Poll: Buffet, Plated or Family Style!!

I think with no seating chart I'd go for buffet for family style. I think how your venue is set up ( a good place for the buffet to be set up and enough space between tables to walk around )

Also I think alot less food is wasted on family style or buffet.

Is your wedding formal?

Depends on how many guests you're planning on having. For 200-300 guests, I would say plated or family style. You wouldn't want guest waiting forever to get food, and have a huge line with women in heals, and impatient kids (if you're allowing children to attend). Less than that, I think buffet is ok, especially if you don't want to do a seating chart.

I think buffets are nice. There are plenty of options and it is super easy! Especially with no seating chart (p.s. I HIGHLY recommend a seating chart, even if you just assign tables).

We're doing buffet! I was always under the impression that plated dinners were what was "proper" for weddings...but I'm sorry, I want my guests to have whatever and however much food they want! Plus, I don't want a "stuffy" wedding, I'm trying to make it as relaxed as possible while still being elegant! We are having about 115 people at the wedding.

@marilyn, why do you recommend the seating chart or assigned tables?

We are going with buffet. Primarily because it's less expensive. Plus it gets guests up and moving about instead of just parking it in their seats at the table and being chair flowers all evening.

I'm aiming more towards a formal almost black tie but like Sam said, I don't want it to stuffy and uptight so I'm terms of where people sit, I'd like them to be comfortable with being able to sit next to people that per say they haven't seen in a while instead of people they might see more often (I.e. distant family members, old college friends)

Buffets are less expensive. I agree with Terri. Either venue I end up having it's going to be buffet. I like people having options.

We're having a plated, sit-down, three-course meal, and my guests get to choose from three entree options. I do feel that eating this way is more elegant, but buffets can save you a ton of money. We are having a sushi station during the cocktail hour (along with 8 passed hors d'oeuvres).

We are having a buffet style dinner with 200 guest. We are having so many different dinner options as well as a cocktail dinner. It was way more affordable for us this way.

I also think assigned tables is a great idea! I know fiance and I have went to a couple wedding where we didnt know anyone but the bride and or groom and its awkward trying to find a seat. And some people will sit a seat apart from each other (think like at a movie theatre and then there is one seat here and one seat there and people get split up

We are doing a 3 course sit down plated meal, with canapes at cocktail hour. It has actually worked out cheaper than the buffet option!

If you are going for a formal black tie event, then plated is definitely your best choice. I don't like buffet because you have to get up and go get your food, the food is usually lower quality (lots of sides and starches) and then you have the lines and risk of spilling it on your way back to your table.

I like family style but it isn't suited to a formal event.

I think assigned tables are an absolute must! Otherwise you need to put out more seats and tables than actual people (therefore more money), because groups won't want to split up. With assigned seating, you can go through your list and see which lists will go together and make sure fueding family members won't end up sitting anywhere near each other. Don't assign seats, just tables and let them pick their own seats at that table. Will save a lot of time and confusion.

If you are going for formal, you need to have a plated served meal, which means you need to do a seating chart.

I honestly hate it when weddings don't have a seating plan, especially if I am not the closest to the bride and groom. Think about all the people you are inviting that don't know a ton of other people - your best friend's mom, or your co-worker from an old job - it's nicer if you can guide them towards someone you know they will like or have something in common with. Also what happens when a couple comes in at the last minute and there are no more double chairs anywhere? Do they have to split up? I just think you are doing everyone a favor by planning out the seating. And it's necessary for a plated meal.

At my venue platted and buffet are the same price. I picked buffet because it has a better better variety for guest and they can try everything. Although with plated they can get seconds. With buffet I don't have track meal selections for guest.

I think it's a personal preference, but I also think it's a regional thing too. All of the weddings that I've been to in my state have been buffet. We're doing buffet mostly because I don't want to pay $25/plate for a sit down (that's what the price is).

Plated dinner doesn't mean "stuffy", but I also agree that if you want any kind of a formal wedding, then plated dinner is the way to go. And buffets don't always mean more choices. I'm confused by "people not wanting their food touched" part? All food in restaurants is "touched", regardless of the serving style.

Also, whatever you do, have a seating chart. Not having one is usually chaotic, results in families/dates not sitting together, and is a much bigger hassle for your guests.

I wanted family style, but the caterer I am using does buffet only, so I am going with buffet. I was told that a plated meal for my sized wedding (~ 200 people) would be difficult to get everyone their food at close to the same time and have it be warm. It would also require more servers (more money).

Every wedding I have been to except 1 has been buffet, so it is really common in my region/social circle.

I chose the buffet style simply because I didn't want to ask people what their dinner choice was on the RSVP. Call me lazy, but that's A LOT to keep up with and what if people change their minds, or don't come, or don't include their choice on the RSVP. That's just one more thing to call and ask and if you have any sort of changes the night of, I can imagine it would be a nightmare.

I would do family style or buffet

I like buffet because most times I dont like half of whats on my plate and I go hungry. lol

I do however appreciate plated dinners but I do find food is luke warm more often than not.