Happy Friday, friends! I want to thank all of the awesome brides who submitted a wedding-related question in response to last week’s post! I received a great amount of questions that will be answered in a few For Brides posts throughout the next couple of weeks! I picked three random names for the Starbucks gift cards and am happy to announce the winners: Se’era, Julia and Katherine! Woo hoo I’ll be reaching out to you all soon!!
So let’s get right to it! Many of the questions were directly related to planning the wedding (YAY!) so some of them will be answered by me and some will be answered by other amazing local wedding vendors! Today we’ll be covering a question submitted by Lianne who wanted to know the pros and cons of Buffet vs. Plated Meals. I’ve enlisted my sweet friend from Holly of Just Dandy Events to answer this question because it’s right up her alley! Take it away, Holly!!
Holly: The debate between serving a plated dinner and offering a buffet is one I help my couples with all too often. And to be honest, there’s no black or white about it. It all depends on where your priorities lie and what type of atmosphere you are going for. Buffets tend to create a more laid back atmosphere while a plated dinner is usually a perfect pairing for a more formal wedding. However, I’ve both attended and coordinated casual weddings that rocked plated dinners and formal weddings that had great buffets!Many people are under the impression that one option is always more expensive than the other, but that may not be true in all cases. While the buffet requires less staff than a plated dinner, it also requires more food since your guests will have the ability to get second and even third helpings. So it might not be best to base your decision between the two solely on cost. Here’s a little comparison that I present to my couples to help them choose which option is best for their big day.
Buffet
Pros:
There is something for everyone on a buffet; guests aren’t limited to the usual “chicken or fish”.
A buffet relieves the need for arranged seating and promotes more socializing and mingling among guests.
Cons:
Since guests have to leave their seats to get food, they are usually “tapped” to go to the buffet a couple of tables at a time to prevent a bottleneck effect. This causes your guests to eat in waves, which can significantly impact the timeline for the night. Depending on the number of guests, this can also cause the later tables to have food that is cold or even over cooked.
Plated
Pros:
All guests eat at the same time, creating a seamless timeline for the evening and ensuring that everyone’s food is the right temperature.
Since a plated dinner is served directly to the guests at their seats, they are able to relax and socialize at their tables.
Cons:
A plated dinner creates the need for arranged seating and escort cards.
Woo hoo thanks Holly!! You gave SUCH great insight and you are a true resource for brides! Be sure to visit Holly on her website 🙂 For other wedding planning posts, browse through the For Brides category and stay tuned next week for more of your questions answered!
