How long for a plated meal?

brianabrad

I know this is a really broad question but typically how long does a plated meal take with a salad and main course for 100 people (including WP)? I know this question can be best answered by my venue but you ladies have so much knowledge I thought I would start here to get a basic idea.

SaraAndrew2010

Well, it depends on if you have any speeches or toasts in there.  We are allowing about 90 minutes for guests to get seated, a brief welcome by my dad, salad course, BM and MOH toasts, and entree. 

kaesha

It depends on if you have anything else going on during the meal! We allowed for about an hour and a half for ours, which, like pp, included speeches.

sarahbutchin

The venue that I am working with said that the plated meal takes about 30 minutes! I thought that was a bit fast, so we are budgeting or allowing for 45ish... with speeches and such. I think it should work. I want the speeches to run during the dinner itself, so that people will have some entertainment while eating and will not have to sit and listen to the speeches with nothing in front of them (this happened at a wedding I recently attended and I was not a big fan).

brianabrad

Nice tips ladies. I had originally thought that FI and I would do the entrance with the WP, first dance, couple thank you, speeches (MOH and bestman only), grace and then serve the meal. I assumed that during the meal . . my mom and FI's parents could speak if they wanted.

Now reading these few comments makes me think that maybe it would be better to do only the dance, the thank you, grace and then eat and have speeches during the meal. Maybe between courses or while the main course is being served.

Ashes_3

We are planning an hour and fifthteen for everything. If it over runs then thats fine. I would say between an hour to an hour and a half if you include speeches and everything!!!

hz80408

Through coordinating with our vendor, we're allowing about 2 hours for:

-WP intro
-FOB welcoming speech/blessing
-Dinner
-Cut the cake
-Speeches/cake prepped in kitchen
-Cake served
-First dance/special dances

For just shy of 200 people total.

marissa_claire

Your caterer should have a recommendation for you.

mica178

It was about 90 minutes from salads being served to dinner plates being cleared.  During that time we did all the speeches and special dances and cake cutting and table rounds.  I think it worked out pretty well.

brianabrad

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_long-plated-meal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:23Discussion:96650e38-691b-4600-acaa-8625b9ac4f7dPost:038ebf7a-db38-4908-a3e6-84a8e6e8ded4">Re: How long for a plated meal?</a>:
[QUOTE]It was about 90 minutes from salads being served to dinner plates being cleared.  During that time we did all the speeches and special dances and cake cutting and table rounds.  I think it worked out pretty well.
Posted by mica178[/QUOTE]

Good to know. 90 minutes seems like a good amount of time for all of this.