Plated vs. Buffet

The buffet really does seem like a better deal, but with potentially having elderly guests who use walkers, we opted for plated. FH was pretty against the buffet from the start, but the food options sound so much better in the buffet.

I heard recently from people they prefer plated. The reason is that they don't have to stand in a line for food. I agree with JClovesDM buffet isn't always cheaper.

Both FH and I prefer buffets. I am a picky eater, but he eats almost anything. We both love when there is a carving station. I like being able to choose what I want and skipping over what I don't want. FH likes the ability to try everything though you do get that If you do a duet. He also likes the ability to get seconds. I also think there tends to be better options and more of a variety with a buffet rather than just chicken, steak, veggies and a side that you get with plated. Personally I think buffet sounds like the better deal for your venue.

We are doing plated because our wedding is formal and buffet just doesn't fit with the formality of our event. I don't want my guests waiting in line. We will have plenty of food, a multi course plated meal, wedding cake, and shipley donuts as "favors".

I had 200 people at my wedding and two different lanes, open on both side. Dinner was finished within an hour of it starting. I was shocked that we were ahead of schedule- I planned for dinner to take 2 hours. If it's a matter of time don't worry about a buffet if it's done properly

We did buffet. The price was the same, but we got more options with a buffet and I liked that everyone could try so many different things and that so many people went back for seconds. We had two complete buffets set up and the venue was really on their game about calling up tables at the right time, so there really wasn't any issue with lines. I think everyone was sitting down with their food 10 minutes after dinner started. Honestly dinner went a lot quicker than the majority of weddings I've been to, where you're waiting between courses. But we had 90 people, so obviously that's a big difference. For dietary restrictions, I actually found it easier to accommodate people with the buffet. If we were going with plated they'd basically have one option, but because there were so many options with the buffet, we could offer multiple GF and vegan dishes.

@HIH - I'm so excited you're going to be at my wedding! All your points are good.

I think what I'm going to do before I think about it anymore is talk to my coordinator and ask about specifics like set ups, line, seconds, etc. As well as what the detailed menu would be for the buffet. I'm go from there into more thought about it.

Thanks for all the input. Keep it coming if you have more to add!

How many guests will you have that are older and/or have mobility issues? That would be my main concern. If there's very few, and if you can have two lines going at the same time, then go for the buffet. Otherwise, plated. If there were several more entrees I'd be more inclined to say buffet, but if the extras are just salads, I'd rather forego the extra salads just to ensure nobody has to wait too long or struggle to stand in line.

A small handful of elderly, even smaller amount of mobility issues. My dad will help my grandma, or my aunt or cousin. His grandma will help his grandpa, so long as she is still in very good health. And my second mom type person will have her husband and 2 sisters there to help her if she needs it. Those are the only 3 I can think of that will possibly need assistance. They may not even need it. ETA: the major difference also includes a carving station with the buffet that we won't have with the plated.

Nicole - FH and I will have to make the decision soon, too. We can't decide between the two, and price isn't an issue, because our venue doesn't charge differently for buffet vs. plated. I'll follow this thread closely!

I personally prefer a buffet very much over plated. For one, I'm a vegetarian and for me and anyone with dietary restrictions it's far easier to eat at a buffet. You can pick and choose what you want and even if you can only eat one or two things you can just fill up on those rather than only getting a small amount, leaving the rest of the plate of things you can't eat to waste, and still being hungry. People know best what they can/will eat so often it's easier to just let them pick for themselves. Also, I like that with a buffet things get a bit more social. When it's a plated meal people can end up sitting the whole time and only talking to those at their table. Since they've had to stay seated for the meal they may hesitate to get up to socialize. With buffets people are up and moving and more likely to just talk to people as they walk around. This always seems to loosen people up for the rest of the night and I just feel like people end up talking and dancing more and spend less time in their seats (on average of course, this also depends highly on the specific group of people-some are naturally more social than others, I just feel this can push people one way or the other).

It really depends. When we were looking at local venues, buffet was the way to go: more food options for guests and lower cost, plus no need to keep track of who ordered what. Super easy.

Where we're having it now doesn't do buffet. They charge a flat $37.50/pp, and they get a choice of like 6 or 7 entrees, salad, side, bread, drink, etc. Included in that are choices like ribeye, filet mignon, fettuccine Alfredo, shrimp, pork, salmon, etc. lots of variety. I am thrilled that there is such a variety AND our people can eat what they want. At first we expected it to be mediocre, but we stayed there (B&B), and it was amazing! Those who want steak even get to have it cooked to order, so nice.

I always prefer buffet. The things I would ask about played that no one has mentioned, does your venue serve all what time or does it have only a few wait staff. The plated I have been to the food was cold by time we got it since they only had a few servers. Also if you do buffet ask how much food will be made and who serves. I have seen some that the guest serve and others where it's served. Also how long will the food be out? Do they have a set time or go by ear.

I'm a fan of plated because I just don't like waiting in line for my food at a wedding. In fact I really hate it. But a lot of people don't mind. I've never had issues with not have enough food with a plated dinner- between hors d'oeuvres, dinner, cake, booze, I'm usually very content (and I have a big appetite). If there are choices of entrees and both look good, FH and I get one of each and share- that's our jam. I also may be biased because 90% of the weddings I've been to have been plated (maybe it's a Chicago thing?). As for quality, I'm not going to lie: the stereotype of "wedding food" exists for a reason. I've rarely been blown away by a wedding dinner, but I have been more disappointed in buffet food than plated. Our dinner would have actually cost more as a buffet, so this point may differ. In the end, this is a very split topic but what's good is that as long as you provide warm, delicious food (and plenty of it), your guest won't really matter what format it's in.

My suggestion is the plated dinner. Having worked in catering, some buffet lines can get super long and more times than not by the time "aunt sue" gets to the front there's scraps left. A plated dinner can help to ensure that your guests leave well feed and happy.

Most weddings I have been to have been buffet and I prefer it to plated, cause I'm a picky eater. Also, today, with everyone's crazy diet restrictions, "Oh, I'm vegan,,,, oh, I'm lactose intolerant.... oh, I'm gluten intolerant...." I'd never want to field all those questions! Give them a buffet, and everyone can find something to eat!

As a vegan I actually prefer plated. There's almost never anything substantial I can eat other than a side veggie, and I usually have to wait five minutes while the server tracks someone down to ask if it was sautéed in butter. With plated service I just inform the server I'm vegan and they bring me something usually pretty awesome. Last month, I had a vegan dish at a plated wedding (without prior information I was vegan) that was better than I get at most restaurants.

We will be doing plated because it's more formal and elegant. It's hard to do a buffet right with the right food temperatures and not have it detract from the event. Our venue actually doesn't even offer buffets, but we wouldn't have chose it anyway. After six passed appetizers plus six station at cocktail hour I really hope no one will be hungry after dinner. Plus there's cake and Italian cookies if they are lol

We are doing buffet, primarily because it is cheaper than plated at my venue. Also we have a lot of dietary restrictions and the buffet offers more options for my veggie and gluten, dairy free guests.

Done correctly I think buffets can be very good! I don't have a strong preference either way. Most of the weddings I've been to have been plated. My cousin did buffet and I liked the variety of food.

Caterers (or good ones) make a buffet look just an elegant as a plated dinner. At first I was also dead set on plated, since I read it was "cheaper" since caterers did not have to amount for the extra food...

Well the caterers that we talked to... actually said buffets would be cheaper, since plated takes time to prepare theres a higher per plate charge.

It was very elegant AND we got our choice of having three different types of cuisine. We did not have the normal "buffet wedding food" but elegant choices like Morroccan salmon, thai, and Italian chicken.

Here are some pictures on how elegant it looked..

It was the same price for plated or buffet at our venue and we went buffet. Way more options and FH loves to eat lol. We went to my cousins wedding and they had like no food everyone was miserable!