HELP with buffet etiquette

ginamloyd · November 2010

Im having an outdoor rustic wedding. We're doing a buffet, and doing escort cards with assigned tables. Im still not sure if Im going to do catering or just homemade food. I need advise on what to do with the plates after people eat. I dont want to pay for a staff (this is a tight budget wedding). Is it tacky to have paper plates and have people trash them themselves? Id rather not cause I really liked the idea of having mismatched styled vintage plates...HELP !!

kaesha · November 2010

Have you thought about hiring some students to set and clear plates? I love the vintage mismatched plate look, but you definitely need someone to go around to the tables - I think paper plates are pretty tacky... especially if you're doing escort cards and assigned seating.

sb9411 · November 2010

Love the vintage mismatched plates. They add such flavor.

fallbride1109 · November 2010

Although I am not a fan of paper plates, since you're having an outdoor wedding I would suggest the heavy plastic ones that almost look "real." (Although I am not sure what they are or where to find them I have seen girls swear that you can hardly tell the difference.)

I much prefer the vintage china--but you'll definitely need to find someone to clear them. If your local board is active, check there for suggestions on who you could hire to help.

ginamloyd · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_buffet-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:dcdb1431-c13a-40db-8c90-010c1e0ac582Post:60d5e3bd-9441-448a-ae95-7523f7d3ed5a">Re: HELP with buffet etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]Although I am not a fan of paper plates, since you're having an outdoor wedding I would suggest the heavy plastic ones that almost look "real." (Although I am not sure what they are or where to find them I have seen girls swear that you can hardly tell the difference.) I much prefer the vintage china--but you'll definitely need to find someone to clear them. If your local board is active, check there for suggestions on who you could hire to help.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

Ive heard about the 'real' looikng plates also. My heart is set on the vinatge plates though. I came across this blog of wedding that is basically like mine. Heres what she did: After people ate we had a few wood crates (purchased for cheap from JoAnn's Fabric), set out next to the trash cans. A few people were in the know about this ahead of time and set the tone for others to do the same. Some people left their dishes on the tables, which we just picked up the next morning during clean-up. <a href="http://abackyardwedding.blogspot.com/search/label/dishes" rel="nofollow">http://abackyardwedding.blogspot.com/search/label/dishes</a>
<strong>THOUGHTS??</strong>

lisab613 · November 2010

you know your guests the best. if it seems like it won't be a big deal to put plates in crates after they're done eating, go for it! to me, i think it's fine, it seems like it goes with your overall theme and tone.

Ashes_3 · November 2010

We are doing heavy duty plastic plates so you can just throw them away!

RebeccaB88 · November 2010

I would rather eat catered food off paper plates than questionable homemade food off real plates.

ckonidak · November 2010

Gotta agree with Rebecca.... the quality of the food is much more important than what I'm eating it off of.

However, if you're set on the vintage plates (way cute) I'd probably follow Kaesha's advice and see if you can hire local students to clear the tables. But whatever works for you!

I Want Cake · November 2010

The vintage china would be so awesome, and really add to the feel of your reception. As long as you've got the means to wash all of those and have a space for the dirties, I say go for it.

My concern with anything disposable besides true paper plates is how un-green they are and the environmental aspect of this waste from a large event. Even the nicer Chinette plates are meant to be thrown out afterward. You can buy more eco-friendly disposable items, but they cost a lot more and most people don't make the effort.

jesiwid · November 2010

COSTCO! I am doing the plastic plates for my wedding as well but if you go to costco they actually have some that kind of look like your vintage ones. They come in bulk so it works well for a large wedding. I cant stand dirty plates infront of me after I am finished so I think disposable is the best way to go. Costco also has matching vintage plastic cups and small h'ordeuvres plats as well.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · December 2010

You might be able to find brides on your local who you could switch with - you "work" their wedding and they work your wedding.

ginamloyd · December 2010

Thanks msmerymac ! Great idea !!

ginamloyd · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_buffet-etiquette?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:dcdb1431-c13a-40db-8c90-010c1e0ac582Post:47f3d873-980f-4d1d-9d98-12e65e71f52d">Re: HELP with buffet etiquette</a>:
[QUOTE]COSTCO! I am doing the plastic plates for my wedding as well but if you go to costco they actually have some that kind of look like your vintage ones. They come in bulk so it works well for a large wedding. I cant stand dirty plates infront of me after I am finished so I think disposable is the best way to go. Costco also has matching vintage plastic cups and small h'ordeuvres plats as well.
Posted by jesiwid[/QUOTE]

Are you buying them at Costco online or at store? Can you send me link to the plates? Thanks for the suggestion.

George7211 · December 2010

I have back yard parties every year so when we decided to have a BBQ wedding nothing scared me except the actual party I know what I do in the past( keep food tables clean and full, keep ice fresh, clear tables that people have walked away from, pick up cups and things to keep party looking clean,bring left over food in house and put away, ect....) so we are hiring two local waitress for the party part.to be me (LOL) with all our expenses it will be well worth the money to not see things that would bother me or have my guest feel they should do it.

nepenthes_pyre · January 2011

We are also doing vintage mismatched plates for our outdoor wedding. We're doing a buffet, but set tables and assigned seating. I think if you were planning a picnic type reception, plastic plates and homemade food would be fine. If you want anything more upscale then that, stick with the china and catered food. It's such a neat idea, and will add so much ambiance to your event. We are also on a tight budget, but we are hiring a few students from the local college to clear plates and clean up. SInce it's a buffet, you can probably get away with them showing up for an hour or two and it will be sufficient to clear the tables. And the head chef from that college is doing the food. Think outside the box of typical "wedding caterers" and you can save a lot of money. Good luck!

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