how many plates per guest?

frognjessi

We're having a buffet... what''s the rule of thumb for this?  Cake plates?  Salad bowls?TIA!

e8jackson6

I don't think that most people go up for seconds at a wedding buffet.  I'd probably get about 50% more plates than guests, just to be on the safe side.  But I doubt you'd even need that many.Cake plates, you really just need one per guest.

frognjessi

Thank you!

marburs

well, probably best to have too many rather than not enough.  I agree with pp- probably 1.5 per person, maybe a little less even.  And yeah- only one cake plate. Not everyone has cake, and hardly any has seconds.  Are you hainv g acookie table? Do you want plates for that or just napkins?

frognjessi

We are having a cookie table... what should I have for that... plates or napkins?

e8jackson6

We had plates for the cookie table.  Lots of people like to pile on a bunch of cookies and then bring them back for the table - so I think plates are easier.

jezebell

Best to have too many than not enough.  You might get some funny people (like me) where they use more than one plate because certain foods can't touch other food.  Yeah, I know, I'm weird.  lol I also think that napkins for cookies are enough.  Do whatever you want (and whatever fits into the budget).

AMK2009

It's definately better to have more than enough than to run out.  Depending on how much they cost, I'd probably do 2 per guest, which would be more than enough, but you wouldn't be worrying about running out.  Plus you can always use leftovers for a party or something.  Or maybe you could even return any that are unopened?  Salad bowls and cake plates, maybe 1 per guest, and have some extras.  For the cookie table, we were planning on having plates, but completely forgot about getting them until the day before the wedding, and I just said screw it.  So we only had napkins, and that worked out just fine.

marburs

I'd say either napkins or plates are fine. However, if you are having cookies as an appetizer- plates might be better, cuase people will be hungrier before dinner, and want to pile them on, plus plates will be easier for them to walk around and migle before dinner. But if the cookies are coming out after dinner, then napkins will be plenty. People won't pile them as much- and they will probably go sit and eat their cookies. Just a thought.

frognjessi

Thank you so much ladies!