many people will still bring a gift and a dish to pass.


Don't worry about it. The other option is to just have a few people help with the food in place of a gift. That way 90% of the people will bring gifts and 10% will help you with the food.
Reply:I think thats a great idea if thats your situation, i've been to weddings where the guests contribute to the days proceedings and its been great. There is no rule of thumb on what you should and shouldn't do. You could focus your entire wedding on having the guests create the atmosphere. Ask them all to bring one flower as well and place empty vases about the venue to make really unusual bouquets/flowerpieces etc etc.
Reply:its called a pot luck reception and i went to two of them last year the bride had close family make the larger meat items and asked the rest of us to do deserts or bring fruit





what i would sugest is ask them what ever they bring if it can feed about 30 ppl ie potato salad for 30 cole slaw for 30 30 cupcakes





i would also ask everyone to write down recipes of there dish and offer a few packs of index cards and pens so people can copy what they liked down
Reply:What you're going to hear is a lot of NO... what I'd actually suggest is to ask FAMILY members... not necessarily every invited guest.





Some people say it's tacky and some say it's okay - it really depends on your relationship with the people you intend to ask to bring food.





Congratulations and best of luck!
Reply:You'd be better off just serving cake and dessert and having a "cake and punch" reception than having people bring food. Call it a dessert reception. That way you'll have enough money to feed everyone and don't have to worry about the potluck thing. You can have more than just wedding cake too.
Reply:Call it a potluck, and yes that is totally ok. Martha Stewart suggest it!





It is a fun way to save money and have food that everyone will love. What is a barbeque or big family dinner without Uncle John's world famous potato salad?





Congratulations!
Reply:I went to a wedding that we brought food instead of a gift it was a small wedding so we didn't have to make a lot. I would say go ahead and tell your guest what you want after all it is your wedding. Good luck.
Reply:Can you rent a hall and get tables and chairs? Tell everyone that you want to have a potluck dinner. It is your wedding after all.
Reply:I think you can make it work. Ask aunts and uncles to bring specific specialties. They would probably be honored.
Reply:It is absolutely OK and everyone will have a great time bringing their dishes and watching other people enjoy them.
Reply:It's kind of tacky but I guess you could say that in lieu of gifts...or maybe just ask family to bring food.
Reply:For an informal wedding that seems like a nice idea