In this tricky economic climate, engaged couples are becoming increasingly creative with their money-saving measures. Some are hosting smaller weddings, some have scaled back their dream venues and still others are opting for rented, borrowed or pre-worn wedding attire.

But there’s one cost-cutting measure that seems to leave everyone locked in a heated debate—is it ever okay not to serve a full meal at the reception?

If your ceremony is at 6pm and you plan to serve only cake and champagne, your guests are bound to be disappointed. It’s dinnertime! But what if your ceremony is at 4pm? 9pm?

When does it become appropriate? Does not serving a full meal at a wedding reception make you want to rant or rave?

When selecting a venue, gown, bridesmaids dresses, flowers and cake, most brides and grooms can make quick calls based upon their personal style. But when considering their food options, many engaged couples become frozen with fear. The quality of the food at your reception make a direct impact on your guests, so many couples often find themselves torn between what’s affordable and what will satisfy their friends and family members.

A wedding buffet seems like a reasonable alternative to a formal, sit-down dinner, but I personally find something extremely unappetizing about standing in line to wait to slop some pasta and salad onto your plate.

I have heard rumors of extremely elegant wedding buffets, during which waiters bring salad and bread to the guests at their tables and then ask a select number of guests to visit the buffet at a time. This sounds much more appealing to me, but what do you think? Can a buffet ever have the same charm and style as a sit-down dinner? Do wedding buffets make you want to rant or rave?