We went to the most beautiful breakfast wedding a few years ago, really casual, the bride and groom were dressed in smart cas (her dress was so beautifully simple, not a wedding dress at all, but perfect all the same) and they just had finger foods and champagne and OJ as a toast. There wasn't any further alcohol costs involved as no one was drinking at 8.30am, and the food was really simple. It was all over by 10.30am when we had a wedding cupcake and coffee offered and then they had the rest of the day to themselves. I have always said if I ever got married again (to DH of course ha ha) I would have a breakfast wedding.

As for nibbly/finger foods not being appropriate for a wedding, I've been to several with just those on offer and have never found it not suitable - we went to a picnic wedding once where they just asked groups of 6 to take a basket and blanket and dig in - was a perfect way to have guests mingle too and we all just helped ourselves. It was in a lovely public park too so they really kept their costs down.

Sorry doesn't cover the suprise part, but just a few other ideas to throw in the pot