Sit-Down Dinners and Buffets, and Food Stations...Oh My!

I think food stations are like a more fancy buffet. A buffet kind of lays it all out in a line and food stations are more grouped (like pasta, a meat carving one, stuff like that).

We are doing either food stations or buffet ... not a sit down dinner because, like you, I think that there aren't that many choices then.

My venue serves buffet style but the food is very elegantly displayed and it's really good food! I can't wait! YUMM!

Food stations are fun. If I were doing it, I'd pick fancy grilled cheese sandwiches and sushi he he he. We are going with sit-down dinner though.

My FH wants a buffet because he says he wants everyone stuffed with a variety of food since this will be a mulitcultural affair...LOL Hes west indian and i am Nicaraguan so it will be all kinds of stuff. I think the food stations is an awesome idea that gives variety but it is basically the same as a buffet. The lines can be minimized if you have someone in charge of calling out the table numbers so that not a whole heap of people run to the food at once when the dinner starts. Whoever is in charge can call out one or two table at a time depending on how many people your table sits.

Buffet I love the variety and the fact it can stay out throughout the reception

We didn't have a food station option, but even if we did, I think I still would of gone with the sit down...however I may of been swayed with the mashed potato bar...YUMMY!!! Yes the buffet does offer a variety...which is good when feeding large groups of people. However, I've been to weddings and events were people were finishing as other were just getting started. I know with sit down not every table is going to be served at the exact same time, but IMHO I think it just works out better. We do get to choose three entree's so hopefully it'll be enough to cover everyone's taste.

We are doing a full seated/plated/served dinner. Our venue allowed us with 4 different options. We just had to know who was having what 2 weeks in advance. The 4 different options were Roast Sirloin, Grilled Salmon, Chicken Marsala, and Pasta Trio (Alfredo, Lasagna, and Cheese Ravioli). Majority of our RSVPs were through WW and when they went to RSVP is asked them what they wanted to eat. Those that RSVPed through RSVP card we would call to let them know we received their card and then asked them what they would like to eat and gave them the 4 different options. So far it has worked out great and guests have been amazed with the selections.

Oh I completely didn't give my preference. We're doing a buffet. It was the only option at the venue, even though I'm sure they would have accommodated if we had different wishes. But we are more than content with the buffet - that way people can eat as much or as little as they want.

We are doing a buffet. the buffet at our wedding is HUGE lol its crazy! i dint realize there would be so much food!! sit down dinners are nice but i find sometimes they 1) arent enugh variety and 2) they dont serve as much food. my family are big eaters so i liked the buffet so they cold get more

Here's my menu for my buffet: Breaded Chicken, Meatballs, Baked Ziti, Hot dogs w/ kraut, Lil Smokies in BBQ Sauce, Scalloped Potaotes, Pasta salad, Potatoe Salad, Macaroni Salad, Tossed Salad w/ assorted dressings, Veggie Trays(cucumbers, celery, baby carrots, cauliflower) w/ assorted dips, pickle & olive tray, Meat Trays (Garlic Bologna, pepperoni, swiss, cooper and a hot cheese), Fruit Trays(grapes, cantelope, watermelon, pineapple) w/ a fruit dip, chips & pretzels, and of course, our wedding cake What do you think?

I worked in the food service dept for a lot of yrs, we even had tests and all from the dept of Health, as long as cold is kept cold and hot is kept hot, no worries about bacteria Everything has to be kept as certain temps.

Ok as explained to us when we booked our venue the food stations are manned the buffet is not. We are having a buffet style dinner which also include 2 food stations.

Traci, that is one sweet buffet! I think you'll have everyone covered, including picky eaters. (What time did you say it was? j/k)

I highly recommend a buffet/stations. A plated meal feels very sterile. I am having a buffet/stations to encourage comfort and socializing. You can say you want a buffet and have it arranged in a station format, this will save you money.

We're doing the whole sit down/plated/served dinner. We have three choices for our guests to choose from. We're going with chicken frachaise, FH fave, prime rib, and island grilled mahi mahi. Fisrt we were going to go with the buffet, but we wanted a more "formal" feel, plus, we didn't want to have the "line thing" either.

I think with food stations, you pick and choose wwhat you want and all you have to do is walk to one or the other, With buffet you have to wait in line to get anything and everything you want. My advice for buffett is have two buffet tables, have the head table seated and served their food, and if your having buns/bread, have the buns pre cut with butter on the tables along with salt and peper, that way people aren't holding up the line buttering bread/buns and putting salt and pepper on their food. You could even just have a basket of buns at each table. I would LOVE to do food stations, except we are from a super small town and there is no such thing. I even debated on joining the Ag Society and try to make changes to the hall, like find a linen rental company, find NICE banquet chairs, etc. and all that jazz so it would make party planning easier. I like buffet style beacause people and pick and choose what and how much they want, but I also like seated dinner, con't

But it would of been another cost ontop of the food so we went buffet style, And I have attended a seated wedding dinner with a certain persons family *inlaws* *cough* and they said they didn't like that they didn't get to pick their food and they didn't get enough to eat (which was true, we went to a fast food join after the party to get more food)

We are doing a sit down dinner. I want a more formal affair and I don't want the children running around with plates and sticking their hands in the food, etc. I also don't want to have the line issue either. I'm sure it can very easily be done properly therefore avoiding the lines, I just prefer the formality issue and the lack of children in my food.

MrsSchmidt, that is what we are doing, we are cutting all of the buns we need ahead of time, salt and pepper will be on the tables, there will be a basket of rolls w/ butter on the tables, their napkins and utensils will be on the table too, this way, the line can move faster, we are having 2 tables, 1 table will have all of the main things on it, the 2nd table will have the trays(veggie, meat, pickle and fruit) and condiments on it. I think it should be good.