Seated Dinner vs Extended Cocktail Hour

I think it depends on what feel you want for your ceremony. If you want something traditional do the seated if you want something more contemporary do the extended cocktail hour. Disclaimer: I've never experienced an extended cocktail hour

I've never heard of an extended cocktail hour but i'm gathering from what you said that it's just like doing a buffet dinner. We are doing a cocktail hour and then buffet dinner. We look at sit down dinners as less of a chance for our guests to get to mingle with each other and that is the atmosphere that we are going for. I think that is what it all comes down to. What kind of atmosphere are you trying to create? That will definitely help you to pick between the two.

JJ That is what I was thinking...That it would allow for more mingling (especially since Im not totally fond of the way the venue does its seating - sorta like 2 rooms) I was thinking that it would probably get ppl up dancing sooner too..

I disagree about the mingling-- if my guests wanna mingle with each other they will do so. I almost feel like not even having a seating chart because everyone is going to be switching seats with each other.... obviously I'm biased b/c I'm doing a sit-down dinner. I think it's kinda nice for your guests not to have to be standing up and waiting to get their food. Keep in mind that your guests will be standing in line for a buffet-- especially with over a hundred people. I just went to an event where there were probably around 150-160 of us and we waited for what seemed like FOREVER to make it through the buffet line. That was with them constantly changing up the food and everything. Also, with the buffet some people seem to think its "all you can eat". Typically it isn't, though the caterer might not mention that. If you have some people that tend to go all out on the buffet, it could end up costing you more.

(cont) That being said, if you like the idea of a buffet I say go for it-- just keep in mind the issues that can come with a buffet.... I'm sure whatever you choose it will turn out great! Good luck!

I'd say go for the extended cocktail hour then. If you are thinking the same way that josh and I are. We really want our guests mingling and enjoying the hall...not just sitting at a table. Since the price is the same either way at least that is not an issue.

We are having 200 guests and aren't worried a bit about congestion in the line. The D.J will be announcing tables one or two at a time so that the line doesn't get long and people can get right up, get their food, then sit back down. We also aren't doing a seating chart..We want our reception to be as laid back as possible, but yet have an intimate feeling to it.

I dunno when we had the event we went to.... we waited at our table for a long time when they were announcing tables... and then waited in line for a long time....

Just personal preference.. to each their own

Hi Brides! Excellant discussion. A sit down dinner is generally more of a formal setting and the stations/buffet will be more of an informal setting.

However stations/buffets can be set up in an elegant way using lighting and type of music. So I would suggest looking at every aspect of your reception including where the first toast will be performed, toasts from your parents, the head table or seating for your wedding party and consider the guest list size because sharing this moment with friends and family is most important. These types of decisions help to make your wedding unique and memorable for your guests.

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I have been to a reception like this. It was actually very nice. The couple had a destination wedding on the beach. At the reception they had some regular tables and some high top tables. They had big screen tv showing pictures from the wedding. and you just mingled. There was food stations and drinks. It was nice. We actually considered doing something similar.

As long as you have plenty of food at your cocktail hour, I think you should be fine. Just make sure to have enough places for people to set their drinks and such. The other thing though is that if you are just basing this on the guest count- not all 180 people you invite will come to your wedding, so you may end up with closer to 130 guests anyway. Can you book your caterer now and decide on the actual set-up closer to the time? Your wedding is still 2 years away...

As a guest, I perfer to sit down and eat, I'm way clumsy and don't want my guests to try and eat their food standing up..

My vote is for the sit down dinner. I think being able to sit down and eat and socialize is a lot easier and a lot more comfortable than standing all night. Plus depending on the time of your reception your guest may expect to be fed dinner.

Oh, don't worry about your geusts not socializing, as soon as everything is said and done, and the dancing/party starts, they will be up and mingling, as well during the cocktail hour!

We are doing the sit down. I know myself I am clumsy and can easily trip over my own two feet lol! But the buffet is okay. Really it does depend on what you want your wedding to be. Especially with the prices being the same that is good. For our venue they actually had it cheaper for the buffet but like I said we both prefer the sit down. We are having the buffet for our rehearsal dinner because that was the only way that particular restaurant would do it.

I think either a sit down dinner or a buffet is fine, but I would HIGHLY recommend doing a seating chart for either. Every wedding I've been to where a dinner was served and there was no seating chart created a few awkward moments (a couple that didn't know anyone would end up sitting by themselves while another table would be overly crowded, etc). Also, people take FOREVER to figure out where they want to sit.

For my wedding, I just assigned people to tables instead of giving them a particular seat. We did have a few people that switched tables, but not many. Any sort of event as big as most weddings are needs at least a little organization to run smoothly.

Jenn, I have seen this many times. It works fine and all of the guests are happy. The guests are happier if thay sit next to a person they choose. If the guests are happy the event flows much smoother.

Some people who don't know a lot of other people there might be uncomfortable finding their own seat, or finding someone to sit with...if you do buffet. I personally prefer sit down so you know where you're sitting. You can meet people at your table. And once dinner is over everyone is free to get up, mingle, dance, and have fun.

Okay, let me do a little explaining about my venue b/c i think there was a little confusion, whether I do sit down or extended cocktail hour all the tables are still set up (so like aldewitt mentioned I may still do a seating chart) So people wont be standing up having to eat, which I know some ppl were concerned about. I have up to 1 week prior to wedding to give them my numbers for ppl - so for now, we just told them 100ppl, cuz if we say 180 - we have to pay for 180, where as now we can always add, but wont be able to take away (hope you can understand that) so with the extended cocktail they have passed horD’oeuvres during cocktail hour, then they continue to pass this when the stations are set up, also have fruit, cheese, veggie display, stations of antipasto (diff kind of salads), breads, station of pasta with different things to put on, then they also pass things like lambchop, shrimp, chicken, sliced tenderloin. hope this explains things a lil better.

I know that its still 2 years away, so we still have awhile to go - maybe by then i will have gone to a wedding like that. I know we could invite all 177 but only get 125 to rsvp....but you know its something thats just lingering in the back of my mind