I'm trying to decide how to feed the guests at my wedding reception. I always thought a sit-down dinner was the most elegant but I hear that many people are doing just passed hors d'ouvres and maybe a carving station. Any thoughts on the pros and cons of each choice? Also, what about a buffet dinner?
2006-06-14 12:38:39 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
It is true you can save some cash on a buffet however, in my experience, some caterers will give a better price for sit-down dinners because the food cost/portion estimates are more accurate. I beleive the inreased price for a sit-down is impacted by the need for additional wait staff. Sit-down dinners do add a higher degree of formailty and pampering for the guests if that is what you are shooting for. Buffets, on the other hand, eliminate the headache of creating a seating chart. It also affords guests a more relaxed social environment. Many folks are turned off by the notion of wondering who they will be seated with. Being "forced" into mixing by going to the buffet and carving stations makes it much easier on even the shyest of attendee. Keeping the menu simple for either setting will reduce costs as well. Guests are easy to please when they aren't paying for the meal!
2006-06-15 06:35:02 · answer #1 · answered by brideguy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that buffet style is the best way to go. First of all, your guests will be able to (to an extent) pick out the food that they like. This means, that no one will be wasting food (or your money!!) by trying to eat food they don't like, or worse, just throwing it away. Second of all, there will be people who are going to eat a little bit more than what would be served to them. These guests will have the option of getting up for refills (provided that everyone else has gotten firsts!!)
The only downside to buffet style, is that it will take the guests longer to get their food, just because of the lines. Which means, some guests will actually complain about how long they had to wait for a free meal (it's free to them!!).
A sit down dinner is very elegant, but the most costly. One pro to a sit down dinner is that everyone gets served at the same time, no long lines for them to wait in. A con would be that food a guest didn't like would basically be wasted.
Hope it helps and congrats!!
2006-06-14 14:59:30 · answer #2 · answered by prettycute4u62040 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BUFFET! For sure. These are much classier nowadays. Just think of a plated meal= there is a piece of meat and a side. Some people only eat the meat- others only eat the salad etc. There is a lot of wasted food. Some people are still hungry. W/ a buffet- there are more options and ppl only take what they want. You can include a carving station in this as well. Or you could do appetizer stations all over the room (including a carving sation/ baked brie and other cheeses/ sushi station/ etc)
This would be inventive and tasty!
Good Luck.
2006-06-14 16:58:06 · answer #3 · answered by bellytail 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always prefer a buffet, because inevitably I really don't like something on the sit down dinner plate. I like being able to pick what I like to eat. Passed hors d'ouvres and a carving station sounds really good to me because there are lots of choices and no one says anything if you don't eat what's on your plate. Just make sure you have enough of a variety of appetizers. Also a pasta station along with the carving station might be nice too. Good luck.
PS - I just read the comment about being hungry if you just serve appetizers, I don't think that's accurate. My cousin got married in New Orleans and that's the type of wedding they all have down there heavy hors d-ouvres and I was stuffed after his wedding. It was fun having all those different types of food.
2006-06-14 12:48:43 · answer #4 · answered by maigen_obx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that your sit down dinner would be the nicest, most elegent option. However, it would be the most expensive. If your fiance is a football player and you're inviting his whole college ball team, those guys will probably not think too highly of a tiny steak or a small piece of chicken. Consider a buffet if you want to give people the option to really fill up or in order to add more variety. Buffets can also be nice, but they are not as elegant. Decide if you are more concerned with guests impression of the elegence or thier impression of a meal. And consider your budget. Then decide what you think is most appropriate.
2006-06-15 04:03:50 · answer #5 · answered by rdnkchic2003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My wedding was buffet style and we saved a lot of money. I've gone to several weddings where people justed wasted the food because they was served it and did not like it. Having just hors d'ouvres will leave a lot of probably hungry guests that'll probably leave the reception early to go eat. I know you don't come to weddings to get full, but face reality, some do!
2006-06-14 12:45:24 · answer #6 · answered by T W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would like to get married later in the afternoon and then have a canape party for all of my guests with champagne and then my husband and I and our family would go off to dinner afterwards. That sounds really mean but as we are totally broke then this would be a good option for us as we just cannot afford to feed everyone with either a sit down dinner or a buffet, we don't want to have a party with dancing/disco/DJ so this seems a good solution, we can celebrate with our friends and then have dinner with family.
2006-06-15 01:30:57 · answer #7 · answered by sparkleythings_4you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A sit down dinner would be more orderly than a buffet if you were having a large wedding, but I think the idea of a carving station sounds great!
2006-06-14 14:54:05 · answer #8 · answered by stardust8529 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes sit down dinners are more elegant but they cost a bomb. (Depending on how many are invited)
Having gone to many weddings over last few decades I much prefer a buffet. As an allergies sufferer it is a blessing to have options as to what I can or can not eat. Usually buffets will give you a greater variety. They are also less formal so people tend to be more relaxed.
ps. may you have a very blessed day and marriage
2006-06-14 12:49:48 · answer #9 · answered by Laurie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hello I am getting married in August 26 of this year and we were recommended by the Caterer at our reception, which we are having at a golf coarse, that the buffet dinner was the way to go.
It gives your guest the chance to choose weather they want the chicken or steak. Also there is always leftovers with a buffet that many can get up if they are still hungry.
2006-06-14 12:48:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋