Post # 1
Member
42 posts
Newbee
We’re having a sourthern themed menu for our barn wedding. We booked a $$$ caterer. We’re trying to decide between plated and buffet.
I’m worried that a buffet would cheapen the meal. It’s already BBQ! I’m afraid people automatically are gonna think “low class.” Our wedding in general will be very casual but we take food seriously & want guests to be impressed by the food. I’m thinking plated presentation would feel more gourmet/expensive (and the food *is* going to be expensive!! regardless of how it’s served!)
The options would be something like
- Pork: Bourbon braised pork served over collard greens and white cheddar grits
- Chicken: Grilled chicken with grilled peaches, basil and goat cheese over arugula
- Veggie: Individual baked macaroni & cheese
(FYI, we’re also serving a variety hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, a plated salad, biscuits and cornbread)
Let me know what you think on plated vs. buffet, and our menu options!
Post # 3
Member
1723 posts
Bumble bee
@beeconomist: We are going with buffet, and here is why:
*Chances are, there is something on a plated dinner that someone won’t eat…which means they’ll end up hungry with a half eaten meal that you’ve paid for
*If its buffet, guests can choose as little or as much of each food as they would like.
I defintiely don’t think buffets will “cheap” up the wedding. And the fact you’re having bbq just means everyone is gonna love it that much more! 🙂 In the end either one will work…the only difference is having the plates handed out or allowing everyone to pick their own meal 🙂
Post # 4
Member
4436 posts
Honey bee
@beeconomist: I think your options are great for food! I tend to like plated more, as there isn’t the buffet lineup issue and it does feel nicer to me. If the food is going to be $$ regardless, is go plated. Even if you did go buffet, if the presentation is done well I think it will be perfectly fine as well. I voted played and keep options as is:)
Post # 5
Member
5662 posts
Bee Keeper
In all the wedding’s I have been to I have only been to ONE sit down plated. Everyone does buffet in this neck of the woods.
Post # 6
Member
120 posts
Blushing bee
I don’t think there is anything wrong with buffet but since you want to highlight the food, why not just do plated? As a guest, I have never cared either way, but I always do appreciate nice presentation and having my food served to me instead of waiting for my table to be called to get up.
Post # 7
Member
720 posts
Busy bee
Can you do family style? Seems like it’d be the perfect compromise
Post # 8
Member
6256 posts
Bee Keeper
There’s a limit to how fancy barn weddings can be. There’s a certain level of fanciness that barns cannot reach–and the ones that come close are no longer recognizable as barns. Being from Oklahoma, where barns are sort of automatically lower-class because that’s where we keep the livestock, might make me a little biased–but if someone served a plated dinner on china at a barn wedding, it would weird me out. But if I went to a wedding in a barn and there was a barbecue buffet, I’d think it was awesome.
Don’t try to church it up; it’s a barn. Embrace it, and work with it, and it will be great. IMO it’s much worse for the meal options and format to clash with the space, than to not have the fanciest option.
Post # 9
Member
1776 posts
Buzzing bee
Buffet.
Those options sound great, and I’d want to have a small serving of each (well maybe not the chicken), but for sure the pork/grits, salad and grilled peaches and mac/cheese.
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