Buffet reception?

I'm not a buffet fan at all. I'm so creeped out by gross people (who don't wash hands, who sneeze, who pick their teeth and don't wash hands) who then touch the serving spoon or plate or touch the food - eww.

I also don't like to carry food while I'm dressed up and walking around.

It's not tacky - I just don't enjoy it at all.

I prefer plated but buffet is nice too as you get more variety as a guest. If you go buffet be sure to call your family's table first.

As long as I get good food in my belly I don't care how I get it. I've had bad plated food and bad buffet food. I can see either as elegant depending on how its done.

I'm doing buffet, it wasn't significantly cheaper and it is actually more food than the plated options. Someone told me today they went to one and the food was never refilled ... that would kill me! I'd be so embarrassed.

I don't like buffets. I prefer plated all the way.

TarHeel, no offense to your friend, but I would never even think of doing a buffet with tongs. Can't imagine anything more messy.

My FH and I chose buffet just because we both have big families and get lots of varieties 4 meats and 5 sides

Buffet lines are easily managed by either having 2 set ups, stations, or a long banquet set up where guests can get food on either side of the buffet.

We are doing a buffet. For us, it's definitely the norm in our circle. I've been to plenty of plate service events but personally I like the option to say no I don't want that or to take extra of something else. As long as the food is good and there is plenty of it, no one is going to think you're tacky.

Asking for cash; tacky. Buffet; not tacky. There's food. I don't see why it would be seen as tacky. You are feeding the guests and there's variety.

I don't think buffets are tacky at all, and they work for many brides and grooms, but I definitely prefer plated. I think it's more formal. To each their own though!

@stacy- there can definitely be dry chicken at a buffet too, not just plated entrees.

I like buffets where the caterer serves the food as the guests go through. It helps with food control so everyone gets some and keeps things cleaner.

Pros n cons to everything & everyone has their own opinion...mine is that I tend to see buffets at more casual weddings than elegant ones. As a guest at a buffet wedding, I prefer to be called up by tables vs waiting in line forever/can still socialize at the table while waiting for our table or having some folks going up for 2nds before others had even gotten up from their table.

@Elizabeth - no offense taken. I actually don't remember the tongs from my friend's wedding or whether it was messy. I was MOH and literally was the first person to get a plate (as I was bringing my friend her food). The picture is just from the venue website.

We are doing a buffet, because we wanted more selections than a plated meal could accommodate. We are having less than 100 people, and then people can take as little, or as much as they would like.

I prefer buffets at weddings. I had one and it was great! Our DOC called each table to get food, so no one had to wait in a long line.

I always thought I'd have buffet, but we didn't like our venue's setup for it (two stations - one obviously carvery, but do we really need 3 pasta options for the other one?).

Plated is about the same price for us, and we get 3 options plus a vegetarian option. Our coordinator also said that plated dinner is faster than buffet style. There was no question for us.

But, like some others, I think buffets are OK as long as long as the line is managed well.

Most receptions I went to were buffet

I prefer buffets so I can choose what I want and how much. It's also usually hotter than plated

We had a buffet and got told 100 times how good the food was. The only downfall was we didn't have a waiter to help us carry our stuff. We were suppose to. It wasn't necessary but would have been a great help!

We had a buffet at our wedding, and it was sure as hell not "tacky". Nothing wrong with plated, either. Go with whatever you prefer, or whatever your caterer offers(some caterers may only do one or the other).