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

To be honest I think a buffet can be wonderful just like I think a plated dinner can be wonderful. I've seen it to both ways. As long as you have good food I think you're fine. We are doing a buffet at our venue because it's cheaper though.

We are doing buffet. I far prefer it to plated meals. I have a ton of eating restrictions, so often at plated dinners I leave over half (anything containing flour) on the plate. It just seems so wasteful to me!

We had a buffet. We liked that it allowed us to get more options for the same price and that people could freely take whatever they wanted. There weren't any issues with lining up for food. We had about 100 people, there were two full buffets set up, and the venue coordinator called tables up by going to the tables and letting them know (no DJ announcements, and no interruption of dinner music). Obviously 200 people is different, but I think if your venue/caterer knows what they're doing, it will be fine. The only thing I didn't like about choosing buffet is that we didn't have a fish option. It was offered to us, but we were afraid it would dry out.

I think it depends on how formal your wedding is. For most wedding buffet is just fine. I like the idea of being able to take more of one thing or a little of everything. Everywhere I looked a buffet was more expensive because it's more food.

We're having a buffet because people can get as much or as little as they want. I don't think it's tacky at all.

I haven't been to a wedding that wasn't a buffet. Plated is going to require your guests to make a meal selection on their RSVP card, which will ultimately end up being more work for you.

We were on the fence about plated vs. buffet for a long time. A formal buffet will call your guests by table, so they won't be lining up all at once. I actually like the idea of buffet because it gives guests more options, especially if they don't like what they thought they would like. Sure, they signed up for the beef option, but what if they don't like Wellington, now they're stuck with it. We eventually decided on plated only because he comes from a large Italian family and I was repeatedly told that "Guineas don't do buffets." FH said he didn't care what anyone else thought, but he knew I would feel like I had done something wrong if I heard tongues wagging so he was going to make an executive decision. I also think, if you have some big eaters (I watched FH and his brother put away 89 pieces of sushi once) buffet makes sure no one leaves hungry.

We are doing plated. Our wedding is quite formal, so it really wasn't a question for us.

I say sit down dinner! I feel that buffet is cheesy for a wedding!!

I've never been a fan of buffets, but I wouldn't think of it as tacky. It's definitely not formal though. I prefer plated or family style. If you like plated and FH likes buffets, maybe family style is a good compromise. I agree that 200 people lining up for food is too much. That was a big reason for us to stay away. We're doing family style.

@Lindsay L. yes they can play background music if you want them to.

Standing in line is one of my least favorite things to do. Whether its the DMV or a wedding, it stresses me out and I just hate it. I think buffets can be perfectly classy -- though not appropriate for a formal wedding -- but I vote plated every time.

I always prefer a buffet, because you can pick and choose! FH and I have a "diet of the minute" type crowd, so pleasing everyone with plated food would be brutal. At any given moment we have friends who range from vegetarians, and gluten free eaters, to people who won't eat fruit because of a blog post they read. I'm not about to offer 25 plated selections because someone decided that tomatoes cause lupis.

We are doing a buffet, but with a cheese and appetizer plate at every table.

We did buffet. It was cheaper per head for us. I like how people could get as much as what they wanted and get seconds. We called people up five tables at a time. Worked out fine.

I want a formal, classy, relaxing wedding with no additional work. I'm trying to meet him halfway and think family style is a good compromise. FH's family is all DIY EVERYTHING and super opinionated on how we should do everything (which is a little irritating since we & my family is forking up the majority of $$$$&dollar. I know they are trying to be helpful and I am trying to be mindful of their ideas because some of them are really great and can lower the cost on plenty but It's also way more work for us. I feel they are pushing for a different style and vibe I had in mind.....

You have to go with what you want. Ultimately it is YOUR wedding and what YOU want matters more than your FIL's opinions! I am learning this now, that you can't please everyone, but at the end of the day you're going to want to look back and say 'wow, that was a great day'. If buffet is what you want, then go for it! If plated is more YOUR style? go for it. We are doing a buffet not because of the price, but because of the choice and ability to get more food if you want! I think there is nothing worse than having to stop at McD's on your way home because you didnt eat enough at the party! (A tradition much observed by my family when I was growing up lol) You have to be happy with YOUR choices because ultimately, it is YOUR day, they may be sharing in it, but it is honor of YOU.

We are having a buffet where they are not serving there own food. They are called a few tables at a time and the tell the server what they want and they get a moderated portion and then take the food to their seat.

No one serves themselves too much and it goes a lot quicker.

I personally don't mind a buffet. With 200 people, you will want to ask your venue/caterer about having a buffet that is double-sided or multiple stations to help with the flow and speed. It can also help to start with salads on the table so that the people who are waiting have something to do/eat while they wait. Our venue didn't have the option for a buffet but other venues we looked at, the buffet was actually more expensive than the plated option! If it came down to it, I would have gone with a buffet if it was the less expensive choice.

I personally don't mind a buffet. With 200 people, you will want to ask your venue/caterer about having a buffet that is double-sided or multiple stations to help with the flow and speed. It can also help to start with salads on the table so that the people who are waiting have something to do/eat while they wait. Our venue didn't have the option for a buffet but other venues we looked at, the buffet was actually more expensive than the plated option! If it came down to it, I would have gone with a buffet if it was the less expensive choice.

We're doing Buffett and only calling up two tables at a time