When determining what type of reception is best for a wedding, it is important to look at all of the options available. The dinner at the reception is a large part of the planning process because guests are expecting a fulfilling meal.

Two classic options are the buffet style and the served-plate style.

Buffet

The buffet style is great for a bride and groom who want multiple food options for their guests. It is common to incorporate their favorite foods or to serve different types of specific cuisine.

By using a buffet style, it allows guests to try many options to find what they want for dinner.

West Ames Hy-Vee Kitchen Manager Dan Meyer said, “The price of the buffet style is a fair amount cheaper than serving.” The West Ames Hy-Vee typically caters more buffet-style than served plate.

When using a buffet style, the seating in the dining area can be varied. The buffet style works well for a reception that is more of a cocktail style with guests socializing and moving around. Setting tables is also an option with the buffet style.

It is common for the bride and groom to have the DJ or emcee announce the order of the tables to avoid chaos at the serving tables. Two buffet tables are suggested when weddings have a large number of guests so guests will not be waiting for long periods of time.

Served plate

Served plate or full dinner-style receptions are known to be more formal when compared to the buffet style. Typically, this style consists of multiple courses served by a reception waiter staff provided by the venue. In recent years, the common dinner course order includes an appetizer, bread, salad, soup, entree and dessert. The sit-down dinners are usually more costly, but provide a more efficient serving style.

Meyer did share a trend in the served-plate style. “The times of most weddings have shifted to late afternoon. Most weddings are not going to serve a whole meal as they did in the past. They are going with lesser items.”

Conversation is keen at these types of dinners, if table seating is thought out. Usually, the bride and groom will provide place cards to let guests know of their seats that are typically predetermined based on who knows who.

Regardless of the dinner option, Meyer said, “We always encourage the bride and groom to get what they want. There are many people involved in the planning, but it is ultimately up to them.”