Foooood Question.... Plated or Stations?

Plated weddings I've been to have all been served very quickly - did you ask the venue how they handle serving plated foods?

What will the meal options be for the two - it would be more of a determining factor for me than the style - since both are fine with me/FH.

I'm having a destination wedding and still trying to figure out if I want plated or buffet. Which is better at a wedding?

I'm team plated. I don't like guests transporting their own food while in their best outfits. Also, lines. I don't like lines at an event and even when they're called by tables there's a line. Some on this forum mention portion size or inability to pick what they want as a negative to plated. I've never left a plated meal hungry and the only time I hated a plated meal was when they went with a horrible caterer.

@Linds We have our appointment with the venue next weekend. I was just hoping to have more of an idea of what we want. When we went there for dinner one night, it was pretty slow...

Edit: I will totally add menu options when I get home from work tonight. just 2 and a half hours to go!

Are you requesting table shots from you photographer? If so, please read ...

From my experience as a vendor : If table shots are requested, those waiting to be excused to the buffet line offer the perfect opportunity to be photographed and help the time pass. If offering a plated meal, skip table shots.

From my perspective as a guest : My feet hurt. Feed me.

ETA : plated meal AND table shots from my perspective and assuming the caterer's/staff position : visual ... caterer/staff bringing out 8 plates of food while photographer is asking 8 - 10 people to rearrange themselves around a table for a photo, while those 8 - 10 people have been on their feet, hungry/hangry/ situated then asked to move, smelling awesome food and THEN being asked to moved ... it's a cluster.

Plated meal = no table shots

Buffet = table shots as you can.

ETA again : the more people the more stations. Nothing hurts more than seeing waves of people ready to dance while others still have yet to eat. Timing is everything and the pros know how to do it right.

I love stations.

A good caterer can serve 150 guests a plated meal in less than 20 minutes.

I prefer the formality of a plated dinner. Buffets and stations are okay, but in my opinion if you can be served at a casual restaurant, you should be served at a wedding.

If the choice was buffet or plated - I would be team plated all the way.

But stations are my one exception to carrying my own food - I don't know why I feel differently about them than buffet - but it feels fancier than a buffet to me for some reason.

I also like that stations are typically chef/attendant attended - and buffets make me think that someone sneezed in my food - people are gross.

I'm doing neither. We chose family style. It gets the guests to interact with each other at the table and they can still choose what they want to eat or don't want. It's a win win. Only down side (I don't see it as one) is if you have a wide or big centerpiece. I'm doing tall ones in Eiffel vases to save space for the dishes on the table. Good luck!

All good points... I am leaning more towards plated, but I'm so torn because stations means more food options and another dessert table.... I love food.

I prefer a plated meal because of the formality! Although, it is nice to have multiple options. I am happy either way as long as the food is good!

I am a banquet manager and we do alotttttttt of weddings. Both have their pro's and cons. Plated gives people less options, but youll have quick service and and everyone will get food. Stations gives people tons of options but you can run out of food. People tend to forget at station that it isnt an all you can eat buffet, and you only get as much food as you order for. If you run out of food and need to add on it will cost more.It also takes more time for people to get their food. At the end of the day its whatever makes you happy(: If there is anything I can assist you with please let me know!

Team plated for sure, there's just something about that formality at a wedding that I love.

I've only been to one wedding with stations and it just didn't seem as nice or polished.

Only because I have seen the consequences ... Please reread and fully understand Stephanie's post.

Buffet does not mean "never ending" in terms of a wedding dinner.

Ive been to weddings with plated, one was great, other was a miss. It came out cold and i didnt like the sides so i basically just ate 3 oz of beef and a few green beans lol.

We are doing buffet style to save money and ppl can get 2nds if they like. If you can get at least 3 options for plated i would prob do that if the price isnt too high

I've been to weddings with both options. I prefer the stations. There is something more authentic to me about a chef cooking pasta or carving meat right there. I also like to have the variety and choose what I want to eat. I work in hospitality and have often times seen food sitting for a while before taking it out. It really depends on the caterer.

I also think you should confide in your caterer as to you and your guests' eating habits. If I were to host a wedding today, it would be plated. My guests and I would be loading our plates at the buffet enough to feed 4+ people. No joke. We would run out of food. A plated meal would be less expensive if I hosted a wedding today given my guest list.

I tend to prefer plated. It's more relaxing, doesn't interrupt the flow of chatting with my buds at my table, and I don't have to wait in a line in my nice dress and heels! I've also seen the good stuff in a buffet/stations run out if my table gets called late. However, as long as there is ample, decent food I'm cool with either, but if I had to pick it would be plated.

I actually have been to two weddings this past year that use the caterer I am using. One was a buffet and one had stations. I know you're looking at plated and stations, but I happened to just absolutely love the stations. Each table was given permission at a certain time to go check out the stations, sort of like a buffet. The food was phenomenal, and I love that I got a little taste of everything. There was also more than enough for people to go back for seconds. I was a huge fan of the small plates, and it wasn't very hectic at all! The stations were put in three different corners of the room so even after every table have been called and people were Milling around getting seconds it was spread out enough but I didn't feel hectic or crazy.

IMHO, in order for stations to be as good, it will be more expensive than plated. You need to ask the venue, how will they make certain everyone gets enough food.