Plastic vs Glass

Renting disposable plates? No.

If the cost was the same I would get the ceramic plates. It can be difficult to eat off of disposable and it will elevate the atmosphere of your wedding. You can even try to resell/ donate them when you are finished. It may be logistically more difficult but worth it IMO

I would get some at Dollar Tree for the same price and sell or give them away afterwords.

Thank you everyone. That is the way I was leaning.

No way I'd be schlepping enough plates for 300 people (and that means about 450). And then paying people to bus them and wash them.

I would buy the plates and then reuse them after or give them away, I just could not see spending the same price you would spend on ceramic plates on disposables.

Wouldn't you also need silverware? Salad/app plates? Napkins? Beverage and wine glasses? Coffee cups? Where is all that coming from? Do you know how heavy 400 plates are? I don't even think Dollar Tree would have that much in stock.

ETA: Google party rentals in your area. You can probably find a place to rent china for the same price your caterer is charging for plastic. For example, try actionpartyrentals.com. Clear glass dinner plates are 45 cents each and white china plates are 87 cents each.

If she decides to use the dollar tree you can purchase items in bulk online; however, like everyone else has stated you still need silverware and more than 300 plates. Check out smartyhadaparty if you decide to use durable plastic to see if these are a better option than what the caterer has. It wouldn't be a bad idea to just rent them for $2 a piece and have to deal with storage and trying to get rid of the plates after the wedding. Since your wedding is a huge one in the end it may make more sense to let the caterer deal with that. Less headache for you to deal with.

I would honestly just rent the glass ones from the caterer. It would be to much for me to deal with due to the amount I would have to tote around the day of.

Definitely go to dollar store.

Jesus, my rental company does plain white china for 50 cents a plate! I wouldn't rent plastic plates for nothing, that makes no sense (and $1 per DISPOSABLE plate is absolutely outrageous). I'd buy my own disposable plates or find a separate rental company with reasonable prices.

If buying disposable go to webstaurantstore.com! 144 plates for around $50.

I bought 100 plastic dinner plates,salad plates,silverware,and cups all that for 100 online

@firstonat56 Thanks for the tip of action party rentals.com. @JSARGE the wedding is indoors with a family style dinner. The caterer does offer silverware and coffee cups.I already bought the tablecloths, napkins, wine glasses and water goblets.It's just those dang plates.

Dollar Tree does have them in bulk but I am going to look into other places to see if I can rent them cheaper. Thanks everyone.

Rent them from a place that doesn't require you to wash them. The last thing you want you/your family doing the night of your wedding is washing hundreds of plates. With renting you'll avoid transportation, too.