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NaShara and Milton
VIP May 2015

Formal Wedding with a Buffet. Who has pulled this off?

NaShara and Milton, on November 17, 2014 at 6:27 PM

Posted in Etiquette and Advice 30

I have read a lot of mixed reviews about what is still "formal" between buffet vs plated. Looking for experience and advice from recent brides? Any one that plans on doing this for your set up? How did it go? I have about 180 guests attending and we don't really want to do plated.

I have read a lot of mixed reviews about what is still "formal" between buffet vs plated. Looking for experience and advice from recent brides? Any one that plans on doing this for your set up? How did it go? I have about 180 guests attending and we don't really want to do plated.

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30 Comments

  • Ostrich
    Master April 2016
    Ostrich ·
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    Not formal here either but doing buffets. As long as there are enough lines it's really not a big deal

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  • NaShara and Milton
    VIP May 2015
    NaShara and Milton ·
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    @sarahdell - YAY!!! A beautiful formal wedding with a buffet can be done! I'm thinking not releasing everyone at the same time is key. If you served 380 people in 20 minutes on buffet then it can b done! Organization is so important. Thank you!

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  • DeniseD
    Master May 2015
    DeniseD ·
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    Just have enough food. I went to a wedding buffet for 125 people with no table numbers (disaster), they didn't have enough food for everyone and ran out by the time the last of us got up. What food we did get was great but not having enough was horrible.

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  • NaShara and Milton
    VIP May 2015
    NaShara and Milton ·
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    @Denise - I know for sure to avoid the train wreck of people not knowing where to sit is to for sure have assigned tables, that's a whole other problem in itself lol. I don't think assigned seats are necessary for a buffet but I would definitely go with table assignments.

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  • Jillian
    Master May 2015
    Jillian ·
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    We are doing a buffet, however there is a soup or fruit and then salad course, those two and the bread are served at the table and then for the actual meal it is buffet. I rather do it this way to give people options that day. I don't want to pick what I want to eat a month in advance. What if I'm not feeling well or feel like something else that night. I want our wedding to have a formal/elegant vibe and hoping that it still is pulled off with a buffet meal.

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  • Kate
    Master May 2012
    Kate ·
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    We had about 180 people and everyone had food in 10-15 minutes with people serving themselves. We just kept it simple, and had 6 lines. Rolls--pulled pork--macaroni and cheese, then at the end pick up a bowl of salad. Dressings and croutons were on the tables. Our emcee was releasing tables and things were going so fast it wasn't long before he realized there was still no real line and just said 'okay, everyone else can go now'. DH and I had gone to get food first, and had hardly gotten our drinks and sat down to eat before everyone else was also eating. Everyone seemed really happy with how smoothly things went. (We also had half a dozen people in the kitchen bringing out food and making sure everything was supplied--buffets do not run themselves!) Smiley smile

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  • NaShara and Milton
    VIP May 2015
    NaShara and Milton ·
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    @Jillian and @Jenn - It is definitely doable and that's very exciting. I think what is going to be important for me is adequate people helping to run the buffet, amount of lines, and having enough food for everyone. I don't like plated because I feel like I don't have an option for what I want to eat lol I think presentation and having a smoothly run and tasty buffet is what will help make a wedding formal and elegant!

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  • Dani
    Super December 2014
    Dani ·
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    We are having a formal wedding with a buffet. Expecting 150-175 at the most right now. Our reception area has a separate area for the food. The caterer will set up two lines for all of the food with 3 long tables for each. The waitstaff will dish out food for the guests, so all they are doing is holding their plates (this also maintains portion control so the first 50 guests don't take half of the food) The tables will still be set, and the DJ will announce two tables at a time to go through the buffet line. It should only take about 20 minutes because of the flow, we have them entering one door and leaving another so there is not bottle necking.

    Just make sure you have enough lines or stations of food, enough catering waitstaff to help guests, and a good flow and it will be fine!

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  • Melody
    Dedicated October 2015
    Melody ·
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    We're having a formal wedding with a buffet, but our wedding is much smaller than the original poster's - we're having 60 guests total. Our menu is really nice, too. We were originally going to do a plated meal, but our caterer talked us out of it by explaining that with a buffet our guests will be able to get the food that they want, which can be especially important if any guests have allergies or dislike certain types of food (for instance, a vegetarian may not want meat on his/her plate). Plus a buffet is cheaper than a plated meal!

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  • 1MrsMarlow
    Expert July 2015
    1MrsMarlow ·
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    We are having buffet for 120 people but, there will be servers so that the line can go quicker.

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