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Champion December 2022

Buffet dinner: one trip or unlimited?

Michelle, on July 17, 2022 at 6:01 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 15

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For those who had or are having a buffet, did your guests have one trip allowed through the line or did the caterer offer unlimited?

We’re still debating between plated and buffet, even though buffet is the most common in our families and social circles. One of the caterers that we are considering has a basic one time only through the line. Or you can pay extra to have unlimited. The trade off that makes plated appealing with them, besides guests being pampered, is that they don’t allow leftovers to go home with you.
From weddings (and other events) we have attended, where the caterer offers unlimited trips, guests can choose to go back through the line later in the evening if they are still hungry. It’s common in our families for leftover buffet to be a late night snack before heading out (instead of pizza/tacos/etc) and take out boxes are encouraged.

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15 Comments

Latest activity by Julia, on December 29, 2023 at 12:01 PM

Devoted September 2022
Sara · on July 17, 2022 at 6:12 PM
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I don’t know that I’ve attended a wedding buffet where I’ve known that you couldn’t go through more than once. Maybe someone was paying attention and adding up the number of people who went through more than once though?!! My upcoming wedding has “stations” which is essentially a bunch of little buffets set up and there is no limit to how many times people can go up and we didn’t pay extra for that.
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Master July 2022
Imani · on July 17, 2022 at 6:15 PM
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Our venue is the same way. They are also not allowing leftovers or anyone to take anything to go. I guess in a sense it makes sense. Because we paid for 100 guest and from my assumption they’re only making enough food per guest. However, there will still be more than enough food leftover because each guest can get both entrees. Now you have me thinking. Hmm, I’m going to ask our coordinator if people want seconds will they be allowed. I’d assume they could eat as much as they can just can’t take anything to go.
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Master October 2023
Cece · on July 17, 2022 at 6:23 PM
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Oh my goodness, you are only five months out from your wedding and haven’t chosen a caterer yet?? It’s amazing that you still have multiple catering options available!
As for your question, buffets are not common in our circle, so I haven’t been to many. But of the ones I’ve been to, it has never been made known that no one could go back through the line. I’m just curious, did the caterer indicate how they would enforce this? Because I couldn’t imagine a polite way of doing so.
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Champion December 2022
Michelle · on July 17, 2022 at 6:46 PM
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Our original caterer fell through so we have been looking for an alternative. One advantage of being in a major city and not using an all inclusive venue is we have so many more options for catering. It’s a matter of finding food and service that we like and our guests will enjoy. The ones we talked to in addition to local restaurants that cater offsite said they have no issues working with the situation and shorter time frame.
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Champion December 2022
Michelle · on July 17, 2022 at 6:55 PM
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I can’t imagine how that would work either. The caterer said the waitstaff lead would be letting guests know, which strikes us as weird and is surprising considering how highly recommended they are in the area. And the food at the tasting was one of the better ones of full service options. Which is why we would do plated instead if we go with them, which has no such restrictions.
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Dedicated July 2022
Brianna · on July 17, 2022 at 8:36 PM
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I had a buffet and of course some people didn't show so they said that if its extra food people can go up for a second plate!
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Jm Sunshine · on July 17, 2022 at 10:16 PM
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My daughter had a buffet breakfast reception. It wasn't specified whether guests could go back for seconds, but I think a few did. We had a bit of leftovers, so the caterer wrapped up them up and we took home after.
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Super October 2023
Kelly · on July 18, 2022 at 7:32 AM
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The way I and everyone I know eats at buffets is to take a little bit and come back for more. I would be really put off by a once and done buffet. I also think it would cause people to take a lot more than they normally would, even with multiple trips.
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VIP August 2021
Michelle · on July 18, 2022 at 8:29 AM
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I agree. I'm not accustomed to buffet weddings, but I do think people will overtake if it is made known they have 1 chance to eat that night. This can shortchange those waiting, and you don't want to be known for running out of food in a venue that has an unlimited time frame. I don't see a polite way of communicating and enforcing single trips that does not reflect on you as the host either. Don't worry about not providing leftovers as they are not expected at weddings. Edible favors or a late night meal are considerate, but not expected either. Good luck! Sorry your first caterer fell through.
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Legend July 2022
Lisa · on July 18, 2022 at 9:15 AM
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Michelle and Kelly both bring up a good point about people possibly taking much more than they normally would if they knew they only get one trip to the buffet, and then possibly running out of food for the last few guests in line. If you choose to go this route, maybe have someone serving the food so everyone gets a good portion, while making sure there's enough for everyone?

It seems like an odd policy to me that guests can only make one trip to the buffet (and not sure how they'd enforce it), but maybe plated is the way to go instead, or if it's in budget, pay extra to allow the unlimited trips.
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January 2019
MOB So Cal · on July 18, 2022 at 10:41 AM
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Especially if the caterer has some way of imposing a "one trip only" rule, I'd check to see: how they do that (are they going to give guests tickets/tokens, only have the exact number of plates, or what), and what a portion will consist of. Daughter attended a wedding with a buffet served by the staff and the EXACT portion allocated was one chicken tender and a small scoop of some type of pre-sauced pasta. Daughter knew she wouldn't eat the pasta and asked if she could have two chicken tenders instead. The servers refused as there were "exactly the right number of chicken tenders...." Daughter and SIL left early because she was starving and they still joke about the "wedding with the 1 chicken tender rule." I'd be cautious about a caterer who doesn't plan for some overage.
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VIP October 2022
Paige · on July 18, 2022 at 11:36 AM
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The one-trip buffet option just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen no matter what. If guests are told up front that they only get one pass at food, you'll get those at the beginning taking more to ensure they have enough to hold them over for the night, and the guests at the end of the line might end up with little to nothing left for them. If guests aren't told about the one-trip rule, you'll get people who treat it like you would a regular buffet where they'll take less than a full meals' worth of food because they have the intention of going back up, and they'll end up hungry (or hangry) after a short time. Then with either option, if there's food left over people are going to be irked that they only were permitted one trip even though there was enough food for multiple trips.
It sounds like your guests would be expecting to be permitted to have multiple trips to the buffet, so I'd say either spring for the unlimited option or just do a plated dinner.
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Super September 2021
Sharon · on July 18, 2022 at 4:27 PM
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I've never been to a buffet that limited the number of trips. If I were at a wedding where I was told I could only make one trip it would be off-putting to me, even if I was only going to make one trip.

As far as taking left overs home from the plated caterer, those meals have been paid for. If the person didn't finish their dinner they should be entitled to take it home. Our venue allowed people to take their leftovers home.
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Julia · on December 29, 2023 at 11:57 AM
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We put out the exact number of plates for each guest....when we replenish plates they are counted and then we charge accordingly....Noone should ever assume you have unlimited food because it just isnt going to happen . We calculate the number of covers by 30 % for every buffet so we do prepare 30% over but thats it.
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Julia · on December 29, 2023 at 12:01 PM
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Entitled wont get past the Health Department....Many do not understand that the Health Department or our Lawyers will not allow you to take-home any food. If you insist we have many forms for you to fill out and then we have to temp , weigh and document all the leftovers leaving to cover ourselves by not getting sued for food poisonings. Please don't think we are just keeping your food out of spite.
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