Plated versus buffet

I would just double-check with your venue/caterer regarding their staffing and their planned time-frame. Daughter's wedding was plated (at a very-inclusive venue, so they had complete control over the food and staff) and I'd be surprised if it took them more than 10 minutes to deliver meals to all 100 guests. However, daughter's venue and staff are extremely experienced and has a strong commitment to a high-level of service. I don't think the entire dinner took more than 45 minutes from the time the first salads were served until the staff was clearing plates from guests who had finished eating. Unless the service is really bad, I much prefer plated to a buffet (they can take forever too!).

I would stick with plated since your wedding is formal

That wedding sounds like it was poorly staffed because that it is not normal. Most plated dinners should take about 1 - 1.5 hours from start to finish, and this is mainly to help pace your evening so you can do your table visits while people eat. There should be enough servers so that everyone gets served at nearly the same time. Ours was a plated dinner and we chose to pace it out over 1.5 hours.

I have specifically asked for (and am paying for) additional staff to make my platted meal not take as long. If you have a big group, even a buffet can take a long time if there aren't enough set up. How many people are you having?

I prefer plated. We did buffet (but if we had an extra $1,500 we would have done plated) but guests sat down to a plated salad & bread on the table, then went to the buffet after our first dance. If you want plated, I'd just make sure your catering staff has enough people there.

I am surprised as I have always read plated dinners are faster, but then when you said they were short staffed and that makes sense.

If you are having a formal dinner, plated is the way to go. If it makes you feel any better, just double check with your venue that they will have the correct number of servers. Sometime that is even in the contract.