Buffet Questions!

Are you working with a caterer? They should give you advice on setting the table and plates and what the buffet tables will be set up as. Our caterer is releasing the tables to the buffet, but I heard one idea where the DJ plays a specific song to release tables.

Honestly, I haven't thought of that at all. My wedding is after yours, and I was just going to leave it up to the venue. They do it more often than I do.

My cocktail hour is in another room, and the buffet is off to the side of the main reception area, so I don't think I am going to worry about it.

The plate thinf depends on the venue, are they providing everything?. Also your MC will do this/and or wedding coordinator. .

Wait... are you doing the buffet yourself? I think this should be something you and the venue/caterer work out

Our tables were set up with everything on there - charger, plate, silverware, etc.

The guests just brought their plate with them to the buffet.

And the buffet table was set up during cocktail hour I believe. Everything was there and ready when we walked into the reception at least. There weren't any decorations on the table.

And our DJ released tables!

My venue took care of all of these things. Your caterer and/or venue should do the same, because they're used to these set ups.

Long time caterer here!

That is totally up to you. The table settings look nicer when everything (plates included) are set, however, logistically speaking it's easier to have plates at the buffet station. If you have chargers, I think if you do a table setting with the napkins on top of the chargers as opposed to hanging off the table, you can achieve the look of a fully set table and then also have the logistics of a smoothly running buffet with the plates on the buffet.

I'm having a buffet also. The DJ will release the tables and here is look I am going for. The plates will be up front next to buffet table.

Normally the plates are at the start of the buffet. Otherwise, people forget to take their plate and have to go back. You also need clean plates for those who go for seconds.

The chargers will give the look of a complete place seating, so no worries there.

I would ask to see pictures of buffets your caterer has done in the past. It's pretty hard to incorporate decor into the area where the chafing dishes are for hot foods, but I would expect them to incorporate both decor and a variety of heights into the salad, bread and dessert areas.

Nothing looks more boring than a row of platters lined up at the same level on the table.

Our caterer mentioned that the DJ could release tables, or we could do our round to greet and speak briefly to each table, then send them to the buffet (and maybe have someone go ahead and grab plates for us while we do that).

Idk if that's exactly what we're going to do, but it sounds like a great idea.

I've only been to one buffet style wedding reception, and it was the best reception I've ever been to! The tables were fully set except for the plates, which we picked up at the beginning of the buffet line. That was better than having to awkwardly carry our plates over to the line and stand there. The DJ also did a great job of crowd control by releasing guests table-by-table to go to the buffet. I may have been partial to his methodology because I was at the first table to go after the head table hahaha.

Edited for words =/

My caterer said it was up to us. We have talked about it with him and decided to have plates at the start of the buffet but tables will be set with everything else. As far as the table before it is set up, I am not sure. The caterer is setting all that up during the cocktail hour I believe. My DOC (who is really our week of and not just day of, haha) is coordinating all of that. Also, our DJ will be releasing the tables.

I am having the plates at the table with silverware. People take their plates with them to the buffet.

DJ is releasing tables.

The buffet tables will be set while guests find their seats.

My "social hour" (beer and wine at that, so not a cocktail hour) is in a different part of the venue.