Plated Dinner Question

If you're doing a plated dinner, there isn't a need for stacked plates at the table. A good alternative would be having dinner served family style, if you are dead set on having the plates at the table.

Thank you for your response, Bailey! While browsing through wedding blogs, I often times see weddings with stacked plates, so I wonder how they do it.

Yeah, what you are seeing is most likely for buffet or family style. The caterer would need the plates way before hand in order to serve the dinner and having extra random plates at the table isn't ideal. Just a charger is what you would be wanting for plated, unless you wanted to go another way with buffet/family style and have the place setting you are wanting.

You are looking at staging photos too...

Thank you both for your input!

For plated dinners do you need a charger?

I just don't like the look of empty tables. I'm pretty big on table settings - plates, menu cards, napkins, etc. I'd like to have at least a charger at each seat for aesthetic appeal. Also, my venue and cateror have given me complete artistic freedom on how to set the tables. I've even hired a tablescape design company to help me!

I guess every caterer is different. I've spoken to my caterer recently and they've assured me they will arrange the plates in any way I desire, whether it's a single charger, stacked plates, etc. They have no issues and are willing to work around anything.

Thank you for your input, Sarah! May I ask what you usually see for a plated dinner? Is it just a charger? Or no charger at all?

Okay, thank you very much! I guess I have quite a few things to think about/reconsider.

That does sound lovely, Fall Bride!

Almost all the weddings I've been to are plated (and I've been to a lot!!) I agree with @Fall Bride that your tables will be very full of the various things listed by her and won't look at all empty. Our bridal party sat with us and we eventually moved the bridesmaid flowers over to the cake table (which turned into a beautiful picture) because there was not enough room for them.

I've never seen chargers used at a wedding myself, but in restaurants they usually take them away before serving your plate.

I'd save the money and using it on something fun.

I'm doing a plate as the charger and then the server will bring an additional plate for the meal. I also like the way it looks, and the rental plates aren't very expensive. Hope this helps!

Here are pictures of my venue with the tables set (sorry it's a little blurry) and the cake table with the flowers.

Cake picture

Here is a picture from my cousins wedding food was served family style. I have also never been to a wedding with a played dinner but I do think family style can be just as elegant.

Thank you, Alyssachu, MeganM, and NextMrsD! I really appreciate the responses! And thank you for providing the images of your wedding, NextMrsD! How stunning! I'm leaning towards placing a charger at each seat and having the servers bring the actual dinner plate come dinner time. =)

Thank you for sharing that photo, Jallisa! What a beautiful wedding! Yes, family style is definitely another option! =)