Do you need to serve evening food if you have a 3 course meal plus wedding cake?

I think if all guests are coming to the whole thing then the meal will be enough. You just need to make sure it's served late enough. If the ceremony is at 3pm then the meal won't start before 5pm. You could do snacks later on... or maybe serve the cake later? You won't need the cake served after the 3 course meal so you could serve it about 8.30 after first dance. What about doing a pork pie cake with cheese to go with the wedding cake?

Maybe just some nibbles, in case people have had a little bit to drink and need some carbs. Our venue is providing nibbles for the whole evening in the form of things like crisps.

I'm doing the same as you, I'm getting married at 3 with the meal around 5 ish.

I won't be putting on a buffet for the evening, the hotel have kindly offered to put out two trays of sandwiches out free of charge (weekday wedding perk) and we plan to serve the cake in the evening as well so that people aren't too hungry if they get peckish.

As long as you let people know what's happening, they shouldn't object. But be up front about it on your invitations, so if you put an itinerary in the invitation, call the evening reception "evening drinks and dancing" or something to make it clear that there won't be food available after the meal.

Sandwich platters sound like a good idea

Im putting food on the evening for people who can only make the night-time do and also I think people get peckish when they're had beers!

Im not serving until 8.30pm though so the day guests will feel like it!

Thanks for everyone's views, it's hugely appreciated