Family Style Dinner

Family style is often more expensive/ wasteful.

It can absolutely work with round tables! I went to a wedding that did this and it was lovely.

The issue in my area was finding a caterer who offered that sort of serving option. We only found one who did and it was more expensive than individual plates since it involves more platters and serving utensils.

Buffets are certainly fine. Is there any way you could cut spending elsewhere (like flowers, decor, etc) that would allow you to serve the plated dinner you seem to prefer?

The last wedding I went to was family style. Normally I hate it because there's not enough room on the table for the plates. This wedding didn't really have big centerpieces, so it was easy to fit everything. However, the sides came out first and were cold by the time the meats came out. I'm not a fan of family style or buffet - any time I have to plate my own food I always get upset because I spill everything.

I have been to a wedding where they had family style dinner at individual tables. Bread, butter, and dressings where already on the tables and when it was time for dinner they brought out a plate of each dish for each table. We passed it around the table and dished what we wanted. Had no problem with it and I thought it was better then having to wait in line or for someone to finally bring out my food.

We have the option to do semi family style which is a cost effective way to add more variety to what we are offering. So right now we are planning on plated chicken and we are adding semi family style pasta for just a few bucks a plate. This will be served at round tables. We also can add beef for family style as well or we may offer beef, but that will all come down to how much money we can save

I went to a wedding recently that was family style at round tables. I thought it was really well done. There was something for everyone, and the portions were done well. When they initially put the dishes on our table, I thought there wasn't enough food. However, when you're able to have a little of everything, you fill up quickly!

Two of my upscale venues ONLY offer this style. It's really perfect because they are both on the rustic side, and it really fits.

They do a plated salad at each place with a number of toppings to be passed around, then platters of the entrees, usually a sliced beef and a grilled salmon with bowls of sides. Dessert is plated.

I don't know that it's actually a cost cutting move though; usually, the most cost effective choice is a plated, single entree dinner.

The key here is picking a caterer who is used to doing this and has the equipment and experience to do it well. Throwing a bowl of spaghetti on the table isn't going to cut it.

Please tell me you're having a caterer......

My venue only served family style, which is one of the things I loved about it. I thought it was perfect because I come from two cultures that typically serve meals family style, and I personally hate buffets and plated meals. Nothing wrong with them, just not my style.

Anyway, we had 12 rectangular tables, varied between 6-10 people at each table. I have to be honest, I'm not 100% sure how the food was brought to the table, if it was one plate for an item for the whole table or a small plate for each side.

Our menu included a bread basket, salad greens, tomato and mozzarella to start. We had prime rib and roasted pig, with chef's choice seasonal veggies. There were also some other things I'm definitely not remembering.

I don't think it saved any money really though. My venue didn't itemize our costs so I'm not sure what the percentage is, but we paid $140/pp before tax/service fee. That included a premium open bar and cocktail hour as well.

Take a look at the menu for our venue to get some meal ideas: http://farmingtonclub.com/uploads/files/2017-menus/farmington-club-menu.pdf

Oh, and for the comments about it being messy/not enough room. I think it really depends on the tablescape. From what I could see from our sweetheart table, it didn't look cluttered. We also we conscious about not having too many people at a table. So it all really depends.

Boudreau, that menu is to die for!

I didn't like the family style at a wedding I just went to recently. There was never enough food for everyone at the table and we had to wait forever to get more. I'm not a fan and would not go this route for my wedding. I do not want any of my guests sitting around watching other people eat, waiting for more food to show up.

We are doing family style on 72" round tables/10 seats each. We are doing a smaller centerpiece.

Honestly, there are pros/cons with any option. I wouldn't rule out any until you check prices...sometimes plated can be cheaper than family style.

Are you sure this will save you money? Family style is typically the most expensive option because it includes the most costly aspects of each other style of service.

In buffets, food costs are high because you need way more of everything and wind up with a lot of waste; however, you save on labor costs because you don't have servers bringing the food to the tables. Plated, on the other hand, has much lower food costs because they know exactly how much of each item is needed but higher labor costs since the food has to be delivered to the guests.

Family style combines the high food costs of a buffet with the high labor costs of a plated meal. It also has the predominant downsides of each of the other main methods: you have to serve yourself so it doesn't have the formality of plated, but you don't get the advantage of food staying warm on a buffet.

I found family style more expensive than the other types.

It's not going to save you money, I can tell you that right now. For starters, every table is going to require multiple serving platters and utensils. And more food.

Most of these comment that are negative are the result of a caterer saying, "oh yeah, we can do that" without ever having done it.

Similar sentiment on the more food/wasteful per my caterer. It's also quite a bit more work to monitor all the I divide all tables. That being said, my cousins did family style and it was lovely.

We went to a wedding with family style and really enjoyed it! It helped we knew everyone at our table. The chicken piccata and roast beef were in separate square glass platters/bowls. The sides were served in large bowls.

All venues have told me that buffet/family is more expensive because they have to over prepare food.

I wouldn't do family style. I feel like a lot of time is wasting passing food around and I think it's super awkward serving myself that way. I would go with buffet