Buffet vs. Plated

[Deleted User] · December 2011

What are you ladies doing?

We were planing on buffet and we are now debating because the plated is cheaper. But we have been to weddings with plated and left hungry. With buffet each person can get the amount that they will eat/want.

StephieGentile · December 2011

Personally, we're doing plated (cook to order w/ printed menu). Honestly, I do not like buffet weddings because I instantly think cheap... but I don't know why. ( I hope you don't take offense!)

I would go plated!~

starryangelz72 · December 2011

We are doing buffet based on budget, and it's also what we have seen at multiple weddings. And I also agree, with plated food sometimes it's not enough and normally left hungry, so we figured this way, like a PP said they can get a helping size they like. So it may also be regional, or based on past family weddings.

mbatzlaff · December 2011

We haven't decided for sure, but we are leaning toward buffet because its cheaper and because we have some guests who are picky eaters. This way they can pick and chose what they want. I'd prefer plated, because I think its a little fancier and more wedding appropriate. I don't know.

colstj1 · December 2011

We are doing plated. At our venue the cost it pretty much the same and I don't want some of my older family members having to worry about getting up and getting into a line to eat. But I was a caterer for about 6 years and either way ends up working just fine. It usually depends on the cost and your guests.

Ajoyd · December 2011

We are doing plated for many of the reasons above: I don't like the idea of our guests having to stand in line for food and I just think it is more elegant. We are offering three different meal options and I really don't think anyone will leave hungry between hors d'oeurves during cocktail hour and a three to four course meal. One option similar to a buffet but a little more fun is food stations.

StephBeanWed61502 · December 2011

Plated is what's common around here, and honestly, I've never left a plated wedding hungry, so I guess I don't really understand the concern, but I know catering standards may be different elsewhere (here, the standard "plated" meal at a wedding is 3-5 courses). I also think plated is a little classier - the whole "lining up to get your food" thing at a buffet annoys me, especially because the lines are usually too long, and I'm always freaking out that I'm going to drop or spill something on my nice clothes.

[Deleted User] · December 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_august-2012-weddings_buffet-vs-plated?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1fb748ee-7a4e-40eb-b4b4-e553486f4cacDiscussion:e387f0a0-e7ff-4f1a-bcab-622c583f0b9dPost:c780d365-eb2e-456c-8589-75a500bde0e9">Re: Buffet vs. Plated</a>:
[QUOTE]Plated is what's common around here, and honestly, I've never left a plated wedding hungry, so I guess I don't really understand the concern, but I know catering standards may be different elsewhere (here, the standard "plated" meal at a wedding is 3-5 courses). I also think plated is a little classier - the whole "lining up to get your food" thing at a buffet annoys me, especially because the lines are usually too long, and I'm always freaking out that I'm going to drop or spill something on my nice clothes.
Posted by StephBeanWed61502[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Okay I see there may be a difference. Here you get a salad and a your meal. Its not a 3-5 course meal. So the portions are smaller, that is all I meant by some people going home hungry. </div>

random4180 · December 2011

I'm probably planning to go buffet. I'm also from an area where the norm is probably 3-5 courses but as a vegan, it would likely not all be something I can eat. And I know a lot of picky eaters (including kids) who would leave a plated meal hungry. I don't mind eating salad and potato wedges at an event but it's annoying to me when I can't have more of an option. People tend to think of salads and veggies as sides and that just doesn't work for a lot of vegetarians/vegans. I don't think it's tacky or anything like that to have a buffet and I think I'd prefer my guests have the freedom to choose their serving size. I mean, what if someone's steak isn't done to their taste? In a buffet scenario, they could just go back up and get another choice or more of the sides. With a plated meal, that just seems like getting more food or seconds would be more trouble. Granted, I haven't been to a lot of weddings but I have been to a lot of formal buffet events and haven't found the buffet to be regrettable.

StephBeanWed61502 · December 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_august-2012-weddings_buffet-vs-plated?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:1fb748ee-7a4e-40eb-b4b4-e553486f4cacDiscussion:e387f0a0-e7ff-4f1a-bcab-622c583f0b9dPost:63fe7cf9-c1cc-4cf9-9ef8-8dfc4c4fd55c">Re: Buffet vs. Plated</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Buffet vs. Plated : Okay I see there may be a difference. Here you get a salad and a your meal. Its not a 3-5 course meal. So the portions are smaller, that is all I meant by some people going home hungry.
Posted by halie520[/QUOTE]

That makes sense. The catering halls are very homogenized in my area - once someone starts offering something, they all offer it - so it's really not uncommon, even at "budget" halls, to get at least a 3 course meal. If it's just a salad and dinner portion, I can see how you might be concerned, depending on the size of the portions offered.

bmetz34 · December 2011

We're doing a take on a buffet. I liked the idea of plated better, b/c I think it's more elegant to be served than to serve yourself. But with the extra staff needed to do plated, it was out of our budget. We're doing stations, so the standing in line problem should be solved. Our caterer was very flexible with whatever we wanted to do. This way, people can just go up to whatever station they want, for seconds, and not have to wait in line all over again. Plus we won't have any elderly people there to really worry about having trouble. And our wedding planner will be grabbing food for us while we're walking around saying hi, so we won't have to worry about lines.

jennifer.carrier · December 2011

Hey Ladies.. i'm in the NJ area ...

I am doing an on going Cocktail Party which isn't CHEAPER it's actually the same cost as a sit down dinner the cost stays the same because the food will be non stop for 4 hours... We decided to do a Cocktail Party bc my FI and i LOVE cocktail Hour the vibe, the mingling and the food sooo we figured lets keep that going for the entire PARTY!!

We always enjoy the lavish cocktail hour the venues in my area offer but the worst part is being shown to your seat and having to sit for Salad and ect after you just grazed for an hour or 1hour 1/2 I feel like you loose your crowd and who really eats the dinner?

Good Luck Planner and do what works best for you and FI

rungirl12 · December 2011

I do think that plated is a bit more elegant, but ultimately don't think it matters. I am doing buffet, but I am the type that is irritated by plated because I don't know what the portion size is (and I am a hungry girl!) and I often don't like certain sides served. A good caterer is able to keep the buffet line moving and get it done efficiently.

When you do your tasting, is it possible to ask to see what the plated portion looks like? That may resolve your fear of people not getting served enough. Another thing to consider - if you're doing hors 'd ouerves and/or a late night snack, the portion becomes much less important because people will have access to other food options.

cshuler · January 2012

We really have not decided yet. I think it would depend on how formal your wedding reception will be.

msowena · January 2012

I actually prefer Buffets...but I know I am in the minority on here. I also prefer a less "elegant" feeling wedding so that may be part of my reason.

With that said, I am doing buffet because it's BBQ food and I think that would be odd to serve plated anyways.

In my area we also do the choice of soup or salad and 1 plated meal. The last wedding I went to I left hungry and wished that it was buffet style. And I am not a big eater or anything..I think I have a normal apetite.

If you really want plated, I would do what a PP suggested and ask your cateror/venue if you can see what a protion would look like. Good luck!

Buffet vs. Plated

Re: Buffet vs. Plated

Choose Another Board

Search Boards