Buffet or server? Can’t decide.

I prefer plated, especially if guests are traveling to a DW. I saw your other post about a charcuterie board for cocktail hour. Can you convince your fiancé you’re doing both? A buffet for cocktail hour and plated for dinner? And maybe do a dessert bar so he feels there’s another buffet? 😁

View Quoted Comment Bingo! Perfect idea😁

View Quoted Comment Tee hee! Yay! 👏

I agree with Hannah, personally not a fan of buffets at weddings. Our wedding is very formal evening one so we're doing a plated dinner. I can totally see how buffets can work if the wedding is more casual though.

View Quoted Comment I hate the idea of standing in line for food

I forgot to mention it helps to know the level of formality of your wedding. It’s not proper to host a formal wedding (certainly not if you request guests dress formal or black tie), then serve a buffet. A plated meal is appropriate for a formal wedding.

I’ll also mention that I don’t mind a buffet for a smallish wedding (fewer than 100 guests), and if there are servers to ensure everyone gets a fair portion so some guests can’t load up on all the good stuff). My hubby hates all buffets because he feels they’re germy (left out too long, people touching with hands). That’s probably more of an issue at a restaurant than a wedding but there may be others who also feel icky about buffets.


Honestly, I don’t mind them but it seems you want plated so trying to help you out! 😉😊

I am not a fan of buffets, for a few reasons. I have been to weddings where the buffets runs out of food and guests are left standing in line waiting for it to be refilled. Guests cannot all eat at the same time. Even food temperature is always up in the air. Plus, I just think a served dinner is nicer.

View Quoted Comment It is a formal wedding

A lot of things are going to change post-COVID and I have a feeling buffets will be one of them... for sanitary purposes I would not do a buffet.

View Quoted Comment Then definitely plated. 👍

I've been to mostly just Indian weddings (and then 1 or 2 non-Indian), and you know how Indians get super dressed up and the gowns are heavy and it's crazy formal. And then, there's ALWAYS a buffet and I've never liked this. I've got a fancy, heavy gown on with a train that someone is keep stepping on behind me in the buffet line but I can't pick it up or move comfortably because I'm holding a plate in one hand, and trying to hold the utensil in another to serve myself. And then, one fine day I did go to an Indian wedding that was plated, and MAN WAS I HAPPY. Lol. I felt so special as a guest. Personally, we're doing plated for the reception. I do see people's solid points on why buffets are good but I've never enjoyed them for that reason and the food getting cold, running out, etc. Maybe it just depends on the size of the wedding though, and all the ones I've been to are hundreds of guests so it doesn't work well.

With the way things are going I doubt buffet will be an option with Covid restrictions.

View Quoted Comment You have a valid point