A Formal Buffet?

Well my FSIL had a VERY formal wedding, and they had buffet style dinner.

My FH and I are having this predicament...Well it wasnt because we were split between different formalities but because of my vision for formal and our budget..lol we couldnt afford catering and opted for buffet style.You could have dessert served but I wouldnt have salad served because not everyone likes salad.Or you could be creative and have a miniature cake pre-sliced (during dinner and toasts)and then have it out on the buffet table before its time for dessert .just an idea..think it'll be less of an hassle.

We are having a buffet style reception with a formal feel. We will be having nice dishes, real flatware, menu cards, linen tablecloths and napkins, etc.

Something else you could do to make it formal would be to have charger plates.

Oh, and LOVE the name!

See if they can do "stations" which is basically buffet but certain areas like the meats have attendants that will carve or serve the selection.

@Lauren: Charger plates! That's a GREAT idea to step it up a notch and make it feel more formal. Same with the menu cards. And instead of using standard plates, we could have fine china type of dishes.

@Lisa: How did your FSIL have their buffet set up? Did it compliment their formal wedding style or did it stand out?

@Lauren20:I was thinking about this but with the disposable colored clear plastic glad wear...since flatwear wasnt included from venue.do you have any suggestions?and i'm also doing menu cards...but are there any ideas on how to make paper napkins looke elegant?

Sorry about typos

We are having a buffet and using real linens, glasses, plates, silverware etc. I figured it would bring the overall feel up a notch. I am also doing menu cards at the tables as well.

@Gail- -There are ways to make paper napkins look elegant. Below is a website that has instructions for how to fold napkins. The napkins in the pictures are paper I believe. This should help. I like the folds where you can put the flat ware in the napkin. If you did that fold, you could slide the menu card in there as well.

You could also simply embellish the menu cards with crystals or something to add some elegance. Candle light will add elegance as well.

Ways to make a buffet look a bit more formal-

Break it into sections....instead of everything all in a line, have things split up. Haev separate carving stations (a carving station DEFINITELY makes it a bit more formal IMO.

Have servers to actually serve the food (potential downfall of this-since people cant go on both sides, it can take longer for people to get food and that is never appreciated!)

Also, dress the tables up...instead of just having buffet tables strictly with the food on them, put some flowers or decoration around

While a plated dinner definitely states formal, I think it is very easy to give a formal look through the use of *real* plates and silverware and nice, more formal looking decorations

@Lauren20:thanks but where's the link?

@ Gail...SO sorry. I cannot believe I forgot the link. My apologies.

http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/

It's ok lol

We are doing a simple but formal-ish wedding and we are having a buffet but we are having simple food.. I think its all about the food you put on the buffet (ie fried chicken VS steak or something) we are also having nicer china and flat wear... all of which will help make it a little more formal but still be a buffet

I am doing a hor'devours buffet that is meant to be fairly formal. I don't want a "meal" since its not during a meal time and my guests can graze all the reception instead of not eating at the start because they just had lunch and then being hungry later. I have seen some formal buffets before and it normaly just depends if you are having nice food and linens or kfc and plastic table cloths. (no offense to those having kfc and plastic table cloths).