June 2012 Weddings

Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?

So we went and tasted the food on saturday for the caterer we will be using (check btw!!). We went to an event that they were doing and it happened to be a buffet wedding.
It was absolutely gorgeous but what threw me was that they had the tables set up for a sit down dinner (plates at every seat)!?!

I have never seen this for a buffet style! I absolutely love the look, and feel plates on the table add a nice polished look to the room....

but I'm not sure about making my guests carry their plates up to the buffet line!!! (which for our event will be out in the corridor, sounds weird but the setup works:))!

Just curious if anyone has ever seen this or attended a wedding where they had to carry their plates up to get food?! and or what are your thoughts?!

Edit.....
we will be having a coctail hour (hr and a half) from 5:00 to 6:30, would plates on the table be in the way if were serving drinks and appitizers?!

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Re: Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?

  • I've never attended a wedding like this, but we always do this at my aunt's house for holiday's and it works out great. 

    I think it'll be nice for your guests because they'll have already found a seat before they get their food. This way they won't be balancing plates of food and looking for a table at the same time.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_table-settings-buffet-style-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:a0ffba01-6db1-4682-b8a4-82da3899c405Post:2fbd09dd-049d-471e-bdf3-69f2592e52ac">Re: Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I've never attended a wedding like this, but we always do this at my aunt's house for holiday's and it works out great.  <strong>I think it'll be nice for your guests because they'll have already found a seat before they get their food. This way they won't be balancing plates of food and looking for a table at the same time.</strong>
    Posted by kelsey+brandon[/QUOTE]

    <div>the dinner wont be served for an hr and a half after the reception starts, Im thinking everyone would have found their plated at this point. which leades me to another q! see edit!</div>
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  • We are actually thinking about doing this. Because, i agree with you, the plates add a polished look.

    I've never seen it done before and I'm not too sure about the logistics of it all (will they remember to take their plates up with them?? They will, right?) But I think it's a great idea!

    I'm interested to hear what others have to say :)
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  • The last wedding I attended had a buffet dinner, and I think they had everything except the dinner plates on the table. There were small plates for appetizers on the tables and the dinner plates were by the buffet. I liked it because the tables weren't bare, but we didn't have to take our own plates up.
  • What if you just put a charger at the place setting and leave the plates at the buffet? You'll still get the look without worrying about logistics... unless of course people use chargers as a dinner plate.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_table-settings-buffet-style-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:a0ffba01-6db1-4682-b8a4-82da3899c405Post:b6d6a31e-a04c-499d-ad86-c3aa822da165">Re: Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?</a>:
    [QUOTE]What if you just put a charger at the place setting and leave the plates at the buffet? You'll still get the look without worrying about logistics... unless of course people use chargers as a dinner plate.
    Posted by diamondx423[/QUOTE]

    <div>Woudl love to do this but it is a cost I siumply cant justify :(</div>
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_table-settings-buffet-style-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:a0ffba01-6db1-4682-b8a4-82da3899c405Post:cf4d6714-4c38-4599-83ed-e13a26b79f78">Re: Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?</a>:
    [QUOTE]What is a charger? lol
    Posted by midgetthemighty[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>Midge its a fancy plastic plate that you would set your dinner plate on top of :)</div><div>
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_table-settings-buffet-style-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:a0ffba01-6db1-4682-b8a4-82da3899c405Post:b6d6a31e-a04c-499d-ad86-c3aa822da165">Re: Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?</a>:
    [QUOTE]What if you just put a charger at the place setting and leave the plates at the buffet? You'll still get the look without worrying about logistics... unless of course people use chargers as a dinner plate.
    Posted by diamondx423[/QUOTE]

    This is exactly what I was thinking.

    Midge- A charger is a larger decorative plate that goes beneath the dinner plate.
  • Oh, wasn't quick enough!

    I don't know what overall look you're going for or your budget, but have you looked into wholesale, thrift stores, or renting?

    Also, kipnus' suggestion could work really well too.
  • Thanks! I am so unknowledgeable about those kinds of things. I'm one of those people who never understand the necessity of different forks and plates for different parts of the meal.

    At the last wedding we were at, they had chargers and small plates on top of them already at the table. Even though everything else was buffet, they brought the salad to the tables which is what the plate was supposed to be for. FI and I both took those plates to the cheese/cracker/fruit table and got strange looks from the waitstaff when the salad was brought out. Sorry, I need instructions for these kinds of things. :)
  • I'm right there with you Midge no worries.

    I do like the idea of small plates for the appetizers if that's an option, it gives you the look you want and hopefully people realize they're small plates meant for that.  I think of the buffet weddings I've been to there hasn't been a dinner plate already at the place setting, just the other stuff.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_table-settings-buffet-style-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:a0ffba01-6db1-4682-b8a4-82da3899c405Post:619f416a-e7ee-4ee2-9040-4f5b13101c27">Re: Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Oh, wasn't quick enough! I don't know what overall look you're going for or your budget, but have you looked into wholesale, thrift stores, or renting? Also, kipnus' suggestion could work really well too.
    Posted by AshnRobo[/QUOTE]

    <div>I have but a buck a piece is about the average and even that 150 or so spent is not worth it in my mind :) if I was going for something with a more elegant feel maybe...!</div>
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  • I have been to two weddings (both at the same venue, lol) in which our plates were at our table and we had to take them up to the buffet. Honestly, it was fine. No big deal.

    We have to do buffet style at our reception, and now that I think about it, I'm not sure what the do about the plate thing (they do a ton of weddings and have strict set-up). Hmm...
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  • I'm glad someone brought this up.  FI asked me the other day when we were discussing seated or buffet.
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  • I am also doing a buffet. I like the idea of plates at the tables, to make them look finished and not so empty, but aren't you supposed to get a new plate each time? Will they have new ones up at the buffet?

    I think you can do it either way. I was thinking about doing folded napkins with the silverware in them on the tables. And having the plates at the buffet. Not sure though.
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  • We're having a buffet (it's the norm here) and I'm leaning towards having place settings on the table, just for the simple fact that I like the way it looks. I figure it's a pretty low maintenance thing to ask the guests to bring it with them to the buffet. :)
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_table-settings-buffet-style-dinner?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:a0ffba01-6db1-4682-b8a4-82da3899c405Post:2fbd09dd-049d-471e-bdf3-69f2592e52ac">Re: Table settings for buffet style dinner?!?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I've never attended a wedding like this, but we always do this at my aunt's house for holiday's and it works out great.  I think it'll be nice for your guests because they'll have already found a seat before they get their food. This way they won't be balancing plates of food and looking for a table at the same time.
    Posted by kelsey+brandon[/QUOTE]
    Agreed, That was the setup at my work party and it worked out well
  • Im having buffet style. Not only is it better to me, its much cheaper than banquet style.
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  • I think the plates at the table make the dinner a little more formal.  We're going to have a buffet style too (the only option allowed at our venue/caterer) and plan on setting the thank you favors on the plates before dinner.
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  • We are doing a buffet dinner and are considering doing a charger plate for decoration in purple or champagne to match our colors. Christmas tree shop has sales on then for $1 each sometimes. Then you can go on the knot and resell them to another bride when you're done so you get some of your money back! I always see ladies looking for them on here
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  • lilhenry89lilhenry89 member
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    edited April 2013
    We are also doing buffet style but our utensils provided by our caterer  the silver heavy plasticware :( and the plates are the  clear "fancy"  plastic ones. I thought about wrapping the silverware in napkins  dont have the budget for linen.. sigh..  We tossed around the idea of a crossword puzzle and thank you note at each setting.. any thoughts?
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