Please give me some feedback. Plated Dinner vs Family Style

I actually prefer family style--if done well--because it allows me to decide how much of each item I want. It's also a good icebreaker when seated with people you don't know well.

We are doing family style. We hate waiting for our table to go up at weddings for buffets and played seemed like less food choices for our guests so this seemed like the best of both. Wedding is in 3 days so I hope it goes well! You do need to keep in mind that the platters take up space on tables so you need not wide centerpieces.

Family style!

I'm doing family style, but I also want a more relaxed feel without doing a buffet (which I don't like). If you want elegant and formal, go with plated.

I am going with family style. This way people can choose what they want and how much they want. The bonus is that it is a little cheaper too!

I vote for plated. I went to a wedding that was family style. A cousin took a 2nd helping of the appetizer (there were 10 presented on the serving platter), because my mother was in the bathroom (so she didn't get any). They didn't exactly give us heaps of food and hover around trying to refill. People had to go around to tables and try to trade things they wanted vs. items others didn't want. It was a mess.

For a more formal reception/location, I tend to prefer plated meals; as much as I love a good, family-style meal, I've always found they were at the more casual, familial events.

Also, not sure if it applies to your guest list, but if you have a number of guests with special dietary needs/requests, having the plated meal might better ensure that they get adequate portions of foods they can eat.

Family style is awesome if done well -- but there are too many things that you can't control: not enough food because greedy guest took 8 servings of their favorite thing, one options is much more popular than another option resulting in no food again, etc.

That being said, I've only seen it done well once -- and so we're doing a plated reception.

We are having plated dinner. Def didn't want buffet (no offense to anyone having one) originally there were only 2 entree choices but a few other things that we didn't want/care for. We cut the passed hors d'oeuvres in half. From 10 to 5. Cut out fruit station and got a 3rd entree choice. So, one chicken, one steak and one fish. Everyone will get two sides as well as pasta.

I'm sure your caterer can negotiate, just have to ask

Plated. Family style is exactly measured so if someone takes more than a serving, someone else gets less. It's not heapings of food like people want to believe.

My sisters wedding was family style and there was enough food for 2nd helpings. I liked that I could try a little of everything and not get stuck with something I don't like.

We're doing plated since we don't like the idea of people waiting in line for buffets (even if they're called by table there's a line) and we don't like the risk of running out of food for family style. The idea of guests asking for more of something that ran out at the table irks me. I've only been to one family style wedding and with each dish we either got very little portions or none at all. We were seated with a couple that pretty much used the dishes like a meal for 2.

We're having plated. I've never seen family style at a wedding! I guess it just depends on what kind of vibe you want (to me, plated seems more on the formal side while family style seems more laid back).

I prefer plated I think it's way more elegant to be served your dinner. I've been to a few weddings with family style, I personally do not like having a giant plate of food passed around me in my good clothes (I've seen it spill on some one before because the plates were heavy and the person didn't have a firm grip on it ) and I don't like seeing my food sitting in a bowl full of juices and grease.

I've seen family style at a wedding and I enjoyed it. It would have sucked if I was sitting with people I didn't know though.

Definitely plated, especially when you say your venue is elegant. In my opinion, family style should only be done at backyard weddings, park weddings, or other casual weddings. Anything the least bit "elegant" or "formal" doesn't really scream family style to me.

For formal, plated.

Plated, for sure. The only time I've seen family style work well for a formal event was for a formal Chinese wedding...and there was something ridiculous like 16 courses of exotic food! Plated is easier and less messy.

Thanks so much!!! All comments mirror what I was thinking. I'm so glad I asked for feedback. I feel a lot better knowing most people prefer plated as I do. Dual entree is what we are shooting for!!!

I will echo what others have said, I prefer plated as well. I have attended a couple weddings with family style, and have found it to be a bit awkward and not enough food. Plated is definitely more formal.