NER: Buffet vs Plated Lunch Reception

AprilH81

This is one of the busier boards so I want to post this here even though it isn't strictly etiquette related.

I am trying to decide between plated and buffet for our lunch reception in January.  With 100% attendance we will have 84 guests (plus vendors) to feed so either option won't save/take much more time than the other.  Cocktail hour (light apps and open bar) will be from 11:30ish to 12:30.  Lunch will be served immediately after the first dance and cake cutting (around 1:00 pm).

Our venue just sent over some proposals and I can save $500 by have a PLATED lunch.  The benefits (in my mind at least) for doing this over the buffet are:

• Less money but still properly hosting our guests
• People don't have to stand in line or be released by tables to get their food
• The "extra service" of being served their food
• Special meal requests (gluten free, vegan, etc.) can be handled more discreetly

Cons of plated service:

• No opportunity for seconds (we will have some light appetizers, salad, entree w/ two sides, S'mores bar and wedding cake)
• Guests may want to change their mind about their entree at the last minute
• I have to manage the menue choice with the RSVP (not a big chore for a smaller group like ours)

Am I missing anything else?  My gut tells me to go with the plated lunch but I want to make sure I'm not missing something obvious.

Jen4948

Two costs of plated service is that it has to be served by staffers who have to get paid and tipped, and that this can take time, but I still tend to prefer this over buffets in general.

AprilH81

Jen4948 said:

Two costs of plated service is that it has to be served by staffers who have to get paid and tipped, and that this can take time, but I still tend to prefer this over buffets in general.

In our case plated will be CHEAPER than the buffet since they are not preparing two entrees for 82 people so they can pick and choose.

Our service charge includes the gratuity so we are covered there as well.

emmyg65

I'd o the plated option mainly because it saves money. Plus there's just something that feels fancier about it!

Jen4948

AprilH81 said:

Jen4948 said:

Two costs of plated service is that it has to be served by staffers who have to get paid and tipped, and that this can take time, but I still tend to prefer this over buffets in general.

In our case plated will be CHEAPER than the buffet since they are not preparing two entrees for 82 people so they can pick and choose.

Our service charge includes the gratuity so we are covered there as well.

Great!  I'd go for plated then.

Inkdancer

I'd definitely go plated! Being able to get seconds shouldn't be a problem since you're also including salad, apps, and dessert.

doeydo

I prefer plated meals at weddings and if it is cheaper for you, I definitely think you should choose the plated option.  ETA and "s"

photokitty

Agree with PPs, if it's cheaper I'd do plated. I think it is classier too. And at lunch I typically don't need seconds...I'll eat dinner later :-9 That's awesome that is saves you $500! Go April!!

grumbledore

I think the plated is the better option in your case although personally I prefer a buffet as a guest.

AprilH81

grumbledore said:

I think the plated is the better option in your case although personally I prefer a buffet as a guest.

@grumbledore Out curiosity, why?  

The $500 savings would be nice, but I will probably add a second app station that would eat half of that up anyway...  If I have some good reasons for the buffet I will still do it.

annathy03

At lunch seconds shouldn't be a big issue, esp with salad and dessert.

I'd go with plated, it just feels more formal.  But, that's what we're going for, so I may be biased

grumbledore

AprilH81 said:

grumbledore said:

I think the plated is the better option in your case although personally I prefer a buffet as a guest.

@grumbledore Out curiosity, why?  

The $500 savings would be nice, but I will probably add a second app station that would eat half of that up anyway...  If I have some good reasons for the buffet I will still do it.

Because I am a picky eater, plus almost every plated meal I've ever had at a wedding has been terrible.  I prefer to be able to pick and choose what I want and perhaps end up with a little more of one thing to compensate for something I don't like.  And I've always gotten a nice, warm meal from a buffet.

ktjanesmom

I am curious as to what the plated lunch consists of?  Knowing that I will decide whether or  not its "more fancy"

grumbledore

If you're thinking of upgrading with the savings, it would make more sense, imo, to pick the buffet.  There would be more food overall, guests would have more choice and flexibility.  You don't have a huge wedding though, so the good news is that a plated meal would likely come out quickly and in good shape, which is often not the case with larger parties.

MrsLillyG

go for plated.

thisismynickname2

I vote for plated. I always have the bad luck of arriving at the buffet when the last morsels of a tray are left and everything's barely lukewarm.

AprilH81

ktjanesmom said:

I am curious as to what the plated lunch consists of?  Knowing that I will decide whether or  not its "more fancy"

Right now the choices would be veggie lasagna, southern style pork chops and either meatloaf or a chicken dish.  All three would have two sides.  We haven't had our tasting yet so this could change.

 

These are also the options that would be on the buffet (only we would be limited to two entrees) and vegetarians would get a special plated meal (I only know of one guest who would be affected).

AprilH81

grumbledore said:

If you're thinking of upgrading with the savings, it would make more sense, imo, to pick the buffet.  There would be more food overall, guests would have more choice and flexibility.  You don't have a huge wedding though, so the good news is that a plated meal would likely come out quickly and in good shape, which is often not the case with larger parties.

Right now we just have a crudité display and open bar during cocktail hour. If we go plated I will take half of that savings and add a second display of chips and dips or something.  I would still net a savings of about $250

misssunshine17

My con for plated is that every.single.time the food has been cold and dry since it's sat in a hot box, even at a 100k wedding (which in my area is very extravagant). I would just stress the importance of warm food to your venue. I am also a picky eater, so I like the variety. 

manateehugger

Have you verified labor costs? 

Our reception food is much cheaper plated, but the service/labor costs make plated the more  expensive option over all. 

huskypuppy14

I think for your situation plated makes more sense. I usually prefer plated dinners, and agree it feels more fancy, but we are most likely having stations because it saves us  2000-4000 dollars (if we had full attendance) and there is a little more variety. I can't justify having a plated meal if it's going to be so much more expensive. 

I agree with other posters that because it's lunch, having seconds shouldn't be an issue.  

SP29

Personally I would go with a plated meal, as it is a bit more formal. I wouldn't worry about seconds with lunch, particularly if you are having apps, cake, and salad. 

I must say I'm actually quite a fan of meals served family style (big platters passed around), because then you can choose as much or as little as you want of an item, but then guests are also not standing in line. 

ei34

I'd go with plated.  It'll save a bit of money and it's fancier...double win!  Happy planning!

katieg520

emmyg65 said:

I'd o the plated option mainly because it saves money. Plus there's just something that feels fancier about it!

What she said!

cowgirl8238

I have been to weddings to with both styles and I strongly perfer plated meals.  Not only does it feel fancier, but typically the plated food is at the least warm.  I have been to two buffet receptions.  Both times I was either the last or second to last table to go and many people before us took way more than what the venue set aside for them, meaning very little scraps of food/stations that were picked clean already! Plus in one case it was ice cold.  By the time I reached the table they were already packing it away and nobody got a chance at seconds anyway!

At least with plated meals everyone is served around the same time and everyone gets a fair amount of food.  For a lunch you don't need to be serving a mountain of food anyway so I wouldn't be too concerned.  Plus it sounds like you have plenty of other things to keep the guests full and satisfied throughout the reception!  Honestly I would vote plated even it costed more but since you will be saving (hopefully even after the labor) I would definitly go with that choice.

Edit: Clarity/Spelling Fail

lauralee1723

I agree with pps that plated sounds like a better choice, especially when you consider what pps have said about people taking too much food from the buffet and there not being enough for everybody. With a plated meal, you know that everyone will get the same amount of food. Plus, I just feel like it's fancier to have a plated meal!

AprilH81

Thanks everyone!  I am double checking with the venue to make sure there are no additional staffing fees outside of the service charge.  Since the cost proposals were inclusive I think I know the right answer...  

FI is okay with plated so I think that is the way we are going to go unless the venue throws me a curve ball in the response.

I was honestly surprised that there are some people who prefer buffet, it is a viewpoint I hadn't considered.  I'm also a picky eater, so I hope our guests find something they like with the three entree choices.  The meals we have picked out are more "comfort foods" at this point.

ETA:  The venue confirmed that there are no additional staffing charges for plated and the service fee includes gratuity for both the bar staff and servers.  Plated meal it is!

southernbelle0915

Unless I'm at a fundraiser or a black tie event, I personally prefer a buffet or stations. I've been to way too many plated meal weddings where the food is cold. A lot of times, there's something I don't really like and I just eat the other stuff - I end up hungry. If it was a buffet or eat whatever you want/like at least people can load up on the stuff the want to eat. 

I realize this is a minority opinion, so maybe your best option is plated. It just seems like a buffet/stations give guests more options and they can get whatever they want.

AprilH81

southernbelle0915 said:

Unless I'm at a fundraiser or a black tie event, I personally prefer a buffet or stations. I've been to way too many plated meal weddings where the food is cold. A lot of times, there's something I don't really like and I just eat the other stuff - I end up hungry. If it was a buffet or eat whatever you want/like at least people can load up on the stuff the want to eat. 

I realize this is a minority opinion, so maybe your best option is plated. It just seems like a buffet/stations give guests more options and they can get whatever they want.

Actually in this case it give guests more options for the entree.  They can select from three plated entrees (all with a salad and two sides).  If we had a buffet it would only be two entree options.

southernbelle0915

AprilH81 said:

southernbelle0915 said:

Unless I'm at a fundraiser or a black tie event, I personally prefer a buffet or stations. I've been to way too many plated meal weddings where the food is cold. A lot of times, there's something I don't really like and I just eat the other stuff - I end up hungry. If it was a buffet or eat whatever you want/like at least people can load up on the stuff the want to eat. 

I realize this is a minority opinion, so maybe your best option is plated. It just seems like a buffet/stations give guests more options and they can get whatever they want.

Actually in this case it give guests more options for the entree.  They can select from three plated entrees (all with a salad and two sides).  If we had a buffet it would only be two entree options.

I mean the whole meal... For example, at weddings I've been to, the RSVP card might say "chicken, beef or vegetarian". Let's say I picked chicken and the chicken came with mashed potatoes and green beans. The chicken was dry, terrible and cold, so I only ate the mashed potatoes and green beans. It wasn't really enough for a meal since what was on the plate was portioned out. Now I'm hungry and there's nothing else to eat until dessert gets served.

I'm not trying to sway you either way, but it's just my experience that I've always like buffets and stations more because if there's a certain dish/side I like more, I can fill up on whatever I like versus hoping I like whatever is put in front of me.

GrrArgh

If your reception isn't very big, plated does seem better. If there are a lot of guests I recommend buffet, simply because you have more wiggle room if guests who "forgot" to rsvp show up. I hate the idea of turning anyone away at the door or someone not getting anything to eat.