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Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
Buffet vs. Food Stations vs. Plated
Hello!
I was wondering about people's experiences with these different systems. As for cost, this is what I have heard: Buffet would require less servers, but need more table rentals. Food stations also need only a few servers, but can be way more expensive per person due to the quantity of food. Plated menus need way more servers and a kitchen person, which can also be expensive.
What are you experiences with food quality and atmosphere with these options? Buffets seem to be the cheaper way to go, but can they be done nicely? Food stations provide more mingling and options for the guests, but can be expensive. Are they worth it? Plated menus are fancy, and expensive. Again, worth it?
I guess I'm really debating between buffet and food stations, because I like the idea of people getting up and mingling. Thoughts on how this worked for your weddings?
I was wondering about people's experiences with these different systems. As for cost, this is what I have heard: Buffet would require less servers, but need more table rentals. Food stations also need only a few servers, but can be way more expensive per person due to the quantity of food. Plated menus need way more servers and a kitchen person, which can also be expensive.
What are you experiences with food quality and atmosphere with these options? Buffets seem to be the cheaper way to go, but can they be done nicely? Food stations provide more mingling and options for the guests, but can be expensive. Are they worth it? Plated menus are fancy, and expensive. Again, worth it?
I guess I'm really debating between buffet and food stations, because I like the idea of people getting up and mingling. Thoughts on how this worked for your weddings?
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Re: Buffet vs. Food Stations vs. Plated
I have never (read: NEVER) had a good experience with plated meals at events. I hate them with a passion, so I'd always choose a buffet or stations. I don't mind getting up and getting my own food because I can pick and choose what I want that way, and I won't go hungry like I usually do with a plated meal. I even stopped at a drive-thru on my way home from my sister's wedding because I was so hungry (plated meal, fancy club... and just BAD).
[QUOTE]We are doing budget because of who we have catering and because of budget. Our extra tables are free because they come with the venue. Sit down food with servers will cost more regardless. Not as much mingling.
Posted by stefwhitney[/QUOTE]
<div>Do you mean buffet? </div><div>
</div><div>We are doing a buffet but not b/c of cost (price is the same for servers or no servers) we just like the choices. </div>
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Honestly, regardless of what everyone says above - I would do what's most done in your area. If every wedding you've ever been to has had a plated meal, then people might side-eye if you have a buffet. I'm not saying that's okay, but there's lot of guests who would do that. Similarly, if most the weddings you've been to are buffet, then that's probably what makes most guests comfortable.
[QUOTE]I think buffets are tacky. People are dressed to the 9's and don't want to carry plates and serve them selves. Plated is more sophisticated IMO
Posted by jbiestman[/QUOTE]
<div>I would disagree with you. I have been to weddings with awesome plated dinners and some have terrible plated dinners. Some have amazing buffets and some buffets suck. But to label all buffets tacky seems to extreme. Personally I like to choose my food so we are going buffet at a yacht club with servers, meat stations you name it. But in your opinion my meal is tacky... </div><div>
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"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." - Dr. Seuss
[QUOTE]In my opinion, I prefer plated but I think thats because most of the buffet food I have had at wedding has been cold or just blah. Although plated food can be just as blah or cold if you dont have a good caterer. I guess my gripe against buffet is having to get up and go stand in a line for food. If I were to choose between buffet and stations, I would go with the stations.
Posted by courtchace[/QUOTE]
<div>This is untrue in my experience. I have been to at least a dozen weddings, varying from plated to buffet to stations. In my opinion, the plated dinners have never been as warm or fresh as the buffet food. Food is kept heated on the buffet and is eaten soon after it is plated. In served dinners, the food may sit plated for quite a while before it's served. Because of this we chose to do a buffet. We are having two lines to facilitate quick serving. To alleviate the issue of people in waiting in line, our caterer will release each table one at a time.</div>
1) Your caterer. If your caterer is better at one or the other, go with what they are use to doing. This may help with the buffet running out of food (that's awful!) or cold plates...
2) Your event's style. If you are doing a black-tie event, a buffet may not fit your atmosphere. If you are doing something a bit more casual, a buffet OR plated OR food stations may fit just fine. I like the family style- I may have to look into it.
3)Your budget. Buffets may give you more food/selection for a cheaper price.
I've never been to a wedding with food stations, so I don't really have an opinion on that. But I would think you'd still end up with people standing in line, no?
Also - to some of PP's points: having a coordinator dismiss tables might reduce the amount of time your guests are physically STANDING in line, but it doesn't get them their food any faster. Sitting at a table with nothing to do but drink water and watch people go through the buffet line is not any more fun than standing in line.
I first have to say - I didn't read the other comments. My husband and I did a buffet style supper for our wedding. We have however been to every type of wedding out there. I would have to admit I like buffets the best. Somehow with buffets it is always good food, you always have somewhere to sit and you don't have to worry about waiting in between courses/your food will be cold/or what is coming on your plate.
One reason why we did a buffet is because then people can pick the things they like and if they didn't like something they didn't have to eat it. With a full sit down meal it is kind of hard to do that.
The one wedding we went to that had the stations was super awkward; there wasn't enough tables, no chairs (they were those tall standing tables) and they ended up running out of food.
[QUOTE]Buffett and stations require more time, you won't have as much time to truly begin the party if you do food at buffett and stations. People aren't ever sure what's going on with those meals and if it's the main meal or if there's more. Plated is by far the best way to go, you can get the entire meal in 45 minutes as opposed to buffetts and stations which require waiting in lines and take 2 hours minimum.
Posted by megahome[/QUOTE]
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</div><div>2 hours is ridiculous. I've been to several large weddings that served a buffet dinner and it's never taken NEAR that long... </div>
[QUOTE]I have never (read: NEVER) had a good experience with plated meals at events. I hate them with a passion, so I'd always choose a buffet or stations. I don't mind getting up and getting my own food because I can pick and choose what I want that way, and I won't go hungry like I usually do with a plated meal. I even stopped at a drive-thru on my way home from my sister's wedding because I was so hungry (plated meal, fancy club... and just BAD).
Posted by RebeccaB88[/QUOTE]
Totally agree with this!!! I have been to many weddings where the plated meal had 2 carrot pieces, a teeny tiny piece of steak, and a teaspoon of potatoes !!! Its awful for the money the bride and groom pays at these fancy country clubs and hotels!!! I have gone to drive thrus after weddings and its so frustrating...we are having food stations for main courses such as meats, potatoes and veggies...soup and salad will be brought to the guests by servers ( so they do not have to juggle plates or get back in line for those). Hope everything works out!
When we had our 30th high school reunion in 2009, we went with food stations. Let me say that even today I am still getting rave reviews on how it was done. The food was fantastic, there were no lines to speak of and the people really mingled.
I believe that you should look at the cost and what would be offered. Sometimes the least expensive way isn't really the way to go, and the same could be said that you might not always get the best with the most expensive!