I would have preferred plated dinners but with our venue I was not going to happen.
I prefer buffets, but every so often the bees have this poll and it seems that a sit down plated dinner almost always wins.
One vote for plated! I think its more elegant, I don't like standing in line, and I'm kind of a germophobe so I don't love the idea of 100 other people breathing on my food. My venue lets people order from 3 entree options the evening of, but if you need a head count before your wedding, I would give good descriptions of each entree and I'm sure everyone will find something they'll like.
I prefer buffets - I can leave the stuff I won't eat, and get more of the stuff I like!
I am picky, but still prefer plated. Very rarely are buffets pulled off nicely enough to be worth. More often then not, the food is not warm enough and you spend way too much time waiting in line. Family style is my #1 choice, but plated is my 2nd pick.
We had a buffet. I originally wanted a plated dinner, but we got more bang for our buck with buffet so we went with that. It turned out to be better because it was set up really nicely and everyone got to have seconds. I don't regret it!
I prefer plated meals. It seems more upscale to me, even though it's sometimes the cheaper option (since buffets require more food.) Plus, I really hate being herded and waiting in line at a fancy event.
FI is a pretty relaxed guy, but he HATES buffets. He says it creeps him out that other people are possibly touching or breathing on his food.
Does anyone else obsessively read the food threads when theyre hungry but too lazy to cook? i dont know why i do this, it doesnt help the hunger!
i like the variety of buffets definitely. It depends on the venue though - do they constantly replenish it with fresh food? is it kept hot? I don't like buffets where if you arent one of the first tables to eat you get left overs and some things have run out
plated - well its normally hot and fresh - good. no choice, so if you dont like it its a problem. you dont have to go up and get it whcih is great for lazy people (like me), the elderly or people who cant walk well.
I do think people automatically think of buffets as very casual...but they dont have to be.
THough sit down is seen as more formal, I prefer buffet as I prefer choosing the food that I want to eat
I'm for a sit down dinner. Not very often that we have formal sit down dinners anymore, may as well go all out for wedding day, IMO!
I'm having a Buffett I like the idea that my guests have lots of options :)
We are having a VERY small reception (~50 people) and are going with a sit-down dinner. It's going to be in a private room of a nice restaurant with AMAZING food. The whole thing will be a very intimate affair so sit-down definitely suits our needs.
I think ultimately it depends on the kind of reception you're having.
I like the formality of served but like buffets for being able to offer more options at less cost (at our venue, often buffets are more expensive) and less logistical headache.
I also like buffets because in my experience, food is hotter/fresher than plated at weddings. Plated requires pretty amazing timing and lots of staff in both front of house and back to get it out hot.
You have to do buffet well though - at least two serving lines, have something on the tables for people to munch on (apps or served salads), and have a great MC or DJ who will get tables up and through the buffet in an orderly fashion. I think I may have our DOC walk from table to table dismissing them to the buffet.
We are having buffet at our wedding,
As a guest I wouldn't care as long as I can eat plenty. And variety of desserts a huge plus!!!
i prefer buffets because i can get more of the stuff i like and i can leave the stuff i won't eat. i also feel like the food is warmer because it's on burners the whole time. but that being said, i've actually never been to a wedding with plated food, it's just not common around here i guess. needless to say, my wedding will also be buffet-style.
We're doing a served dinner and I was SUPER HAPPY to find out it was actually cheaper!
Having a buffet feels like you're cattle lining up to feed. Plus the food gets cold and looks more unappetizing, people might touch/breathe on it (ew... total germaphobe). After some people have gotten at it, it's like half gone or more and just looks... picked over. At one of my best friend's wedding, we had a served dinner and it was hot and really nice looking. I understand it could get cold but... who knows? Buffet stuff gets cold to me also, or gets that "luke warm" sensation which is almost just as bad.
PLUS you have to just sit around and wait awkwardly for your table to be called. Then the whole "table calling" announcement just seems cheap to me.
I kind of like that the choice is somewhat made for me... chances are, it's going to be whatever is most agreeable, and then I don't overfill my plate with a bunch of things that I end up half-liking. I can never decide, and get way too much, and leave half of it, and it makes me feel awkward that all the food was left on my plate. I'm kinda weird though.
I prefer plated. I just don't like buffets in general, and I think a formal occasion like a wedding deserves a formal plated dinner.
Every wedding I've ever been to has had a buffet -- even the rich, fancy cousins had a buffet. I guess it's the norm around here.
I don't understand all of the problems people associate with buffets -- long lines, cold food, etc. If these are issues, the caterers obviously don't know what they're doing. I've never encountered these issues at a buffet, whether it was at a wedding, graduation, or picnic.
Plated dinners would be okay if the guest has a choice. One of my friends went to a wedding with a plated dinner and you got served steak that was pretty much bleeding all over the place. She literally had to excuse herself from the table so she didn't throw up. I don't see how that's better than a buffet. lol
I vote buffets. But if it must be plated, please give your guests a choice. Not everyone eats meat, and those who do don't all like rare steak, which seems to be "acceptable."
I *MUCH* prefer buffets, especially because I don't eat meat or pork, and I'm sort of picky in general.
For me it came down to logistics. The buffet was actually more expensive than the sit down dinner. Also the idea of the buffet taking on average 30-45 minutes longer was a huge concern. I care significantly more about the dancing/party aspect of the wedding than I do the actual meal. I know this is true for my friends as well. We have a local DJ that we are all friends with and people would rather spend the time out on the dance floor. Therefore it was easy for me to decide based on budget and time to go with the sit down meal. We also offered 3 choices (venue allowed for 2 and a vegetarian option.)
I like buffets and my favorite is stations and family style. However probably because I go to more plated weddings, so I like trying different things.
I prefer buffet. No dealing with people and their food choices. More variety and more bang for the buck. Plus my FI is alleric to some things, so a buffet allows others to eat things he can't. Even if I still can't. Because he's allergic to shrimp, I can't eat it. He always tells me to go ahead, but I'm telling you, we can't even kiss for a couple days after if I eat it.
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Hello Bees,
I have a question for you all....sit-down or buffet? I love the look and feel of being served seperate courses and just being served in general. My FI and some others like the variety of a buffet, however it puts me in the mind of one of those all you can eat joints. Plus, the more options the more people will take and Waste....
What do you all think? what style dinner will your wedding day include?