Food Station Logistics

Are you wanting people to take their same plate and silverware around to each station? We had a cocktail style reception with small plates and we had no plates, etc. on the tables at all. People were getting different foods so they just picked up silverware when they got their dish. It's also harder to mingle with larger plates in your hand. There were only about 50 guests so we didn't call tables or anything; people just mingled and got food when they wanted it - food was served the entire reception. The food and the bar were pretty spread out physically, so there weren't really lines or anything because everyone wasn't getting the same thing at the same time. And when it was time for first dance and toasts. an announcement went out for people to gather around the dance floor. If you have a coordinator, either a DOC or someone with your venue, they can help make sure people are gathered for the "moments."

You might want to look for some sample timelines for cocktail style receptions to help you envision how the event could go if you decide to treat it less like a regular buffet/sit down dinner.

My friend had a barn wedding last year and had simplistic food like salad, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, etc! She had longer tables. I think it would be fine to keep the chargers on the table with napkins on top! My friend also had "upperscale" plasticware/plates because it was easier to just toss at the end. I would have the plates up by the buffet and still do table by table to avoid lines. She also had an upstairs loft where tables were. I would just ensure the speeches get done before dinner so everyone is seated and present. If there is definitely enough room for people to mingle and stand and eat your dj can announce that as he calls up table numbers. I think most people like to sit and eat though at least from what I have seen. Especially if you have a standing cocktail hour, people will want to sit!

My friends had a black tie wedding with really high end food stations, and they just had someone go around and tell the guests that the stations were open. There were some lines, but nothing crazy, they had 4 stations I think throughout the venue and maybe 250 guests?

As far as the plate thing - standing in line holding a plate is super awkward. It would be better for the servers to have them at the stations. You can have a charger with a napkin on it at the table setting.

For speeches, do those when it looks like most guests are seated and towards the end of their meal.

I would have your caterer or DJ release tables 2-3 at a time, so enough people are getting food but they aren't any lines. I would just have the DJ announce things like speeches or ask him to time it to when everyone is sitting down eating! I've been to weddings with the plates at the buffet so just chargers were on the table. The only awkward part was that some of the guests didn't know what chargers were, so they picked them up to take them to the buffet like they were a giant plate.