Real dishes vs, paper plates?

Don't do paper!

I really don't want to. I am trying to find the cheapest place to get my dishes from for the wedding. I am looking at about $450 for just dishes.

Real for sure!

How many of each should I get? i am having 50 ppl total (includes me & FH).

this is where I am having trouble. estimating how much i need.

What type of food are you serving? Do you have a separate salad, entree, dessert type dinner, or a buffet?

The place that I rented plates, for the Bridal Shower, charges .45 cents per plate. So, even if you rented 150 plates, you'd only be at $67.50. Their most expensive plate, bone china, is .55 cents per plate.

Go with real plates. Unless you are having a super casual event, real is always best.

I am serving brisket, chicken, gumbo, pasta salad, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, green bean caserole, mac & cheese, red potatoes, corn bread, and rolls. More like a buffet style.

Heck I'm hungry....great menu....I would go for real dinnerware as well. Is your wedding more casual?

Okay, so, if you are going a buffet, you can get away with one large dinner plate, per person and one dessert plate. You *may* also want to do a plate for the rolls.

I would recommend having a few extra plates, just in case someone drops one, of they let their plate go and want to get a second helping. I would say, for 50 people, you may want to get 80 dinner plates, 50 small bread plates and 80 dessert plates.

Basing the price, on the rental company that I used, that would run just under $100.

Does your venue have silverware? Or will you need to rent it as well? Do not do plastic with real plates. ;-)

Libragurl* i don't want it to feel too casual

here is the ceremony/reception site:

http://www.heritageoaksclubhouse.com/

I am going to email the venue today and see what they have that we can use.

I just found this event rental place in your area....they charge 60 cents per plate

http://rentals.hillcountryeventplanning.com/#bn-photocenter-1-1-3933290015/57775/1/

Looks like a great place. Definitely not paper plate place. They may very well have plates...or...they may be able to refer you to an event rental company that they use. The site says that they have an Event Planner. That person will have lists of rental companies and pricing.

The place i am looking at only charges 45 cents per dish. but thank you very much for looking for me kathy.

For only 50 guests where are you getting a $450 total???

Plates, bowls, silverware (.50cents each) chaffing dishes, glasses, and some other things

Someone posted a link to this website before, i can't remember who did, but they have plastic dishes. They look real, but they are disposable and look prettier then paper plates. they would probably hold up better than on paper plates as well.

http://www.smartyhadaparty.com/Category325-Category_-_Dishes_-_Dinner.aspx

Real if you can afford it, but smarty had a party reall does have some nice options. Two of the weddings I designed/coordinated this summer used them - ibone colored square plastic plates, reflections (plastic) silverware, finley damask paper napkins

Maybe this shows it better

Ah, now the $450 seems more realistic, you are not just talking about plates for 50 people. For everything you are looking at, it is very reasonable. The plate portion will not be the largest portion. Go with real plates. JMHO

I've got about $3.50 a place setting for table cloth, cloth napkins, plastic plates, plastic cups and metal silverware used for catering. Everything from sams club.