Food Stations at thewedding....to do or not to do?

spaldo419 · September 2010

I'm getting married at cairnwood and chose to do stations without assigned seating,but now Im having secnd thoughts. What's good and/or not so good about food stations. If you have had or have been to a wedding with food stations. Please help me to decide... am I making the right decision? Its not too late for me to change mymind !!!

ooodsie · September 2010

I don't think there is anything wrong with having stations, but not having assigned seating can be an issue if you don't have more than enough extra seating in case a smaller amount of people take up an entire table.

My mom recently went to a wedding with stations and no assigned seating and ended up with 2 friends in the hallway eating because the tables were all full. The problem was the tables sat 10 people, so the bride and groom had only accounted for tables for the amount of people invited.. however, a lot of groups of 8 or so ended up at a table, and other people didn't want to split up, so therefore there were not enough seats for everyone.

drink227 · September 2010

I had stations at my wedding, but we had assigned seats.
As ooodsie said there will not be enough seats since groups want to sit together. Also some places that do stations do not have enough seats for everyone.

ButtonsPepper · September 2010

My brother had stations without assigned seating, I had stations with assigned seating. In my opinion, the assigned seating will work to your favor. It is a pain in the but to figure out who is sitting with who, and was a big headach, but I much rathered that, then everyone fending for themselves. My sister was at a table all the way in the back of the reception hall, my mom almost didn't get to sit where the rest of us sat, and families had to split up due to other people taking tables. First come first serve for seating at a wedding just didn't seem to work. I love that you can get what you want/how much you want at stations, but think that seating will really help you, and your guests come reception time.

I also had little menu cards made up, so before people got to the stations, they knew exactly what was there. It really seemed to help the line move, people knew what they were up there getting, and didn't have to search the whole thing, fill their plate, then miss what they really want/waste what they didn't really want.

CleverEuphemism · September 2010

I agree with all the other girls, assigned seating is a must. I went a wedding where DH was in the wedding party, and besides the head table (which dates were not seated at) there was no assigned seating. I didn't know anyone besides those in the wedding party, so I ended eating by myself at a table until the photographer sat with me. Needless to say, I didn't really enjoy my meal. It's a pain, but it's better in the long run for your guests and you, ie, no one will complan to you on your wedding day that they didn't get to sit with Great Aunt Bertha.

caraellen23 · September 2010

I went to a wedding a few years ago at Cairnwood with stations. Personally, it wasn't my favorite setup. The food was so spread out because of the layout of the space, I felt like I was hunting for food to put a plate together. Seating was an issue too, there weren't really enough seats and you had to save a place, and then go get your food and come back.

However, this arrangement worked out well for the couple and their particular needs. I see nothing wrong with having stations at a wedding in general. This particular one was not my style. The mansion is beautiful and overall it was a wonderful wedding.

Bride_to_be_2011 · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-philadelphia_food-stations-theweddingto-not?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:105Discussion:92e26262-2661-4b15-92c5-e349a7219447Post:8fa20d1e-341c-4953-a755-e44ea4749ddc">Re: Food Stations at thewedding....to do or not to do?</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree with all the other girls, assigned seating is a must. I went a wedding where DH was in the wedding party, and besides the head table (which dates were not seated at) there was no assigned seating. I didn't know anyone besides those in the wedding party, so I ended eating by myself at a table until the photographer sat with me. Needless to say, I didn't really enjoy my meal. It's a pain, but it's better in the long run for your guests and you, ie, no one will complan to you on your wedding day that they didn't get to sit with Great Aunt Bertha. ;)
Posted by CleverEuphemism[/QUOTE]

Awe this sounds so sad. I would have felt the same way :(

caraellen23 · September 2010

I don't want my post to sound negative.... the wedding didn't have anything that PP mentioned, like assigned seating and menu cards. Those definitely would have helped!

cll915 · September 2010

I am doing stations on Friday without assigned seating. Although I debated assigned seating, I am having a whole extra table over my head count to make sure those odd numbers dont happen ( which i believe cost me about $20 more because I have linens on chairs and tables.) My extire wedding consists of 100 guests and I want things to be light and comfortable. Most of my guests are close family and friends so i dont anticipate awkward circumsatnces.

My venue has a smaller ballroom which will make the room cozy but not clostrophobic so people can linger around and get moving on the dance floor. I think the assigned seating depends on your guests. All of my guests pretty much know one side of the family or the other.

Holy cow did i say Friday?!?!?!?!?!

taccoten · September 2010

We are doing stations next Saturday - no assigned seating, and only about 80% seating. My FSIL's wedding was like this, and honestly, no one ever even sat at the tables for the entire night. I guess it all depends on if you have a younger or older crowd. Most of our guests are young and won't sit for most of the night.

hugz415 · September 2010

we did stations and assigned seats. I had originally wanted to do no assigned seats but its too chaotic without IMO. I had a large wedding (190 guests) and I also wanted to be sure that my grandparents, etc all got prime seating to see all the first dances etc.

Loved how the flow of food stations turned out --- my guests all loved it too.

spaldo419 · September 2010

Wow ! Thank you all so much for all of the information ! I love the idea of giving the guests the menus so, they know what and where everything is ! Especially, with Cairnwood because the food will be in different rooms ! I still so confused ! I just want a huge cocktail party atmosphere, and feared that with assigned seating people wont move about. But, I do fear some people will feel left out too and not know where to sit ! If I do decide to go without assigned seating ... I will def ensure there are enough seats for everyone and then some !

spaldo419 · September 2010

I am still sooooooooooooo confused ! LOL The wedding isnt until April though so, I guess I still have a little time to decide ! But, If there is anyone out there that attneded a stations wedding without assigned seating.... please speak up now !!!
Thanks again everyone !

Food Stations at thewedding....to do or not to do?

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