Buffet, Family Style or Plated: Select Your Perfect Wedding Style
It’s a decision every bride and groom (or groom & groom, or bride & bride, love is love!) is sure to be asked at least a dozen times before their big day, “Will the reception be buffet, family style or plated?”It’s a valid question! Each style of service for your sit-down-dinner (Buffet, Family Style, or Plated) offers its own unique flare and allows you to set the pace for the formality of the reception.
When launching into planning your dream wedding reception, don’t be surprised if you get asked at your very first tasting which dinner style you’d prefer. Caterers use this question to help provide the most accurate quote for your big day and gain insight into your budget; there is truly no right or wrong answer! When you begin evaluating caterers, keep in mind that it’s completely OK if you don’t know which style of service you’d like, AND it’s OK if you change your mind.
When Matthew and I first went down to Corolla in February to evaluate caterers and attend tastings, we originally thought we wanted to do family style. Our ideal reception dinner allowed guests to stay seated without masks and partake in an elaborate, family-style dinner display. It was important that guests were able to try a little bit of everything that piqued their interest, and with the pandemic, we felt that guests may feel uncomfortable with a buffet. However, now that people are vaccinated and are more comfortable, we ultimately decided to do buffet style for both our rehearsal and reception. This was the perfect option for us because it allows hungry guests to go back for more! (a.k.a. Matthew and all of the groomsmen!) In my mind, the more full people get during dinner, the less likely they will get too drunk later in the night.
Below we are breaking down the three dinner styles and providing insight to help you make an informed decision and Select Your Perfect Wedding Style!
Buffet Style - $
Buffet style is a classic, go-to option for your wedding reception. It is less formal than plated and family style offerings and allows for guests to mingle and try an assortment from the dinner offerings. Buffet style is a low maintenance, cost-effective option and does not require guests pre-select their entrée preference ahead of time. It is the perfect solution for couples who’d like to give their guests the opportunity to try whatever strikes their fancy, and not be limited to a pre-determined plated meal. Buffets are often a cost-effective option not due to lesser quality, but because they require fewer serving staff.
As mentioned above, Matthew and I opted to do buffet style for our wedding reception. Because we’re getting married at a large beach house, and there are limited guests, the laid-back nature of a buffet appealed to us.
Plated - $$
Plated is the most traditional reception dinner style. It is traditionally slightly more expensive than a buffet option because additional staff is involved to pull off this option without a hitch. Plated dinner allows your entrée selections to be elegantly prepared and plated for guests to enjoy, without the interruption associated with a buffet or gourmet stations. There are a few different ways to tackle a sit-down plated dinner. If you’d like to avoid guests pre-selecting their entrée on their RSVP, have guests instead select from a menu presented day-of, or all guests can be served the same entrée with select gluten-free or vegetarian options for those who notify of dietary restrictions.
A plated dinner is a more formal dining option than a buffet style, but it is an efficient way to present dinner and keep the wedding moving on schedule.
Family Style - $$$
It’s no surprise that family style dining has grown in popularity for weddings taking place during the pandemic. Guests don’t have to leave their seat for a buffet, and it’s a fun alternative to the traditional plated-style reception. What many don’t expect, however, is that a family-style reception is often the most expensive option seeing as it’s less formal than a plated meal. Family style allows guests the same luxury of a buffet in a sense that guests get to try a little of everything on the menu, which is why this option ends up being so costly! Each table has to provide enough food for those seated to enjoy, therefore it infers the highest food costs.
With a family-style meal, the food also serves as a fantastic conversation starter for your seated guests as they pass around the food and help serve one another. One of the caterers Matthew and I had a tasting with said he loves family-style because it allows for “the food to become the centerpiece.” As a total foodie, I loved the idea of delicious culinary masterpieces serving as a wedding reception centerpiece.
Which Style Works Best For You?
If none of these dinner option strike your fancy, you can also incorporate self-serve stations or a cocktail-style dinner. The opportunities are truly endless! Work with your caterer to create the perfect presentation for your style.
Ask your prospective caterers to provide quotes for each style you’re interested in. Oftentimes, seeing the quotes and having a visual for what exactly you’d get for each price is all you need to select your perfect style. At the end of the day, the best option is what works for your budget and makes you happy!