What do you think about a wedding reception with a buffet but no sit down meal?

S

Seven of 9

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I am thinking of having it like that because
1.it is more flexible like that in terms of the number of people being fed, &times
2. a selection of food means you will probably get something you like.
3. The people can mingle during the meal rather than be forced to sit next to the same person for hours.
Probably a hot and cold buffet with desserts

There will be a head table where the wedding party sits and everyone can gawk at them
 
To each their own, we don't often do buffet dinners where I am from.

I dislike the buffet for many reasons:
1. I don't like the idea of all the food being poked and proded at and passed by by so many people.
2. Buffet lines are reminiscent of chow lines in the military or cafeteria lines in elementary/middle school. And no one should have to wait in line to be fed. We're grown ups now, we've moved beyond the chow line.
3. 100+ people walking around with plates of hot food trying to juggle drinks and those plates while they find their seats is unnecessary and can be very messy.
4. Buffet dinners mean everyone eats at a different time as they go through the line. It is much nicer to have everyone served and sitting and eating together.

Good luck!
 
I like it, infact you've described the reception I had for my second marriage.

We held it at my sistr's home, too...very small reception for immediate family..it was fun, relaxed, simple and the bride helped with the clean up lol.....
 
I like buffets better. I'm a small person therefore can't eat as much as most adults and then I feel bad when I can't finish my 3, 4, or 5 course meal. But with a buffet I can portion everything myself and be able to sample everything I like/looks good before getting full :)
If your caterer knows what they're doing your food will NOT be cold by the time everyone gets their food (there are ways to keep it heated) and the food is NOT cooked hours before, it's cooked fresh and your guests will NOT be waiting a half an hour in line to get food...that's IF your caterer knows what they're doing. There does have to be some organization so it's not chaos, have the DJ/MC/someone in the band call up tables when the line is looking short
 
I think it's a great idea, and it actually works better for a lot of of weddings (having a white gloved, served meal in a barn seems strange to me). The only thing I would do is to find an organized way to get people up to the buffet line (sucks to wait in line for half an hour for your meal).
 
It sounds like a fine idea, although the feeding times and gawking part makes it sound more like a zoo visit than a wedding.
 
Buffet, is fine It is done everyday. But your guest's need a place to sit,and eat.

I don't understand what you are asking. Are you saying that you will have tables and chairs but no arranged setting? That is fine.

But the way you are describing it, They will be walking around holding their plates.
 
Buffets work well. But a head table for people to gawk at? Not necessary since the same people have already been gawked at at the ceremony.

And the caterer can ask table at a time to line up at the buffet table. People really aren't going to take turns without some direction. They will all line up at once.
 
I prefer buffets to sit down dinners. It allows for portion control - those who want more can have more and those who want less can have less.

Also, as a vegetarian and a very picky eater, I am able to eat the things I want and pass on those I don't. It also allows for seconds unlike a plated dinner.

However, I think you should match the food to the level of formality. It is probably not appropriate to serve a buffet at a very formal event - unless it is an extremely formal buffet.

In other words, plated dinners are more formal while buffets are less formal.
 
Do you mean a buffet that still has like chicken and beef and veggies ect.

Or do you mean you want to have like more finger foods... foods on a stick... hors' dourves type food but more substantial... that people just kind of pick at as the wish?

I THINK you are referring more to the second idea. Where people just pick and munch through the night. I have actually been thinking about this myself... It's less formal and you could start the party right away...

You would still have to have enough tables so everyone could claim a seat if they would like them.

You ALSO have to plan things a little better. Like how are you going to get everyone's attention for toasts and cake cuttings ect? A seated meal or even traditional buffet where everyone eats at once gives you an answer to this easily. If everyone is running around it may be harder to get everyone together when you want them to be!
 
Buffets, while providing advantages as you note, are usually considered the resource of people without a lot of money for their wedding. I think they appear cheap as they require your guests to serve themselves, like at a cafeteria. Do you really want them to feel that way? Sit-down service is much more elegant. On the other hand if you really can't afford sit-down service, don't pay for it just to look better.
 
It depends on your guest count. Buffet would work better for a smaller guest list than it would for 500. I think buffets can be elegant. Some buffet weddings I've been to had awesome food. Some just had fried chicken and potatoes.
 
What you had in mind is VERY common. I have been to many weddings that are like that.

However, personally, I prefer a sit-down meal. Why? Because I don't like lining up for my food while I am in a gown. It makes me feel like I am in the cafeteria. Besides, who gets to mingle while lining up for food? It seems awkward. I would rather mingle in a pre-dinner cocktail (standing up with cocktail tables and canapes being passed around).

Also, I prefer a sit-down meal because the food is better. Food gets cold in a buffet line (and even if they put it in food warmers, the carry-over cooking time makes the meats harder), and food in a buffet has been prepared hours before - it is not freshly cooked. I would rather eat a well thought out meal that is newly cooked, and served hot, than to go through a huge hodge podge of choices of so-so food.

Here is what I did -
Predinner cocktails (with pass-around canapes)
Sit-down dinner with family style platters (so that each table had a lot of food to choose from; besides my theme was Asian, and the food was Asian so it was good family-style)
Dessert buffet

I had a head table too. Lol. But not really for people to gawk at! :)
 
Buffets are great.

RIA: you are wrong. Actually, plated dinners are more likely to cooked hours beforehand and with buffets, the food is kept heated and is replenished as needed so It's hot and fresh.
 
It's a great idea.I was planning on having my family and friends bring their best dish or dessert for our wedding.This would've cut down the food costs and made our family/friends feel like they had helped with our wedding.Just too bad something came up and we had to for go the service and hit the court house instead to get married, lol.All the plans I made for our wedding everyone I knew loved and a lot of them have asked us if we will ever re-do our vows and have the wedding I had planned,but I don't see it happening LOL. Good Luck!
 
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