Catered Buffet ?

PrincessCassi · November 2012

I am having a catered buffet for 300 to 500 people. Since I do not know exactly how many people will attend I am making my menu for 300. The menu is not to big with varietys, so i was thinking of adding a insert with my invitations for close family and friends telling them that it is not required but optional to bring a side dish or dessert for the buffet table. Any opinions, suggestions or input on this subject. And if I do this what is the best way to word it without offending anyone?

NOLAbridealmost · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_catered-buffet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:5733c752-7fff-46ed-ae88-119cd97ee297Post:a27877db-507d-4314-95de-e8f8e69e4fb2">Catered Buffet ?</a>:
[QUOTE]I am having a catered buffet for 300 to 500 people. Since I do not know exactly how many people will attend I am making my menu for 300. The menu is not to big with varietys, so i was thinking of adding a insert with my invitations for close family and friends telling them that it is not required but optional to bring a side dish or dessert for the buffet table. Any opinions, suggestions or input on this subject. And if I do this what is the best way to word it without offending anyone?
Posted by PrincessCassi[/QUOTE]

<div>Hmm....there's a lot going on in this post. </div><div>
</div><div>First, I think it's really, really worth it to ask people to RSVP so you have a correct idea of how many people are coming. The difference between enough food for 300 and 500 people is <em>huge</em>. It would be one thing if you weren't sure if it would be between 120-150 or something, but if you end up short 200 portions of food, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. You also, rightly, don't want to pay for 200 extra portions if those people don't come. I think that asking people to RSVP will solve this problem right off the bat. </div><div>
</div><div>Second, what are you offering for options? You said there's not a lot of variety---is there at least enough variety that everyone will be full and have a well-rounded meal? Do you have anything meat-free for people who don't eat meat (if you're expecting a guest list that large there are bound to be at least a couple vegetarians)?</div><div>
</div><div>Finally, it's just not appropriate to ask guests to bring a side dish to your wedding reception. The reception is a thank you to the guests for taking the time out of their lives to come celebrate with you, witness the marriage, and (in many cases) bringing a wedding gift. They shouldn't shoulder any of the responsibility for hosting the reception--including bringing a side dish. </div><div>
</div><div> Good luck!! It's always great seeing another Southern LA bride on the boards. The ladies over on the BRLA and NOLA boards could be a big help too. </div>

Sue-n-Kevin · November 2012

I'd ask some additional questions:

- do you have a venue/building for this catered reception? If so, there's a massive difference between hosting 300 people and 500 people. Many buildings have maximum capacities
- With such a wide variance in that number, it's really not feasible to make an assumption that you are planning on 300, but inviting 500.

I'm going to assume you are fairly early in your planning process. You haven't sent invitations, and are still working on your guest list. I'm making this assumption because a variance of 200 theoretical guests is a staggering difference.

Caterers generally charge for meals by the person. They will know how many seats/tables there are. You can't tell them to provide food for 300 when you have 500 showing up, and expect them to not notice the guest list count has been seriously downsized.

Regardless of the facts of your guest list and what you tell your caterer, I have been on the Knot for almost 3 years, and have NEVER seen anyone even think about asking guests to bring food to their wedding in the invitation. If they were self catering, they asked ahead of time to have specific family members bring dishes, and that was coordinated to make sure there was enough food, enough chafing dishes and refrigeration to make sure no one got ill from food poisoning. If you send a general invitation to your 300 or 500 guests to bring a dish, where in the heck do you put 300 casserole dishes or platters?

Also, is your caterer ok with this? Many will not allow outside food to be brought into a celebration they are catering.

QueerFemme · November 2012

NO !! Do not ask guests to bring a side dish. You need to provide food for all of your guests.

Instead of an insert asking them to bring food, do an insert that asks them to RSVP. You need to know how many people are going to be coming so you can provide that number to the caterer. If you can't afford to feed 500 people, don't invite 500 people.

lyndausvi · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_catered-buffet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:5733c752-7fff-46ed-ae88-119cd97ee297Post:5464cea5-2f26-4570-90e3-230fa04fca8d">Re: Catered Buffet ?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Catered Buffet ? : Hmm....there's a lot going on in this post. First, I think it's really, really worth it to ask people to RSVP so you have a correct idea of how many people are coming. The difference between enough food for 300 and 500 people is huge . It would be one thing if you weren't sure if it would be between 120-150 or something, but if you end up short 200 portions of food, that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. You also, rightly, don't want to pay for 200 extra portions if those people don't come. I think that asking people to RSVP will solve this problem right off the bat. Second, what are you offering for options? You said there's not a lot of variety---is there at least enough variety that everyone will be full and have a well-rounded meal? Do you have anything meat-free for people who don't eat meat (if you're expecting a guest list that large there are bound to be at least a couple vegetarians)? Finally, it's just not appropriate to ask guests to bring a side dish to your wedding reception. The reception is a thank you to the guests for taking the time out of their lives to come celebrate with you, witness the marriage, and (in many cases) bringing a wedding gift. They shouldn't shoulder any of the responsibility for hosting the reception--including bringing a side dish. Good luck!! It's always great seeing another Southern LA bride on the boards. The ladies over on the BRLA and NOLA boards could be a big help too.
Posted by NOLAbridealmost[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Ditto NOLA</div><div>
</div><div>My only reaction is <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-surprised.gif" border="0" alt="Surprised" title="Surprised" /></div>

Viczaesar · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_catered-buffet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:5733c752-7fff-46ed-ae88-119cd97ee297Post:5ec10294-1448-41be-af3c-7d17f8fb24b3">Re: Catered Buffet ?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catered Buffet ? : Ditto NOLA My only reaction is
Posted by lyndausvi[/QUOTE]
Ditto your ditto.

cwaggoner07 · November 2012

Ditto to all the dittos.

My brother and his wife didn't do RSVP's and they ended up not having enough seating by about 20 guests. Even if you have enough food, what about seating? Even if you just do online RSVP's, it is better than nothing.
And, of course, don't ask your guests to bring anything but themselves.

Viczaesar · November 2012

I hate when OPs don't come back. PrincessCassi, does the Morgan City municipal auditorium really have enough room for 500 chairs and tables?

PrincessCassi · November 2012

OK sorry i havent been back to my question. The reason I asked is because I just have not been sure? The Auditorium is big enough to hold 500 guests. And thanks to all who answered my question about asking guests to bring a dish. I have never really attended many weddings and just was not sure. I will have my guests RSVP. I can afford to feed all guests but I just dont want to waste food if they do not all show up. And thanks Nolabridealmost I will check out the other boards:)

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