Place Settings for a Buffet

We had a plated salad & buffet meal. So chargers, water goblets, silverware, napkins, and salad were on the table when guests sad down. Plates were on the buffet.

Chargers on the tables but plates at the buffet line.

Im not having a formal sit down dinner. Im doing a taco cart but I am the same way I like the way the table looks so I will be doing place settings. I’m using bamboo plates and utensils and have been looking for amber glasses to use. I like the way having the table set up looks and yes exactly I plan to just have my guests get their plate and they will go get their food.

Lot's of options for you! I went to a wedding recently where they had a bbq buffet. The table settings were metal pie tins that you took with you to the buffet line (DJ made the announcement to bring pie tin with you as he released tables). This was adorable and made for great photos that fit the theme. If you rent china and place it at each table, just be sure to have the DJ or emcee remind guests to take them to the buffet.

You can also do chargers in place of china at the table. Then you provide plates at the buffet line that you sit on top of the charger. You don't bring anything with you to the buffet and you'll still get the photos of the set table. Chargers are often very inexpensive and come in many colors.

You can also just set the head table and ask your photographer to get all of his/her detail shots from the head table. You can just use regular plates at the buffet line and still get your beautiful photos. Your guests won't care if the table isn't set and they will get their plate of delicious food at the buffet line.

For our wedding, we had a plated salad course and the main course was buffet. When guests first arrived silverware, centerpieces, table numbers and linens were the only things on the tables. They served the salad after everyone was seated and the plates for the buffet were stacked at the beginning of the buffet line.

My caterer starts with plated salads so guests don't get antsy. Then the dinner plates are at the buffet. You could think about that.

View Quoted Comment We're doing bamboo plates as well! Are you renting your utensils ?

I have been to to weddings these last two weekends, both buffet and both had the plates at the buffet. Our wedding was a buffet as well, and our plates were at the buffet.

My caterer recommended leaving the plates on the table instead of having a stack. This is a sample pic of what I am renting, although I decided to ditch the chargers to save money.

As a guest, I would prefer for the plates to just be at the buffet. Some people will inevitably forget their plates at the table and cause a delay. If you want something for aesthetics, you could do chargers or doilies.

Here is what we did:

The thing in the napkin is a menu. Plates were on the buffet.

View Quoted Comment Aren’t they cute! And no I’m going to use bamboo utensils too. (This pic is just of how I want to set it up). We don’t really need utensils as our food is tacos so I think bamboo should be fine

View Quoted Comment I love how your have your napkins sitting on your tables!!! We’re having a buffet style dinner. This would be perfect!!! Can I borrow your idea??

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Absolutely!!! I actually think I borrowed the idea from another bride on here

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much!!! I was clueless as to how I wanted to fix our tables!!

I agree with what was already suggested. Charger plates at the table along with napkins, silverware and glassware and then have the plates at the buffet line. My venue suggested this as well, apparently it makes the process smoother when trying to get 150 people through a line.

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Me too and I love this also

Our caterer recommended having the plates at the buffet. They're going to set the table with napkins and silverware. Glasses are going to be at the drink station. Our buffet will be self-serve. If we were having more people, I'd maybe be inclined to have a served buffet, where there are catering people actively staffing the tables. But this way, people should be able to access both sides of the table. (If we had more guests, I'd also want two identical buffet tables.)

I am also doing buffet style dinner and decided to do gold or white dollies with the napkin setting in contrasting color (burgundy) laying on top. Attached a picture from my wedding ideas from Pintrest 😁

Many will have chargers and salad plates out on the tables; but dinner plates will be at the buffet line.