Types of Wedding Catering: Deciding between Buffet, Plated, Family-Style Meal Service

In our last blog post, we talked all about unconventional desserts and wedding cake alternatives for your reception. For this post, we’re leaning towards the savory instead of the sweet and sharing tips for choosing your wedding day catering style!  

The number one thing your guests expect at your reception is food! Of course they want to have a great time, would love a few cocktail choices and ultimately to celebrate with you is KEY for the day. But the food at your wedding is a HUGE element of the wedding experience. There are several things to consider when choosing a menu that goes beyond the obvious budget element.

Perhaps sustainability and seasonality is important to you. Perhaps you’re invested in having an array of  dietary preferences available. You may even have “favorites” you want to incorporate in the form of a late night snack or passed hors d'oeuvres.  All of these factors will come into play when choosing the actual food.

But today, we want to talk about the STYLE of your dinner. Meaning, will your guests enjoy their food in the form of a buffet, stations, plated meal or family style servings?  

When couples get into the catering conversation, they’re often surprised by all of the different ways a guest can be served. So, we’re here today to break down  the most common options that our preferred caterers offer so that you can make an informed decision regarding your wedding catering. 

There are three factors, aside from the actual menu items (+ their cost), that you’ll want to make part of the consideration process.

Wedding Guest Count

How many people you have on your list dictates so much more than your budget. It dictates your seating/floor plan, the types of tables to use, the number of rental pieces you’ll need, and how much food to serve, just to name a few!  If you’re tipping the scales of “max capacity,” the type of meal you can serve will be more limited because of available space at the venue.  If you need extra tables for buffets and stations, you may be able to “fill” the space if your guest count is smaller. 

Do You Have a Rigid Design Aesthetic Preference? 

Have you envisioned a layered tablescape with upgraded flatware, glasses, menu cards, etc? Are you more of a minimalist, with a preference for the tablescape to be simple and straightforward?  How you want your food to be presented and the overall look and feel of the day could have you leaning in a certain direction. If the design is important to you, the default option is almost always a plated meal.  We encourage you to understand your preferences and priorities in this arena! 

Guest Experience 

This includes FLOW of the day.  A formal wedding will have a different ambiance than a cocktail reception, and the food you serve will enhance or detract from that. So, understanding how you want guests to feel, how you want the timeline to move from one part of the day to another is important. Food service can take up a large portion of the reception’s festivities, so if you have a crew that loves to party, you may want to serve a dinner that’s “quicker” than another option.  If your crowd isn’t the dancing type, you may be able to draw out the food service and create more of a “dinner party” feel with multiple courses or food + wine pairings.  Our catering teams understand the importance of the guest experience, regardless of service type, so having a clear vision for this flow will help you decide on a style that fits the bill! 

Now that you have that extra background, let’s talk about each style and what it entails! 

Buffet 

Buffets are fantastic for offering a variety of foods. Servings are portioned, but variable to some degree, as your caterer will account for people eating a little of everything and certain dishes being a bit more popular. Buffets are usually considered your most “casual” of options. Guests are dismissed by table, so not everyone will be eating at the exact same time, but within a dedicated block on your timeline.  

Buffets usually don’t work well for large parties, unless they are duplicated and double-sided. Meaning two buffet lines that can be served from both sides, to expedite the process. 

Stations

Stations are usually a “micro” buffet options scattered throughout the venue. Think carving stations, made-to-order options like pastas, crepes or flambees,   charcuterie and shelled seafood (oysters, shrimp). Stations encourage grazing and movement, as well as a loose meal timeline, where you have an hour or so to enjoy the offerings. Stations are sometimes sprinkled throughout the night as well, not all appearing at the same time. 

Plated Meal 

Great for a formal gathering and any size wedding. There are usually one or two courses. Service can be expedited if the first course, usually a salad, is “pre-set” upon guest arrival. There is a dedicated “drop” time for the main course, so dinner service is over based on the speed in which a guest eats.  During this time, you can opt to do you dances, so once meal service is over, you get straight to the party! 

Unless you’re offering one meal option only (ie, chicken for everyone), there are some additional logistics you’ll need to consider with a plated meal. You will need to collect your guest’s selections in advance and communicate that to your catering team at least two to three weeks before the wedding. Place cards will need to indicate the meal selection as well, so that you have a smooth service. Guests will sometimes forget what they ordered, so this keeps everyone straight! 

Family style

We consider this a modern, elevated buffet! Once of the things we LOVE about family style is it’s a great hybrid option between buffet and plated.  Family style meals are platters and bowls of food that are split among a group. They’re either served all at once, or dropped over the course of 15-20 minutes. tThink salad + breads first, then perhaps an intermezzo and then a couple of sides and entrees, then possibly desserts. 

People get what they want, you can provide a greater variety of options,  there is generally less food waste (great for couples that have sustainability in mind) and it adds to the, communal feel. And if you love an estate table, this lends really well to the dinner party feel!

This option keeps the timeline tight around food service too. 

Our team, as well as your planner and catering team, are here to help you make the best decision for you! We know that whatever you choose, it will be delicious! But we also know it can be delicious, memorable and serve to enhance your once-in-a-lifetime occasion!  Some of the best memories in life are shared around a dinner table. 

Contact your event manager to see some examples of floor plans for each of the menu types! Having a visual can often help tip the scale if you’re torn between two.  

If you missed our last post, check it out here: Unconventional Desserts - Wedding Cake Alternatives for Your Reception