Buffet Style Wedding?

My Fiance and I are toying with the idea of having a buffet style dinner. We've always felt that the sit down portion of the dinner is always under appreciated compared to the cocktail hour food. We were considering having a cocktail hour followed by a 'buffet dinner' that would be similiar to a cocktail hour with higher end food.

Just curious if anyone has had/been to a wedding that has tried something like this? How'd it go? Any other thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Tiffany

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

We are doing buffet style menu. We didn't want to do the formal sit down ...
We were more interested in having lots of great food, and flexibility. This way people can get up and dance if its a good song, etc.

To me, it just gives a looser more 'fun' feel to a wedding (JMO)

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

We just went to a wedding at The Vanderbilt Mansion in Oakdale that did that, and we are having it at our wedding. At the one we went to last week, they had all cold appetizers out and there were waiters passing hors d'euvres, then after the bride and groom came in, danced and all that good stuff, they had the stations opened with hot food.
That is basically what we are doing also, the only difference is we are going to have the stations set up in the cocktail room as opposed to in the dining room.
It seems to be find, I think a lot of people like it cuz they can taste whatever they want.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I'm not a fan of buffets - the lines inevitably happen, it gets messy looking, and IMO lends a far too casual atmosphere to a special event. I'd rather have the sit down dinner and make sure the band plays up enough music between courses so people get up and dance throughout.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I agree, that is why we are considering this style wedding.

Just curious, do most/all halls have menus for this type of wedding?

Thanks,
Frank

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

Only one place that we visited didn't and wouldn't offer it. Every other place had no problem with it at all.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

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Posted by NYCMeghan

I'm not a fan of buffets - the lines inevitably happen, it gets messy looking, and IMO lends a far too casual atmosphere to a special event. I'd rather have the sit down dinner and make sure the band plays up enough music between courses so people get up and dance throughout.

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Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I had a sit down dinner, and I am glad I did, but I like buffets, too. I am a picky eater and like being able to pick what I want to eat.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I almost had a buffet wedding...and at Flowerfield's of all places (gorgeous place...but couldn't afford a sitdown dinner there)...so, I say do what YOU WANT and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I have been in and been to many weddings both sit down and buffet and I have to say although all points are valid I prefer the sit down better.

I feel with the buffet it's sort of "wedding anarchy"... people are milling around all over the place (not necessarily dancing by the way) and there is no sense of flow or timing.

Also- I don't like how they call you by tables to eat- it just reminds me of a cafeteria.

HOWEVER.. I went to an extended cocktail hour reception that had a few stations open for 4 hours with passed hor's and drinks and it was great.

I just don't like having to serve myself. The way I see it is I'm bring a nice gift, getting dressed up, the least I expect is not having to serve myself like every other day of my life.

IMO- the wedding should be special for everyone there, and the guests are deserving too.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

Thanks for all the opinions... definetly helping me out.

Can you explain a bit more what the major difference between an extended cocktail hour and a buffet style is? I was not assuming the buffet really meant you serve yourself but rather that the food is served like at the cocktail hour (served by a member of the reception hall's staff) and available throughout most of the evening.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I'm also not a big fan of buffets. I feel that things get a little crazy when everyone is standing on line for food - people can be pushy, things spill, etc. Also, it can be very uncomfortable for women dressed up in high heels and gowns to be waiting on line and carrying a large plate of food back to the table. However, I agree that the extended cocktail hour can be lovely.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I think from my experience the extended cocktail hour was pretty much just different stations set up throughout the affair (i.e. seafood station, peking duck station, etc) and the buffet is actually a long table or two of large chaffing dishes and everything usually goes together- i.e. a few carving dishes, potatoes, veggies, a fish, etc.

I really liked the cocktail style wedding- you didn't have to wait for your table to be called and you can just do what you want.

However- all the buffets I've been to people do not dance as much- this is because they are usually milling all over the place. I really don't know how I can explain it, but I went to a buffet wedding a few weeks ago & there was hardly anyone in the main dining room- they were all over the place.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

We did a Buffet Dinner and it was excellent.....if you have an organized place they make it very smooth....the DJ announces the tables to be served...Its still formal and in my opinion more relaxed than a sit down....I know for myself I dont like the sit down because a lot of times the food choices aren' that great and/or its the same thing...We wanted to give our guests a variety and for us "more for the money".

I think a lot more people are steering towards buffets....I would go ahead with it...you wont believe how much food there is and how happy your guests are.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

Personally, I am not a fan of buffets at weddings. The cocktail hour is enough I think.

I may feel this way because I have been to a couple of buffet weddings and they were horriby unorganized.

Re: Buffet Style Wedding?

I agree with NYCMeghan.

Message edited 11/24/2003 9:47:57 AM.