Buffet vs. plated for 200 people

With that many people, I would say plated. I hate standing in buffet lines regardless. I couldn't imagine standing in one for a 200 person wedding.

Not exactly buffet, but we went to a wedding with about 220 people and it was stations. It legit took FOREVER to get all the food. I was hungry and pissed.

I love buffets, honestly. It allows me to pick what I would like to eat rather then what the couple picked as the plate.

I think plated would go faster, but plated is just better to me.

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Agreed. I prefer buffets personally, but plated would be quicker.

Would it be possible to set up two buffet lines?

View Quoted Comment I'm checking with the venue/catering would 2 buffet lines be enough?

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I would say so, even better though if you can serve from both sides of the line.

We can't serve from both sides, because the catering staff serves the actual food from one side.

I would say plated with that many people. It'll be easier to get everyone food in a timely manner.

I prefer plated. I think it's more formal and much classier. I've talked to some people that prefer buffet, usually because you get two proteins & more sides. I would say plated would be more timely, but if the caterer releases tables in good time the buffet shouldn't take too long. Our guests are sitting to a plated salad, then will be released to the buffet one table at a time.

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I agree with this; it definitely feels more formal

How formal is the wedding? If it’s more on the casual side I would find it strange to have a plated meal. But if people are in tuxes I would find it strange to have a buffet.

View Quoted Comment Cocktail attire

I love buffet but I'd say plated as well because of lines. Don't want then in line for an hour (first person to last) where the first people have already finished eating and are now bored and the last people may feel rushed, etc

I would say with that many people, go plated! Unless you have multiple buffet lines (like one on each side of the room...) can you imagine being the last group in line?! Everyone else would be finished eating by the time you sat down! We went to a wedding last year that was a buffet for 180ish people - we were one of the first tables to be "dismissed" to the buffet line (they had the best of intentions in keeping the lines down by going table by table...) and it was honestly weird to see that by the time our plates were clear and we were ready to head to the dance floor, there were tables just getting up to eat for the first time. It was also weird to see half of the guests in the buffet line during the father daughter dance, mother son dance, etc. It just wasn't ideal for that size of a party.

While I see the appeal of the "pick your own plate" idea of the buffet, I just feel like at a larger party, plated is the way to go - especially if it's the same price. Just my thought!

I always prefer plated. Service is generally quicker, and the fliw if the event more butseamless. Having a composed plate is visually more appealing than that happens with a buffet. Going through a buffet when the trays of food are getting empty and the table is beginning to get messy is pretty off putting. Also, buffets take up a lot of floor space, particularly when you'll need multiple lines/tables because of the number of guests.

I always prefer buffet because you can pick, the food usually tates better and isn't the typical dried out plated wedding meal and it gives people more of an option. If you have good caterers and your DJ is good at keeping track of announcing tables to get their food, the line will go by pretty fast.

I 100% of the time prefer plated. No matter how fancy the buffet I always think it looks cheap and no matter what people say, there is no easy/efficient/good way to get a ton of people through a buffet line without making people wait.

If the price is the same, definitely plated. There is more organization involved and people are less likely to be standing in lines the entire party.

I would do plated if I were you

We are doing buffet and having like 170ish people. I prefer buffets anyways.

I was originally going to do stations, but we just recently changed to plated due to the fact that we are inviting about 240 people. Even with stations, lines woulda just been way too long. I want people to spend time enjoying their meal, but I also don’t want it to take 2 hours