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

We had part of our cocktail hour food served buffet style, and then a dessert buffet. We had 4 courses served to our guests. It was a formal, evening wedding. The venue used French service. A team of 2 servers were assigned to 2 tables (16-20 guests) for the evening. It took less than 10 minutes, to serve 225 guests each course. They served from carts, so everything was cold or hot: i.e. soup was ladled-out of big pots, near the tables. The salads were on refrigerated carts, and the toppings and dressing were put on by the servers at the side of the guest tables. Not a single guest would have wanted seconds; I was so full, by the time the main entrée was served, I hardly ate any of it.

I've only attended a few weddings with buffets, and all of them were disappointing. the staff serves most of the food, so larger servings weren't possible. The choices were few; i.e. 2 offered 2 meats (I'm a vegetarian), starch, vegetable, roll, and salad. Only the first few tables up had a chance for seconds, because once everyone was served, the staff left what was left in the trays, and didn't replenish it.

Buffets are most definitely cheaper! The only issue is the line waiting for everyone to load up their plates. My father actually came up with the idea of the "De-constructed Buffet", but instead of a line where we herd everyone like cattle, possibly having food stations set up. Not far from each other but enough space so people check out the whole venue and don't have to stand in a mile long line.

We are doing the salad seated. Then a two sided buffet with a beef, chicken, fish, and vegetarian option with potatoes and veggie. I like choices!

Whatever you do, make sure the flow is right. People need to enter from a different place that they exit and, ideally, you want two lines.

@dreamer that is exactly what I had in mind!!!!

Glad to be of some help!

We have 110 people and we are doing a buffet. The buffet worked best because there are a ton of picky eaters who would probably get upset about standard sides. I also did not want to send a novel of choices out with invitations and then try to keep track of who wants what. Buffet just seemed less stressful. Plus a lot of people want to have both our protein choices. I think their dreams are bigger that their stomachs.

I personally prefer buffet and that's what we are having. I don't think its tacky at all, there can be nice buffets and its cheaper.

Plated isn't my style either. We're doing pretty casual and will have less than 100 people... so buffet is even going to be BBQ. I just think it'll fit better with our relaxed style.

We are having a brunch so it made sense. I am all for buffets and family style especially if it is cheaper. It allows people to get what they want and more later if there is more and they are still hungry. I say go for it if that is the type of people you are!

Oh and ours is $64 pp with cocktail hour and alcohol (I live in FL and that is a great price LOL)

I personally prefer a plated dinner to a buffet, but I definitely don't think that a buffet is tacky. A lot of the times with a buffet you get more options which can be nice. Do what you think best suits your style, and what is in your budget.