"Bring your own dish" wedding - what to bring?
We've been invited to a casual wedding with "covered dish barbecue" (the wedding is to take place in late June, and I understand that there will be about 40-50 people), and were asked to bring a dish "to share" (needs to be something "down home", things like hummus are not going to fly). My in laws are invited as well, and since my MIL doesn't cook, I offered to cover the food both for us and for them.
So far, I'm planning to bring:
*pulled pork
*coleslaw - not sure which would be better: mayo based or oil & vinegar (my personal favourite)
*potato salad - mayo or vinaigrette? I, again, am leaning towards vinaigrette (roasted reds with kalamata olives, red onions and red wine vinaigrette), so does my OH. FIL, on the other hand, wants the mayo one.
*homemade hamburger buns
Does it seem like enough from two families, or should I add something else? (It reminds me of that "envelope pusher" thread from yesterday...I always think that I should add something else! But seriously, I really feel that it's not enough) Any comments, suggestions, recommendations will be greatly appreciated!
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17 Comments:
Maybe throw in some cut fruit and call it a day. Also, for potato salad, I'd go with the viniagrette, since there may not be refrigeration.
beth1 at 3:28PM on 05/30/09
that sounds very generous to me!
eleeb at 3:34PM on 05/30/09
Wow that all sounds delicious. As long as you bring a good amount, i think you're good to go. I mean, you could through in a desert or something, but i think you already have a lot of work for yourself with what you've planned.
If i went to a wedding and they had pulled pork, and homemade buns, i'd already be sold. But assuming most people are bringing something, i'm sure what you have would be fine.
Mandi at 3:52PM on 05/30/09
I've never heard of potluck wedding, but that is definitely more than enough food for two families to bring to any potluck, unless your families are exceptionally large in number, or the hostess requested that you bring more for some reason.
The general rule of thumb on pot luck dinners, unless otherwise stated, is to bring a dish that feeds up to 20 people. It looks as if you have three dishes there, so as long as they are proportioned for about 20 people per dish, I'd say you are good to go.
Have fun!
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 3:53PM on 05/30/09
I think that sounds very generous--I agree, though, a potluck wedding sounds very odd! At first I thought: how presumptuous. Then I thought: well, at least they are not taking it too seriously, and you know the food will be good ;)
It's definitely enough, but if you had to choose between the dressings for both salads, I would do the vinaigrette--lots of people don't like mayo or can't eat it and you know there will be tons of mayo-y potato salad and slaws.
The only thing I can think of (and it isn't necessary) to add is a dessert, like cookies or brownies. Even if there is a cake, not everyone likes cake, and some people like two desserts.
OR
Cornbread. Can't get more down home than that!
OR
Something very, very simple, to 'cut' the heavy dishes most people bring like steamed green beans
HeartofGlass at 4:07PM on 05/30/09
I think the potato salad would seem less "odd" without the olives. And don't call it potato salad, which leads to mayo-based expectations. Maybe call it...hm....potato slaw? Cold potato mix? I'm sleepy so I'm being uncreative here...I love me some mayo-based potato salad, but lack of refrigeration is definitely a con here as well as the fact that I bet someone else will bring a mayo potato salad anyways.
I think you have enough, btw. Seems yummy!
inothernews at 4:33PM on 05/30/09
The potlucks I've been to go several ways. Maybe the host provides the main dish along with the plates/napkins/utensils/drinks/ice or the host just provides the venue and plates/napkins/utensils. Or, people are expected to bring their own personal main dish, and then bring sides that will be shared. In the first case, people are expected to bring side dishes, salads and desserts, and in the second, main dishes are part of the potluck requests as well. In the third case, you'd only need to bring enough of the main dish for your immediate family, plus a side dish.
So you might want to see what the plan is for the main dishes, if it wasn't made explicitly clear.
And usually people are expected to bring a single dish per couple/family, so you've got yours covered very well, I'd say. But then again, some people will skimp, and you've got them covered, too. As someone was recently raving to me, "If I ask you to bring a salad, it doesn't mean a box of unwashed spinach from the grocery store." I wasn't at the party, but I guess that potluck wasn't very successful.
dbcurrie at 4:58PM on 05/30/09
I think your menu sounds quite complete the only thing I can suggest is a dessert. Maybe something that doesn't require a lot of assembly or special instructions. Something that is either scooped (ie fruit crisp, trifle) or cut up ahead of time (ie brownies, cookies).
That or bring some booze, it is a wedding after all :)
ag3208 at 5:22PM on 05/30/09
I've been to a couple of pot luck weddings (both in new england and the pacific north west) they were both alot of fun and the food was outstanding. If you really want to add something toss in some baked beans, but what you have listed already seems more than enough. Most of all have fun!
huneybumper at 5:40PM on 05/30/09
It sounds like a lot of fun! I think you have enough, but if you want to bring something else, how's about a watermelon? Really easy and definitely fits right in with the theme of things. I myself don't like watermelon or any melon, but I know so many people do love it and so during the summer I buy them when we have guests. A fruit salad would be another alternative, although not as quick and easy as watermelon.
dhorst at 6:38PM on 05/30/09
That sounds like enough to bring if it's you, your husband, and a child. Don't fret about bringing more stuff! Hope you have room in the car to carry all that stuff. :P
Cassaendra at 6:55PM on 05/30/09
i love the homemade hamburger buns.....
i think yuu're being very generous ... are you related?
pooch at 7:44PM on 05/30/09
I'd definitely go with the vinegarette on the potato salad if you don't know if it'll be kept cold. Besides, I made Ina Garten's French potato salad a couple weeks ago and I'll never go back to mayo!!
buffy at 7:47PM on 05/30/09
I think what you have planned is plenty, but, as we discussed in the "pushing the envelope" thread, maybe one more thing...you want to, right??
Make it something "signature", perhaps using your infamous miso butter? Or caramelised onions?
Fried chicken comes to mind for a "down home potluck" so maybe you could expand upon that idea. Miso/sriracha wings with Asian slaw? Fried chicken tenders with sweet onion dipping sauce?
hungryinhouston at 8:45PM on 05/30/09
New meaning to pushing the envelope....
Get a nice covered casserole dish as a gift for the Happy Couple. Line it with a sturdy ziploc bag, and throw in all the loose change you have around the house. Encourage other guests to empty their pockets of loose change as part of the celebration.
Nothing like that pot at the end of the rainbow!
whoot at 9:10PM on 05/30/09
@hungryinhouston - OH and I were just talking about wings, too!! Miso/sriracha wings can be just that extra something (yes, I want to, you know how it works!)
@whoot - it's a really interesting idea, I like it!
@buffy - I know! I don't remember when I last had mayo-based potato salad myself! I think I'm going to ignore my FIL with this one:-)
@Cass - I'll have OH clean the car for the occasion:-)
@pooch - nope, we're not related:-) I wish I could get away as easy with the upcoming family wedding, but that's a whole different story:-). I just really want to do something nice.
@huney - I considered baked beans, too, so I'm really glad to hear that it's not a completely "out of it" idea.
@beth1 and dhorst - fruit is also something to consider, that I haven't thought about, thanks!
@Paula - thanks for the tip about quantities!
@everybody - thank you all SO very much for your input and comments, you've been a lot of help! Now I know that if, for whatever reason, I'm stuck with my original plan and no extras, I'll do quite well anyway!
brooke29 at 11:21PM on 05/30/09
I must be "old school" but I think a potluck wedding is strange...if this is the only way they can have a wedding reception it might be better to have the marriage ceremony and hold off on the reception until the time comes when they are able to host a party. When we married our budget allowed us to have a reception for 16 people and that's what we did and 38 years later, I'm happy we worked within our budget.
But as to your question, you are doing more that your share. Enjoy!
elaine nan at 2:34PM on 06/01/09