Buffet versus Heavy Hors D'oeuvres

I always enjoy either both at weddings or full buffet

I vote buffet

@York do you mean a full buffet and some hors d'ouevres? We're thinking of doing it as either or not both.

Already the advice is insanely helpful! Love it!

I think either would be fine in your case. However, I don't usually eat lunch until around 1 PM, so I would be on the hungry side. But the Hor Douerves sounds like they would fill me up.

@noelle I've catered alot of weddings and the ones that have had both have been very fancy, I haven't done to many of those. Go with the buffet, anyone loves buffets you would rather want to over serve then under serve your guests

I would personally love the stations and apps versus the buffet. But I prefer finger foods. As long as there are a lot of them and the stations are heavier options I think either would be ok.

What types of stations do they offer?

I love hors! And it is so much more fun. And you can totally eat as much at a station/hors style party.

I'd do six-seven passed hors (some exotic, some prosaic) and then some substantial stations; mashed potatoes (my more upscale/innovative venues are doing French Fry stations), pasta stations, carving (do something cool in addition to beef; pork tenderloin, pastrami....), bacon station, pad thai....

I love it.

Food stations are something I've never heard of. Is it a new thing? because I've never seen it done in my area.

We did stations/apps for our reception... If you go this route, make sure you have a lot of options and they are filling. We also posted our menu on our website and when talking to friends.

I also think this is one of those “know your guests” things… our guests were mostly friends and we knew they would enjoy the “cocktail hour” atmosphere. As long as we had ridiculous amounts of alcohol (we did) and they were able to snack on great food (we did) they were happy.

Also keep in mind it is NOT cheaper than a buffet.

@OG oh my gosh they have so many options... it's AWESOME! Our top picks are Mac & Cheese Bar (with lots of toppings/mix-ins), Sandwich Carving Station (we pick one meat and they have 3 sauces to pick with it, served on rolls), Smashed Potato Bar (gold or sweet potatoes with 5 toppings). They also have a pasta, chili, taco, and bruschetta bars, as well as cheese and crackers, fresh veggies (I have a carrot allergy so that's a big NO), or an anti-pasta display.

They also offer about 20 different types of tray passed hors d'oeuvres.

@TacoCat they are definitely not cheaper than a buffet, they might even be a little more! But possibly more delicious and fun for the guests.

I've never been to a wedding with the food stations but I have been to a few events lately with food stations and I really enjoyed them. I think as long as they are filling foods I'd enjoy them more then buffett especially because with more than one station there's not one big buffet line and you don't have to try to pile everything on one plate. You can try the pasta station then go back up to the beef tenderloin station after.

@ Noelle, I usually vote for the buffet, but with all the stations you mentioned that could probably pass as a full meal!

We're doing heavy apps/stations at a non meal time also. Our crowd is mostly older so there won't be any dancing. But there will be lots of alcohol and music for mingling.

But like TacoCat mentioned...ours is actually more expensive than a buffet.

Hmmm.... Id do mac and cheese, potato, pasta, and taco!

Also, LOLing the fact Celia loves Hors.

We're also thinking of doing a hot chocolate bar right after the reception since we're shooting for an outdoor ceremony in November (only if the weather is dry though, any rain or snow and it's going in the reception room!)

Heavy hors sound different for a wedding. I had something similar before at another event and loved the idea

I think the stations/passed apps sound like a ton of fun!! If you think it would be acceptable in your crowd, go for it. Just from those three stations, that sounds like enough for a full meal to me, plus the passed apps. I'd say you're golden.