Ok ladies, lay it on me! Thoughts on a buffet?

You're going to get mixed opinions. I think it really depends on the cost & what your venue is capable of. We're going with plated because our venue can do custom plates for each person with food allergies & dietary restrictions. Add to that that plated is cheaper at our venue & it's more formal and it made a ton of sense. Maybe ask your venue/caterer which they do more of/which they prefer to do? Getting 200 guests through a buffet line definitely seems like a pain to me.

I've been to many weddings at this particular venue.. Only saw family style & plated, however they are capable of buffet.

Buffets can be done well but I think you have to do multiple stations and call up a few tables at a time for such a large crowd to avoid long lines. It is great for guests because they can pick and choose what they want to eat based on preference, allergies, and dietary restrictions. It also promotes mingling and interacting amongst your guests. It is not tacky at all and actually the preferred method of dinner for some brides.

Sorry for the multiple posts.

@S&J no worries

We are going with buffet because at our venue it is cheaper and FH felt a plated meal wasn't our style. I did add more choices than normal to the buffet because I want our guests to have options. We are paying about 50 pp and that includes cocktail hour. Our catering coordinator will have a table or so move to the buffet at a time. I hope it works well and I think it will since this is what they do most commonly.

I'm doing buffet my coordinator and i decided with the cater that a mirror image buffet set up and minimize the options by not mixing main course with appitzers but swapping them out would be best since the venue has plenty of space

Depends on the vibe you're going for, the capabilities of the venue, and what's right for your wedding! For my wedding, we wanted a more informal midday wedding, so a buffet was fine for us! Like others have said, I'd recommend calling up only a few tables at a time.

We are doing a buffet because that's what our venue offers. I also personally prefer buffets. We are having 100-120 people.

If you've been to several weddings at the venue and have never seen a buffet, there's probably a reason. For over 200 people, I would go family style. Unless you have several buffet lines, a buffet would take forever with that many people. If you explain family style to your FH and his family they should hopefully understand that it gives the same choices (for the most part) as a buffet, but guests don't have to get up from their seats.

I've personally never liked buffet weddings. As a guest, you spend time watching other people get their food and sit and eat before you're allowed to go up and eat. Also, I feel like the food is generally better plated. But I've only been to 3 buffets so I'm sure this isn't true for all of them. Also the DJ stops the music and announces tables which ruins the vibe I think. I like the idea of family style much better and you would get to know people at the table and the dj could play music

We are doing stations not because of cost but because of variety and interaction. Our wedding is less than 100 though so I'm not worried about there being enough food or long lines.

A buffet is not tacky at all, they are very common in my area and we are having a buffet.

We are doing buffet. It's more expensive at our venue because people get more food. I like it because the food will stay warmer and people didn't have to decide what to eat for dinner over a month in advance. Our venue will set up two separate buffet tables so that it moves quickly.

ETA: starter salads will be pre-plated and placed on tables with bread so people will have something to munch on while waiting too.

I had a buffet and it only took 20-30 minutes to get people through [ETA 150 people]. We did a modified buffet so salads were served to each person and then tables dismissed to buffet. That way guests had something to eat while waiting which was nice. Our caterers served the food to each person which went a lot faster than people deciding what they wanted and it also made sure portions were served correctly. Additionally, if doing a buffet, make sure your dinner is at a reasonable time. Our grand entrance was at 5:30, salads served at 5:45 and people dismissed to buffet starting at 6. Last person was through buffet by 6:30 which was a reasonable dinner time. If guests don't get through until 8:30, you are going to have some Hangry guests.

That's what we're doing because that's what we can afford. Our guest still have 3 choices (and I think they get a mix if they want), vegetarian options and full service. Buffet is fine as long as you don't have like 200 people trying to get dinner all at once. We have under 100

edit: Also we're doing stations, so people can stand in one spot for salads and sides, while others can do entrees

I've done it and seen it done many times, but the key is traffic control. NowASM nailed it; we always did salad at the table and then did multiple buffet stations with everything served. People serving themselves can take forever.

Buffets are only tacky if you have a cheap ass caterer with crap food.

Buffets can be done very nicely and generally tend to help with cost.

Personally I like them. Waiting sucks but I get what I want on my plate.

I prefer buffets because plated stays on warming plates too long and it tastes like it. I was leaning toward family-style because it was the best of both worlds: we wouldn't have our family and friends waiting in lines but the food would taste fresher than with most plated meals. In the end, we're doing plated one because we're having a 60-person wedding at a restaurant that will make guests food once they order at the tables.

Random question: does the DJ play music during dinner?

For a big wedding,I think a buffet is fine so long as you have more that one section serving food. My venue only offers buffet (not my first choice) but it's okay I think because there will only be about 35 people so it really won't take that long for everyone to get their food.