If you’re in the process of planning your wedding reception, you may be wondering whether you should go for a buffet or plated dinner. Let’s go over everything you need to know about these options and discuss some important pros and cons.

Choosing a Buffet

Buffets can be a great option for a few different reasons. Not only do they let guests pick which foods they personally enjoy, but it could potentially save you some money. Another great thing about buffets is that they don’t require you to coordinate food selections for each guest beforehand, so that can be a great way to take something off your plate (no pun intended).

 

One important thing to know about buffets is that they can take more time than a plated dinner can. This could be a pro or a con depending on the vision that you have for your reception, but be prepared to carve out some extra time for your meal if you’re opting for a buffet.

Choosing a Plated Dinner

There are a few different reasons why some people opt for a plated dinner over a buffet at their reception. One of the biggest reasons why people choose a plated dinner is that it’s fancier and more elegant. Having your guests pick out their own food at the buffet can feel casual, so if you’re going for an upscale vibe, then you may want to choose a plated dinner.

 

Another great thing about plated dinners is that they can reduce food waste. Buffets are known for creating food waste and if this is something that you’re worried about, you can easily solve this problem by choosing a plated dinner.

 

One con of choosing a plated dinner is that your guests won’t be able to determine their own portion sizes. This certainly isn’t a reason to skip a plated dinner altogether, but it is something important to consider.

Special Considerations

We’ve gone over some of the top reasons to choose each of these options, so now let’s go over some special considerations to take into account.

Budget

If you have a strict budget, then you’ll most likely want to opt for a buffet option. With that being said, expensive buffet options can certainly eat into your budget. If you’re choosing a buffet for budget reasons, then it’s important to make sure that you’re selecting options that align with how much you’re willing to spend.

Overall Tone

As we mentioned before, it’s important to think about the overall tone and vibe of your big day. Do you want it to be more casual and open? If so, a buffet could be the perfect option. However, if you’re going for a fancier vibe or a traditional wedding option, then you’ll probably want to opt for a plated dinner.

 

We hope that this blog has been helpful as you plan your big day. Congratulations on taking this next step, we’d love to show you around our venue!