Seated Dinner vs. Buffet

sweets18

Which one are you doing and why?

rodeo417

Buffet since its cost less. Also we get more choices instead of doing plated.

sweetjess2011

were doing buffet/appetizers since were having reception/party in vegas suite. If we weren't doing destination wedding we would be doing plated.

msktn95

Buffet. More choices on buffet and cost less.  Sometimees the plated food can arrive to the table cold.

happe2gether

Buffet - more options and better cost for us with a large # of attendees.  Even though I saw the horror on 4 weddings, our venue has a better management style so it shouldn't be too bad.  Plus they are running 2 buffet lines and I'm hoping this makes things go much smoother than just one buffet line with 200 people 

brittanyl8605

Seated....because in our case it's actually cheaper.

busybruck

We are doing a buffet, that way everyone can taste everything and no one changes their mind at the last minute about what plate they want. It makes it easier on me, with people not having to commit to a meal a month in advance, then changing their mind on that day and the venue runs out. It's also one less thing for me to count.

SunnyBB

Seated, it is not only cheaper I have been to weddings where the lines for food have been a nightmare.  Also, I want my guests to relax and not have to carry their plates around and stand, especially with some of my older family members.

cincy2011

Buffet - more choices, we want guests to only eat what they want and we loved so many different items at our caterer we had to expand the menu!

kiyamurph

Seated...cheaper at my venue and we're having a black tie wedding.  I think people would be pissed knowing that it's a black tie wedding but with a buffet.  Just doesn't fly.

A&M_Abyss

Seated
- i prefer it
- i don't want guests walking around with plates for dinner
- i'm having so much food at cocktail hour that i wanted something more simplistic
- black tie optional affair which warrants a seated dinner

however, when i go to events i do like buffets but for my wedding a seated meal was best

wallacje

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_seated-dinner-vs-buffet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:eb5cbb50-83b9-46aa-9a1b-bae677571019Post:f6123ddf-166c-4c44-a2f9-4c8b9e703d53">Re: Seated Dinner vs. Buffet</a>:
[QUOTE]were doing buffet/appetizers since were having reception/party in vegas suite. If we weren't doing destination wedding we would be doing plated.
Posted by sweetjess2011[/QUOTE]

This.

shesheduke

Family Style: All the food will be on the table and the guests can choose what they eat and don't eat and they can eat as much as they like. Its like a plated buffet where there are more options and no one has to walk around. I hate people eating at different times and walking around with plates

sweets18

I am feeling very torn... I need more space in my venue so I am thinking about taking out the buffet and doing plated to allow for more seating. I also like the look of a plated meal. I feel like it will be nicer, but I also like the options that a buffet lends and that people don't have to pre-select an entree. But I feel like plated is classier... ugghhhh!!!!! FI wants it to be plated though and he has some valid points like many of you about guests walking around with plates, waiting in lines, etc. IDK...

sweets18

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_seated-dinner-vs-buffet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:eb5cbb50-83b9-46aa-9a1b-bae677571019Post:d4e8bdf8-df4f-4df7-ba37-4d2a5000400d">Re: Seated Dinner vs. Buffet</a>:
[QUOTE]Seated - i prefer it - i don't want guests walking around with plates for dinner - i'm having so much food at cocktail hour that i wanted something more simplistic - black tie optional affair which warrants a seated dinner however, when i go to events i do like buffets but for my wedding a seated meal was best
Posted by A&M_Abyss[/QUOTE]

This definitely makes sense... and sounds like what my FI is saying.

jmp0930

We are doing a seated dinner. I wanted everyone to get their food at the same time so that they can actually spend time talking with the people at their tables than in a long line. I want to get the festivities of dancing, cake, etc started so the faster we finish dinner the better!!

sweets18

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_seated-dinner-vs-buffet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:eb5cbb50-83b9-46aa-9a1b-bae677571019Post:8f37d0b4-19c2-4532-b604-fefaccfb6ce1">Re: Seated Dinner vs. Buffet</a>:
[QUOTE]We are doing a seated dinner. I wanted everyone to get their food at the same time so that they can actually spend time talking with the people at their tables than in a long line. I want to get the festivities of dancing, cake, etc started so the faster we finish dinner the better!!
Posted by jmp0930[/QUOTE]

The getting the food at the same time is a valid point as well... FI keeps referring to a buffet as a feeding trough (although we both love them... ) I think he is working really hard to convince me...LOL

cincy2011

Most people I talk to love buffets - even at weddings.  And lines are only a problem if you don't plan adequately.  We will have two buffet tables with two lines on each, so four total lines. We are also calling the tables in order, so there isn't one mad dash to the buffet. 

Our wedding isn't black tie and is actually on more of the laid back side.  So a buffet works well for us and I don't think it's any less classy for our wedding. 

But you have to do what works for you and your FI!  Sounds like you answered your own question when you said that you need more room and so you need to elminate buffet tables - seems like a good reason to go with plated (especially since that's what your FI wants too!). 

sweets18

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_seated-dinner-vs-buffet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:eb5cbb50-83b9-46aa-9a1b-bae677571019Post:d298f85b-ece6-47cd-a237-e5ead73867f6">Re: Seated Dinner vs. Buffet</a>:
[QUOTE]Most people I talk to love buffets - even at weddings.  And lines are only a problem if you don't plan adequately.  We will have two buffet tables with two lines on each, so four total lines. We are also calling the tables in order, so there isn't one mad dash to the buffet.  Our wedding isn't black tie and is actually on more of the laid back side.  So a buffet works well for us and I don't think it's any less classy for our wedding.  But you have to do what works for you and your FI!  Sounds like you answered your own question when you said that you need more room and so you need to elminate buffet tables - seems like a good reason to go with plated (especially since that's what your FI wants too!). 
Posted by cincy2011[/QUOTE]


Yea you are right... I loved my buffet menu though so I was trying to eliminate guests instead to accommodate that... but its not working out to well...Thank you!

mahoganieyes

Been to a few buffet weddings and the food was blah or very long lines. I want my guests to be pampered in a way and plus we have a few physically disabled and older guests.

purplehoney

We are having a buffet with two tables going at once. I was a hostess at a wedding and WE were the ones running around to everyone's beck and call i decided right then that i couldn't do seated, it brings back horror...

sadou02

Im doing a seated. Initially I was going to do buffet but after much deliberation I felt seated would be nicer.  The cost is the same for both seeing as how my venue allows duet plates for the meals at the same cost.

tyboyd

Seated... it's included in my package and it costs the same as a buffet. So, I figured, why not be fancy smancy?!

BluIvory82

Ii am doing seated because lines bother me. I hate to stand in line for food and I do not want my guests to do the same thing

flawlessfay

Seated, i just prefer the sophisticated look and my traditional wedding will be buffet so wanted a different look for the actual wedding

MsJuneBride2012

I'm still in the early stages of planning, so I haven't made any firm decisions about this, but I think FI and I will be doing a seated meal.

hatroopes

We will probably be doing a combination of both. I prefer seated also, but want my guests to have the option of trying different choices. I'm thinking of having my hostesses pass out  plated meals, but we will also have buffet stations set up for people to go for seconds if they want to.

lil01

Seated for several reasons:

-lines at a wedding remind me of standing in line at a fast food restaurant
-people may hold up the line asking whats this & that
-over 100 people walking around with plates in their hands can get chaotic no matter how organized & coordinated
-not everyone will be able to get up & do a lot of walking around (ex: elderly)
-dinner time can extend longer than you want, which gives less time for other things (ex: partying)
-just classier IMO

As previous pp said, its all about what works for you & your FI. No matter what ya'll choose, it'll work out fine.

M1ssJ

Buffet because its cheaper but I would rather have it plated. Brunch doesn't lend itself to a plated vibe and if it doesnt work for your venue I think you should go with seated

Me&Miles96

We are doing family style, its where buffet and seated meet. They bring the different options to the table and you decide. example a platter of chicken a platter of fish and a platter of beef, enough of each for each person at the table. each platter will be left on the table for you to help or not help your self.

desi2002

im doing seated because every wedding ive been to was buffet and i want to try something different