Dessert receptions: Have people really never heard of these?

I think it's a fantastic idea. You are doing the wedding you can afford while still being a very gracious hostess with the open bar. It's actually a more commonplace thing for wedding receptions in our parent's generation so it's really not that far out. My parents got married, everyone went home and put on their evening clothes, came to a dessert reception where there was tails and cake and that was considered a very nice reception!