Food at the reception ...?

Question

I really want to have a plated dinner but my fiance thinks it will be too expensive so she would rather have a buffet. What is the average price for each?

Answer 1

Depends on where you are and what you do.

Where do you plan on having the reception?

Look around at the caterers and compare prices of per plate and how much it is for a buffet.

Answer 2

It really varies from state to state & reception site to reception site. Here are a few other things to consider though!
1.. Some places have minimums based on your guest count.
2. When you have a plated dinner, the portions are already there for you. When the food on the plate is gone, it's gone.
For buffets, you have to make extra sure that you buy more than you think you need, because you certainly don't want to run out of food!
3. Guests will not think anything of eating their allotted portions on a plated meal and being finished with it. A buffet encourages people to go back for more!
4. Most sit down dinner prices include salad, entree with starch & veggie, bread, butter, water, coffee, & tea. (some even include a dessert course). Buffet prices include food only. You will have to add all the other, and may feel compelled to try and have some items from each food group. Sometimes by the time you add in all the drinks and extras, it is not any cheaper!

Answer 3

Well, a plated dinner is going to be a lot more expensive:
You will have to spend money on each plate setting, you will need a salad, a nice portion of meat and then each side......

I am doing a buffet.... Not only do I not have the spend the 24.95 a person for the sit down dinner, but I have family that is going to do a lot of the cooking for the buffet- you can do a bunch of heavy appetizers, etc.

But in my opinion, I didn't pick the buffet just for the price. I did it so everyone would feel relaxed, more at home. Think about it, would you feel more comfy sitting with a bunch of people (some may be strangers) at a sit down dinner eating proper, or just going through a buffet of simple, finger foods and taking your time, and mingling with the guests? I just don't want anyone feeling out of place:):)

Answer 4

Depends where you are and what you are looking to get. Different places in the country (world?) will be different prices. For example, here in MA if you are in Cambridge, or downtown Boston you'll be looking at $200 a plate. A hotel just as nice in say, Western MA would only be $80 per plate. So it's all about location. And of course, what are you serving! Just go check out some places, and have them give you price lists. It's very common just to be checking things out first. And then make a budget to see what you can afford. In general, plated is nicer, however there are also some amazing buffets. You dont' want to get a buffet and then have cheap food, if you want to have a nice formal affair. But you can go crazy will buffets so that it actually costs more per person. . . .It's all about choices. You'll need to sit down with ALL options and do some serious planning. Both can be just as nice, and it will be a special day no matter what. Just make sure it comes across as well planned, elegant, and everyone has a good time!

Answer 5

Buffet is definately cheaper than a seated dinner. The costs will vary based on what you want and how many guests you have. With a plated dinner, you have to hire more people to serve and clear the plates. Buffet is perfectly fine. You can do a hybrid also. Plated salad, and then buffet dinner.

Good luck. Sorry I am not giving you prices, but it varies so much that I don't want to give a number. Just check around places, make sure your reception venue doesn't have a prefered caterer.

Answer 6

It depends on your caterer! I am getting married in MA and the caterer we are usung its about the same price its 40.00 a head for buffet and 38.00 a head for sit down! The reason for this is because even though you do not have to be served dinner in a buffet the amount of food quanity differs! As opposed to a sit down the chef makes a plate for one person and no extra! At a buffet people may help themselves to larger quanities of certain items! Whatever is left over is thrown out this is why you will notice they will be around the same price! Also whoever your caterer is just ask them nicely if it is really a necessaity to charge you a cake cutting fee! I told my caterer it was a ridiculous way to earn more money and he put in our contract that there will be no cake cutting fees!! Good Luck!!!

Answer 7

It really depends on where you live, the venue, and of course your menu selection (lobster is definitely going to cost more than spaghetti!).

As a general rule, though, sit down dinners will be more expensive than buffet.

Another thing to consider: How large is your reception going to be? Trust me - a sit-down dinner for more than about 75-100 gets tricky - the caterer has to make sure ALL the food's ready to serve at the same time, and served warm. It's a tough balancing act! I've eaten MORE than my share of cold, dry chicken to last me the rest of this and half of the next lifetime.

Something else to consider in serving options - family style! I've been to several weddings where the meal was served family style, and it was really enjoyable! The caterers/servers will bring platters of each meal out to the table and they get passed around like they would at Thanksgiving dinner. It's a little more formal than a buffet, but not as formal as a full sit-down.

Answer 8

Plated dinners demand more service/ labor and so the price is generally higher.The other drawback is that guests change their mind about what they want to eat and that can cause major problems. In our section of the country a buffet with china linens etc. for beef and chicken plus appetizers and salads, rolls etc. the average is $25.00 for Upper No. California. Napa and S.F. about $42.00 and up. I've seen wedding cake in the Napa area for $40.00 per serving. Shop around get recomendations. If this style of dinner is important to your bride to be she and you may take a good look at your budget and decide to let go of some other ideas or items.

Answer 9

Plated meals are lovely, my only concern with that is you then have to choose a pretty "normal" meal in case people don't like what they are given, you can't go with anything too spicy etc, and then you have to think about allergies, buffets are great as you can have loads of things and people can choose what they want to eat, both can be equal in cost depending on what foods you choose, I'd rather be given the choice of a buffet than have to force down a meal that I don't like to be polite

Answer 10

I depends, but at our venue the buffet is alot more expensive than the seated meal. This is because they have to make more of each buffet item so they dont run out. With seated dinners they have a head count and know howmany to make along with a few extra helpings for people who want seconds or guests who dont rsvp but show up.

There will be no way to tell unless you call up for pricing.