Buffet vs. Plated DInner?

KplusA · March 2012

I'm trying to decide between plated and buffet. I know buffet is cheaper, but has anyone ever had a bad experience with a buffet dinner? Which one are you going with? Thanks!

jessicabessica · March 2012

Buffet is not always cheaper. Don't count on that being true unless you have heard it from the caterer you are using.

We had a buffet. We had two identical buffets set up, so that there wouldn't be a long wait. We wanted a less formal feel.

I tend to like buffets because I like being able to pick out the items that I want (I'm a vegetarian, so I like being able to load up on sides, if needed). Although I am generally happy as long as food is tasty, plentiful, and served at the right temperature.

melb2013 · March 2012

We're having stations. This basically means that there are several different tables, which I like because there aren't usually lines for stations. Does your caterer offer such an option?

NOLAbridealmost · March 2012

We did "station-syle"/buffet. Down here the common way to do things is to have the food available the entire time from when guests arrive until just a few minutes before the bride and groom leave. No lines at all because there's constant food in supply.

It wasn't cheap at all.

chalfacre · March 2012

We are doing a buffet with the catering staff serving our guests.

lyndausvi · March 2012

DH flat out refused to eat off a buffet so we had a plated dinner.

As long as the food is good I don't mind either, but it does somewhat annoy me to have to walk around with a plate of food. Especially if I'm on the other side of the room from the buffet.

RebeccaB88 · March 2012

I've never had a really good plated dinner. Always cold, never like half the food I'm served so I go away hungry, always takes forever to get everyone served. I'm planning to do a buffet or stations, that way everyone can have what they like.

SuMmErKuTiE · March 2012

We had stations, as neither of us are fans of plated dinners. There either isn't enough, or we don't like the sides it comes with, or it's not hot enough. It's usually just "ok" where as with stations or a buffet you get a wide variety of things to pick from and you have the option to go back up for more. DH always has us hit up the drive-thru on the way home from plated dinner weddings because we're always so hungry afterwards.

I prefer stations over a buffet, but definitely still prefer the buffet over a plated dinner. We had a carving station with prime rib, ham, and turkey, a pasta station, a summer grille station, and a tuscan station. Our guests loved it, and I saw several people going back up for more.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · March 2012

We did plated. I prefer it because I think it has a little more of a formal feel than buffet, and the buffet doesn't have to take up room. It was the same cost for both at our venue.

getaclue44 · March 2012

We have a number of older people who won't be able to carry a plate and walk. For this reason my mom insisted on a plated dinner. The last buffet wedding I went to we were the last table and there wasn't enough of some of the food...needless to say we went home starving.

NOLAbridealmost · March 2012

I think at a great venue and/or with a great caterer, both plated and buffet meals should be tasty, hot, and plentiful.

With the food quality and quantity being equal, I still prefer buffet/stations to plated because it allows guests to choose which items they want and how much of each item they want and it allows for seconds. It also doesn't seem to take as long as plated dinners and I just don't know many people who are thrilled to spend nearly 2 hours sitting at an assigned table with people they may or may not know and like. I'd rather let guests plate up their food and then open the dance floor shortly after but keep the food available.

At our wedding, the stations opened immediately when guests arrived and stayed open for 3 hours, but the dancing started about 30 minutes after guests arrived. It worked out wonderfully. Those who wanted to dance could dance. Those who wanted to eat could eat. Those who wanted to eat, dance, and then eat some more could do that.

GAndrew12 · March 2012

Were going with buffet style. It is cheaper at our reception hall, and I really think it is just easier and more convenient for the guests.

clcranda · March 2012

We were going to do buffet, to give our guests more options, but at our reception hall, it is more expensive. Keep in mind that they have to prepare more food then they would for a plated dinner. That is why the price is higher. Same goes with family style. If you have a plated dinner they know how much to prepare (our place is definitely preparing more, they told us to encourage our guests to ask for seconds!)

melntaitt · March 2012

We're doing buffet but it's by no means cheaper. I thought about the plated dinner but the buffet offered better options instead of one option per guest.

The buffet catered by our venue has had rave reviews and I've had it before so I'm confident they will do a good job.

Peavy · March 2012

I prefer plated. It's more elegant, and I don't want to stand in line waiting to serve myself from a chafing dish that smells like sterno. I have found that even when you have the same food on the buffet or plated, the plated always tastes better.

vexie · March 2012

We had our ceremony and reception at a fine dining restaurant.... so their plated meals were fabulous

If we had decided on a different venue, however, I would have gone with the buffet because you just seem to have so many more choices with the buffet. I don't mind carrying my own plate (so long as you don't make me use a disposable plate!!)

ChristineNB · March 2012

We are doing buffet stations. I never even considered doing plated dinners as many of our guests are vegetarian, and others have specific dietary restrictions (ie no pork, vegan, etc). I don't know how you meet all those needs with a plated dinner where they might only be 2 or 3 choices. Also, I have been to a wedding that the caterer I picked did before and it was absolutely wonderful. Food was some of the best I ever had at a wedding, and with stations there really didn't seem to be lines. We will have 3 stations at our wedding for 90 people.

Buffet vs. Plated DInner?

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