Buffet/stations vs plated

View Quoted Comment I never thought about the cafeteria vibe, but you are so right! I grew up in the Midwest around cattle farms, so when I see people standing on line for a buffet, all I think about are cows coming over the hill in a single file line to the feeding trough 😆 Definitely not the vibe I’m looking for for my wedding!

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YES!! And, I know that probably is somewhat cultural too, buffet is much less common here and so the environments we come across it are similar to what you describe, haha!

I mean cows are kind of cute and I do love them, but not really the vibe I wanted for our wedding either, lol!

Yes, yes, YES to everything you said. Plus, a wedding I attended had special food carving stations ..... the lines were so long I wound up eating salad and rolls for my meal. We are having a plated meal for our reception. I am also including the meal choice descriptions in the invitation (pocket invites with lots of added info cards) , so people choosing "beef" will know exactly what the entree will be. So, no surprises when the meal is served.

View Quoted Comment Having detailed descriptions is super courteous because there are no surprises. Oddly on WW I have noticed that people are very anti description and feel like listing just “beef” is perfectly sufficient when it can cover so many things that will be a surprise if you are expecting one thing and end up with something else that you didn’t want.

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Thanks! Having been on the "surprised" end of many a wedding meal I really wanted clarity for my guests, especially since 85% will be traveling from out of state.

This gif 😂😂😂
I loooove cows…. But I agree, not the wedding vibe

View Quoted Comment What?! People on WW have expressed you shouldn’t give descriptions of food?? Have they said why?? I agree that descriptions are extremely helpful and beneficial to guests. Like, the more info the better!

View Quoted Comment Strange I know!! When I’ve seen it suggested to add descriptions to the reply card for plated meals, people say “guests don’t need that much information and basic beef or chicken is all they need to know”. Plus it seems like the couple would want to avoid food waste especially as expensive as those meals are.

Plated meals do feel more formal but honestly I tend to enjoy the food better in stations at a wedding. It also depends on how big a wedding you are having, buffet lines can get very long if it is a big wedding. Another thing to consider is if you have any guests who are transplant patients; I have a family members that are and they have been advised by their medical teams to avoid buffets. Good luck planning!

I was trying to decide the same. I liked the food for plated way more than the buffet. Like it even lets me choose the side items as well. That way you can pick what is your favorite. Sometimes I think you have to shop around for different caters that will fit what exactly you and husband enjoy. I believe that what matters is getting exactly what you love rather than thinking would the guests care.

I personally wanted buffet but my husband was really against it. he felt like buffets are large on food waste and he didn't want that

How much is everyone paying for plated meals? For us, a buffet is free, but plated meals cost $3.50 a person which really adds up if you have a lot of guests.

We’ll be having a buffet ~ it’s cheaper and it’s nice picking out your own food

View Quoted Comment Oh my gosh, $3.50 per person for a plated meal is a STEAL! Ours will be nearly $100/plate

View Quoted Comment I should rephrase that lol it’s $3.50 to plate the meal, so it would be an extra $500 or so, but the meal, alcohol, and hors d’oeuvres will be less than $60 a person which is apparently pretty cheap compared to what I’m seeing on WW!

View Quoted Comment Ohhhhh ok LOL I was like, girl if you can get a plated meal for $3.50/plate, then you better snag that deal😂 Yeah, we have a 5.00/plate upcharge also, which definitely does add up quickly. I swear, weddings are highway robbery! Restaurants could never get away with the crap caterers pull for weddings

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Haha! They really are though! We have to pay extra if we want any napkin color other than white or black as well, among other things. It's crazy

Interesting! As a guest I always prefer a buffet and stations. (Never really had an issue with lines.) for my wedding I let my fiancé choose as I really didn’t care either way. He definitely wants a buffet and we have an excellent spot at the venue for it, so buffet it is. However, both caterers we have spoken to charge more per person for a buffet than plated. So it isn’t always the cheaper option.

We are going with a buffet style with an slightly upscale menu. I found this set up

View Quoted Comment I’ve never had a hot plated meal at an event- that’s why I’m going w taco bar- they are cooking on site..