Butler Service

rebeccaa12

We are doing a buffet for our dinner, but we have a few things that will be passed around to our guests at certain times. For instance, after the ceremony, once our guests begin cocktailing, the waiters will be passing around our signature drink, wine, beer and margaritas.

Right before dinner, the waiters will pass out salads, and dinner to the bridal party, immediate family, and the bride and groom. Then, the DJ will announce tables.

We decided to nix the champagne pass out and want our guests to toast with whatever they have (they'll announce to get refreshments prior to the toast).

Lastly, we decided to have our cake passed out after we cut it. They'll actually take it to the kitchen to get cut for all the guests. Do you have servers, and if you do, is it for the entire event, or is it for portions?

[Deleted User]

We're doing a plated dinner, so we have servers for the majority of the night.

During cocktail hour, all the food will be butler passed.  During dinner all the food will be served and we'll have wine service at the tables.

cmac3504

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_butler-service?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:79a10e4a-7536-42e6-9f6c-35703661b0e3Post:485127ef-d9ee-4f55-9ee3-5e1694abbeb8">Butler Service</a>:
[QUOTE]We are doing a buffet for our dinner, but we have a few things that will be passed around to our guests at certain times. For instance, after the ceremony, once our guests begin cocktailing, the waiters will be passing around our signature drink, wine, beer and margaritas. <strong>Right before dinner, the waiters will pass out salads, and dinner to the bridal party, immediate family, and the bride and groom.</strong> Then, the DJ will announce tables. We decided to nix the champagne pass out and want our guests to toast with whatever they have (they'll announce to get refreshments prior to the toast). Lastly, we decided to have our cake passed out after we cut it. They'll actually take it to the kitchen to get cut for all the guests. Do you have servers, and if you do, is it for the entire event, or is it for portions?
Posted by rebeccaa12[/QUOTE]

I'm confused... you're providing a plated dinner to your bridal party & close family but then expecting everyone else to get up and wait in line at the buffet?  I've never heard of that... If I'm reading that correctly, I tend to think that's a little rude.  If I were a guest I'd feel like chopped liver.

We're having everything passed out-- hor'ds, meal courses, and cake-- because I'm not a fan of waiting in line then having to juggle multiple plates to my seat.  It would be fine to do the buffet but I wouldn't change it up by guest.

scooterpie7

I have to say I agree with Cmac! We're also having a buffet but we are getting up and going to the buffet like the rest of the guests - I have never heard of having table service for some but not everyone! (With the exception of a couple of our very elderly guests). 

We are having passed hors d'ouevres, and bar staff will circulate all night with drinks. We are having champagne for the toasts so that is served. There are staff serving at the buffet too. 

KH 2012

we are also doing a buffet!

Ours will have the soup and salad served (venue says much easier and faster if we do this and wil help stagger the times people get up for food-the first table that gets their soup and salad will get up to get their dinner and so on)

guests will get up do do their own dinners which will also be served.

i plan on geting my own food and bridal party def getting their own food too

rebeccaa12

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_butler-service?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:79a10e4a-7536-42e6-9f6c-35703661b0e3Post:bbd94b0d-2040-4258-b02c-00f3c1f2581c">Re: Butler Service</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Butler Service : I'm confused... you're providing a plated dinner to your bridal party & close family but then expecting everyone else to get up and wait in line at the buffet?  I've never heard of that... If I'm reading that correctly, I tend to think that's a little rude.  If I were a guest I'd feel like chopped liver. We're having everything passed out-- hor'ds, meal courses, and cake-- because I'm not a fan of waiting in line then having to juggle multiple plates to my seat.  It would be fine to do the buffet but I wouldn't change it up by guest.
Posted by cmac3504[/QUOTE]

Yea, I can see what you are saying, which is why I mentioned in the first place. The buffet line is so that guests can have the option to get what they want, and so that smaller children can get half portions.

Both my mother and FI's father have difficulty walking/standing, and after pictures, we decided that they should be served, regardless. I guess the venue/coordinators' line of thinking is that if one person at that table gets served, so should the entrie table, as opposed to just them, and I agree.

I guess I can nix having the bridal party served- no big deal, I guess I hadn't thougth of it that way, but there is still time to change things up. I think primarily they were going to get served because it is right after pictures, and FI and I will be served. We are getting served so that we can eat before everyone else and get a chance to greet everyone (this is going to take an hour 1/2 assuming we spend 2 minutes per table).

w+c3

I'm having servers for the whole meal. Passed food during coctail and then a plated meal service. I don't know about the cake.....i'll have to ask.

brittandjp

We're having butler passed hour'derves during cocktail hour. Bread and salad is passed out to each table by the servers. Then for the buffet style dinner, guests get their own food. I'm actually not too sure about the cake.

paulette1979

seems like i'm the only one that is doing family style.  We are going to have servers to make sure that the dishes on the table don't run out.  i'm having 35 appetizers on the table when the guests arrive.  For dinner, the servers will bring out platters of bbq chicken, grilled steak, fish, rice and potatoes.  I'm also having the alcoholic drinks on the table and of course with mixers like oj, coke, sprite.  The cake will be passed out by the servers with the bubbly wine. 

rebeccaa12

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_march-2012-weddings_butler-service?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:955e4823-0be1-44ef-9ee7-99a63794e103Discussion:79a10e4a-7536-42e6-9f6c-35703661b0e3Post:c50e0232-1fde-4d4b-9b68-ef607d1dc533">Re: Butler Service</a>:
[QUOTE]seems like i'm the only one that is doing family style.  We are going to have servers to make sure that the dishes on the table don't run out.  i'm having 35 appetizers on the table when the guests arrive.  For dinner, the servers will bring out platters of bbq chicken, grilled steak, fish, rice and potatoes.  I'm also having the alcoholic drinks on the table and of course with mixers like oj, coke, sprite.  The cake will be passed out by the servers with the bubbly wine. 
Posted by paulette1979[/QUOTE]

OMG your dinner sounds reallly good! :)