ADVICE PLEASE! Plated dinner v. Self serve

Our wedding isn't here yet. Plated and buffet options were the same price. Buffet option includes a free carving station of your choice. We are inviting 200 guests and our coordinators told us that's igs a lot of people to serve and that we would likely have to add on another hour to our reception (few hundred dollars). That made the decision a bit easier for us.

I think seating/table chart is worth it if you have a large guest list. It will ensure your VIP's have a seat closer to the front or closer to where ever you and your spouse will be sitting.

I'm interested to hear other points of views.

I apologize for the spelling errors. Im posting from my phone on the train.

Depends on the formality you want. IMO plated dinners seem a bit more formal and buffets more casual.

I think seating charts are worth it because it will cut down on any confusion and helps ensure they will be enough seats for everyone. I went to an event without a seating chart and it was a mad dash for tables and not everyone had a seat. Complete chaos.

@ MJ did they say it would take longer with a buffet or plated dinner?

The only thing I will say is that while plated dinners are more formal *someone* is going to get lukewarm food. I prefer a buffet or family style for that reason. Good luck!

In regards to your question about guests being "told" where to sit, personally, I HATE going to a wedding where there isn't table assignments. I'm pretty sure most people expect this to happen and without it creates a mass confusion and takes everyone for find seats. Then they find seats and decide they want to move...now the table is a bit messed up and askew and doesn't look inviting and presentable to the next guests who sit there.

As for the buffet/plated debate. I feel the same equally about both options. We're having buffet for our 200+ guests, and I think for a large wedding that tends to work out better. As Enya said above, the likelihood of the food being hot still when the guests get there is greater with buffet and guests are able to choose more of what they want to eat. Plated, IMO, is wonderful for smaller weddings where the servers can crank out the plates alot quicker

We chose a served buffet style. I don't like that you are stuck to your seat the whole time waiting for the next course arrive, food can be lukewarm by the time it arrives, and if someone runs off to the bathroom or is not in their seat when they start serving it can throw off their process.

Regardless of if you have a buffet or plated meal you will probably need a seating chart if you have over 50 guests. This is expected at weddings. I don't think anyone will give you grief about that. Good luck!

I'm voting for plated. I guess it depends on the feel you want. I also vote for a seating chart regardless of whether it's plated or buffet. People know that after dinner, they have the option to get up and mingle. It's happened at every wedding I've been to.

Allysia, our coordinators said that plated would take longer since we had such a large guest list. I too wanted plated, however I think that the carving station for 'free' with the buffet option is a nice compromise. I don't know if they say that plated is longer to upsell and make money by having us lengthen our reception though. We don't need a decision until ten days out.

I agree with others that a seating chart is ALWAYS appreciated as a guest!

Are you talking about a buffet style or family style, where platters of food are placed on the table? We're doing family style because it seemed like a great compromise between plated (which can take forever to serve) and buffet (I didn't like the idea of my 250 guests standing in line for their food, and my venue preferred to not do one with such a large guest list). Family style has it's downsides too--the platters can take up a lot of room on the table, so I'm going with only 8-9 places at a 10-top and smaller centerpieces. And your guests do have to serve themselves, which not everyone will like. But I'm having a more laid back wedding anyway so it fits.

This is really just personal preference and what will work better with your guest list. You'll quickly see that some people prefer buffets while others prefer plated, so you're not going to please everyone.

I love to be served. It makes the occasion feel more special, even if it's not necessarily a formal event. It was one of the most important details to me that my guests receive a plated meal.

The only time I like a buffet is if you are giving a lot of different options for guests to taste or if you are serving some kind of special or ethnic food. Then it is good to chose your own.

I have had bad experiences with buffets mostly because there wasnt enough food ( though i dont think that would be an issue with my caterer). I originally wanted to do family style but as @lori said some people may not like that and my Mom was not a fan. So we are doing a plated meal which will cost us a bit more than the other options but its not going to break the bank

Oh and the only wedding ive been to that didnt have a seating plan was the one that ran out of food

Even though people tried to talk me out of it, i am 100% happy i chose to do a plated dinner with a seating chart. it's so much more elegant and allows people to enjoy chatting at the table more, and that's what I wanted. plus it is helpful to those who only know 1 other person at the wedding, for you to consider who they should sit near and may get along with. the seating chart was stressful only because my mom thought it was open to negotiations. best to hear the opinions of those who matter and then decide whether or not you want to take their advice

I can see the benefits of both, but the main reason we're leaning toward plated is that it forces people to RSVP accurately, which is something we're concerned about with certain family members. It's much easier to explain that people must RSVP with the appropriate # of guests when they have to choose a meal option, whereas with a buffet, it can seem like, "Well, I'm sure there will be plenty of food... So why can't I just bring so-and-so?" If that's not a concern with your guest list, then I'd do whatever you personally prefer. I also didn't like the idea of going through a buffet line in my wedding dress... But that's just me.

Ours is a buffet. Plated was not offered, and honestly I like the buffet option better. If you have people who are picky eaters they can choose what they will eat and the rest of the food on plate is not wasted or they are not hungry still.

We are doing a plated meal. Buffets can be more costly at times...

Thank yall for all the input, I've never been to a plated dinner or "seating charted" wedding before so I felt a little lost making a decision. This has definitely helped. We are expecting 125-150 guests, nothing too large. I definitely didn't think about how giving a food option would force people to RSVP - awesome!

I think buffet is fine for smaller guest lists or if you have several lines. For a larger guest list, I would suggest plated unless like I said, you have several lines. For my aunt's wedding, she had certain tables receive plated meals (The close family tables) and everyone else had to get in the buffet line. I'd never seen a reception done that way before.

I personally like plated better, I feel like for a formal affair the guests should be served.

Self-serve just means buffets and buffets are so ick! i would defiantly go with the plated option!