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Just Said Yes July 2020

Real Plates vs. Disposable

Amber, on February 7, 2019 at 12:43 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 1 28

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Hi everyone,
So I am having an issue deciding to use real plate or disposable for my wedding. It is stressing me out because to use real plates I'm looking to add on about 1,400 (not including extra gratuity charges) to the cost of my caterer. To me it does't seem like it is worth it to spend that much money on something that people are going to eat off of once. But, I dont want my wedding to seem tacky if I use disposables. I'm not quite sure what to do at this point. Here are some facts about my wedding:we will be serving normal wedding food ( baked chicken and beef tips), our reception hall is nice and new but not overly fancy, we have a guest count of around 200, and I am for the most part paying for the wedding by my self. What do you think?

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28 Comments

Latest activity by Gabe, on April 26, 2022 at 6:23 PM

Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on February 7, 2019 at 12:48 PM
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Nice plastic dishes I think would be fine if you're going for a more casual feel. If your wedding will be semi-formal to formal I would opt for real dishes.
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Super March 2019
Bailey · on February 7, 2019 at 12:49 PM
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I am using disposable plates, because that is what our caterer provides. In my area, it’s very common to have disposable plates. I have been to 10+ weddings and I’ve never had glass plates. But in the other hand, if you are having a very fancy wedding, I would expect glass plates.
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Devoted June 2019
Keiwana · on February 7, 2019 at 12:49 PM
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I prefer real plates / silverware so that’s my vote.
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Champion November 2016
LB · on February 7, 2019 at 12:55 PM
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I would find it odd to have disposable plates at a wedding unless it was very very casual. But unlike PP, I've never been to a wedding that didn't have real plates/glassware/silverware.
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VIP July 2018
AQuixoticBride · on February 7, 2019 at 1:34 PM
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I used real plates, and I too find it odd to use disposables at a wedding. Plus, I just wouldn't want to needlessly create that much trash. I'll admit, though, that the dishes came with my venue so I didn't have to pay extra. Have you checked out how much it might cost to rent dishes from someplace other than your caterer? That number seems a little high to me.
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Master January 2019
FutureMrsKC · on February 7, 2019 at 1:47 PM
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Our wedding was semi-formal and we had plastic plates and cutlery for our served buffet dinner. Not a single guest complained, nothing went wrong, and it made the caterers job easire for clean up when they bussed tables. I didn't have the budget to rent real china so we bought ours from The Restaurant Store. Again, no one batted an eye. If your wedding were more formal I'd advise against it but it sounds like it would fit your setting perfectly. And again, who are your guests to judge? They were invited to celebrate with you, you're providing food, alcohol, and good entertainment it should't matter too much what it is served on.
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Devoted October 2019
Mariangeli · on February 7, 2019 at 1:59 PM
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There are GREAT disposable plates out there at like Costco or Sams club and lots of disposable silverware that are metal-looking that honestly if you looked at it you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Personally, I am a bride on a budget so spending over $1k on plates makes me wanna faint. I think that if you get the "fancy" looking disposable plates in bulk you will be just fine!
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Super September 2019
Selena · on February 7, 2019 at 8:14 PM
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I will be renting China and flatware. It was one of my non negotiables. But if you don't care, your guests probably won't care either.
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Expert May 2021
· on February 7, 2019 at 8:23 PM
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I prefer glass plates but I wouldn’t pay 1k or more for that option. My nieces wedding was two years ago and now that I’m getting married we were trying to think of what she used. She used plastic plates and forks and I don’t remember it at all. Dinner was great at her reception and no one complained.
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Super October 2019
Misty · on February 7, 2019 at 8:27 PM
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Check out webstaurant .com they have a ton of options. If you're worried about waste they have palm leaf or bamboo. Or even have a couple recycling trash cans set up for caterers to toss plastics. But honestly.... your budget is your budget. You cant spend needlessly if it's not in your budget. Ask people what they remember about weddings... food, booze, good times, music.... details that could save you money and are not memorable to others... no brainer. Save the cash and get the plastic.
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Dedicated August 2019
Nichole · on February 7, 2019 at 8:37 PM
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Go with Disposable
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Just Said Yes July 2020
Amber · on February 7, 2019 at 8:41 PM
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Thank you everyone for your input! It is appreciated!!
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Just Said Yes July 2020
Amber · on February 8, 2019 at 11:40 AM
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View Quoted Comment
Thank you. Your post really puts it into perspective
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Just Said Yes August 2015
HipHoliday · on February 8, 2019 at 11:45 AM
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I'm for the real plates!
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Master June 2019
Danielle · on February 8, 2019 at 11:49 AM
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Personally, I see nothing wrong with disposables. They have a lot of nice options out there. And I doubt your guests will care about what plates you choose. It isn't tacky. I can't think of a single wedding I've been to that had real plates, to be honest. Choose what works best for your vision and budget!
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Dedicated October 2020
Sarah · on February 8, 2019 at 11:49 AM
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I’ve been to lots and lots (and lots) of weddings, and typically I see the fancy disposable plates at barn weddings or where the caterer is more like a barbecue style. For weddings in a banquet hall setting with food like you specified, it’s typically “real” plates. Just remember, it’s your wedding! No matter what you do there will be someone whispering it was the wrong choice, so do what’s best for you and your budget!
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Dedicated January 2020
Leigh · on February 8, 2019 at 12:00 PM
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I really think this is regional. We talked to multiple vendors who would’ve made money off us using china all encourage us to use disposable. On the other hand, I have friends who were horrified by the idea. We are going with disposable partly because our caterer uses really pretty ones and partly to save money. It would’ve been an extra $800 for us to use china.
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Master 0000
Judith · on February 8, 2019 at 12:42 PM
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Generally, no semi formal ( evening clothes) or formal wedding, plated or buffet, uses disposable items. But it is your call..
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Devoted October 2019
Laura · on February 8, 2019 at 12:58 PM
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I guess it depends on how many guests you have, and as someone else mentioned, the area you live in. Our caterer is only charging us about $250 for real plates, silverware, etc for about 50 people. I priced it out to some extent, and I think it would have cost almost as much to get high quality disposable dishes and silverware. So the choice was easy for us. I was ready to go with disposable, though, so if that will save you a lot of money, do it.
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Master September 2019
Sherry · on February 8, 2019 at 1:01 PM
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I am using disposable plates. Real plates are not cost effective when not a single of my guests will care.
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