Sit down meal vs. buffet vs. stations

If we paid the up charge for the meal choice, then the buffet is only a little more expensive.

Now on the stations. We need to pick 3 stations to serve this menu. I'm thinking we would pick the carved station (prime rib, turkey and ham), the gourmet pasta station with different types of pasta and sauces, and the mashed potato with toppings bar. There are other stations available like pizza, calamari, nacho bar etc. Downside to this is that none of their stations seemed to offer a vegetable, will need to talk to them about that and this option does not include the served soup, salad and cake. We would probably pay extra for either a served soup or salad (would people mind if we only picked one of these instead of 2?) and maybe a cookie bar or something for dessert. This option would be the most expensive once we start paying extra costs for salad/soup and whatever we choose for desert.

Sorry for the long post I always take forever to get to the point lol. I think I just wanted to get in the open how I feel about every option. Would love some input!

I personally prefer seated option and this is what we are doing. It is a classier way to serve a wedding meal. Everyone is getting the same meal for our wedding as well (braised beef short rib) unless they have allergies/preferences (vegetarian etc.)

I just hate having to wait for buffets personally. I always end up being one of the last tables called and the first tables are done eating dessert by the time I get to stand in line and get the leftover options that no one else wanted, and you miss out on the good desserts that previous tables took. It can just be a long wait for people to get food depending on how many tables you have. Although it does give your guests more food options.

With what you just said, I'd do the buffet. I think people will appreciate having more choices. We're doing sit-down with 3 meal choices and a vegetarian option, but that's included in the package price. I personally chose the sit-down option because it makes people more likely to RSVP properly since they have to select a meal (in theory anyway), and I didn't want to go through a buffet line in my wedding dress.

If you really like that idea of the plated meal, ask yourself how much extra PP the buffet is. If it's around $2.00 PP, keep your plated meal.

I prefer plated meals for a variety of reasons, but the type of plated meal you just described would have me thinking about the buffet instead. No offense, but the plated meal seems a little light. Most plated meals begin with soup and salad. When the entree is served, it usually has the meat/fish, some variety of vegetable, and a starch on the plate. It looks like your guests will be served a plate with only chicken and gravy on it.

The buffet has far more options. As long as the food is hot and you don't have 300 people to get through a buffet line, I think your guests would probably prefer the buffet.

I think the biggest downside to the buffet would be the actual having to go up to the buffet part lol. I'm envisioning spilt food on my dress, grandparents struggling carrying plates, etc. What's nice is that people get to eat what they actual want and would get a larger portion. The shuttles back to the hotel leave at midnight and many people are staying over night so it's not like they'll have an option to grab food after. That's a long time to be hungry if you don't like what was served to you.

I prefer seated meals. I dont want to be in line waiting for food. Go For seated, especially if its cheaper (even with the fee). Get like 2 or three options and everyone will be happy.

My Choices are Prime Rib, Chicken and Stuffed Shrimp. They wil be able to initial on the RSVP their choices, and i will use a stamp in differnt colors to signal to the venue who got what...

*centerpiece the meal would come as you described. Soup, salad and potato and vegetable on plate with entree.

I am doing buffet. I've heard several times that plated is sometimes served cold to guests. I am having my DOC release tables so that the buffet is not rushed. My DOC is also preparing a plate from the buffet for my FH and myself so that we do not have to go through the buffet line. Out of the options you mentioned, I would go with buffet because you get more options, more food, etc.

We had pretty much the exact same options at our venue. We are doing a plated meal because we liked the feel of it a lot more and we felt it would be better for our guests. If you have a lot of elderly guests, buffets can be hard on them. I'm also not a fan of ending up the last table to get called up.

It is annoying when you have to choose one meal for everyone. We have already gotten complaints. I'm just telling people they can fill up during cocktail hour and late night snack if they really don't like the food.

Out of curiosity KB, what is the one meal you have chosen? We have more options to choose for our one meal. I just thought if we want that route the chicken dish I described would be most likely to please everybody.

Based on what you described, I would go with the buffet. I usually prefer seated also but I don't think it's right to not give your guests a choice. For example, Lauren said all her guests are being served braised beef short rib. I'm not vegeterian but I don't eat beef so I would be disappointed. If you're willing to do the seated option and pay the additional $2 pp for another choice then I think that's your best bet.

The catering was the worst part of wedding planning for me. I was indecisive to the point of tears . FH wanted stations, our parents wanted sit down or buffet. I was trying to mind read what the majority of guests would prefer. And then there was the meal choices themselves. I finally went with FH idea on stations and picked one's that represented our cultures...Polish, Italian, Scottish, Southern. Our parents ended up loving the idea.

You won't please everyone. Go with what suits your budget best.

We chose an apple roasted pork with whipped potatoes and vegetables. We were also able to choose the matching appetizer and dessert so we went with a caprese salad and a chocolate torte. We were going to go with chicken, but that was $3 more per person, which really adds up when you have 190 people. Some of our guests think it's a great choice though!

We are doing a buffet. Personally I haven't had a lot of great experiences with plated meals so I wanted a buffet or stations. Buffets tend to offer more options and I've found them to taste better. Also if I don't like something, I can just get something else. If you do go with plated, I would absolutely pay the extra $2 to give people a choice.

I like the idea of stations because prime rib is offered as one of the meats in the carving station. We would not otherwise be able to afford that in either the plated meal or buffet. I think going with the stations would be a no brainer provided they had a vegetable included somewhere and if soup/salad was incorporated in to the per person rate. We do have the option to add on a soup or a salad. And then there is what do we do for dessert with that option..the other options included cake from the venue. We will not be having a wedding cake.

I like the idea of stations because prime rib is offered as one of the meats in the carving station. We would not otherwise be able to afford that in either the plated meal or buffet. I think going with the stations would be a no brainer provided they had a vegetable included somewhere and if soup/salad was incorporated in to the per person rate. We do have the option to add on a soup and a salad. And then there is what do we do for dessert what that option..the other options included cake from the venue. We will not be having a wedding cake.

Definitely seated. I can't stand buffets. I feel like the food sits out for too long and I don't like all my guests having to wait in a line. If I'm spending a good amount of money per head I don't think they should have to wait in line for food.

Plated. I don't eat meat, so I don't care if I have choices.

The weddings I've been to with stations were obnoxious. It took for-freaking-ever. Oh, 100 people need to have their personalized pasta made...and there are 2 people making pasta? We were the last table to go and had waited well over an hour to get any food. Then the food you could get quickly all got cold while you waited for the tables in front of you to get their pasta. Maybe if it's planned better it's fine, but it was so obnoxious.

In your situation I'd go with the buffet. I prefer a choice.

We did ours station style with prime rib, pasta, and sliders, and our guests were served a plated salad. But yes, it did take longer than we expected (even after the catering manager assured us it wouldn't)...also, the staff forgot to release one table, the table that my boss and CEO happened to be sitting at (my mother is still mortified). If you're able to add a salad, I would recommend it, everyone raved about the food. If not, buffet, for sure.