Wedding Reception

Sit Down Dinner Or Buffet??

We are doing a sit down I like the formal feel of it. We are having a small wedding with only 50 people. But I totaly get what you say about people talking and getting to know each other better.
Do what you want don't let other people kill your fun :)

I'm doing a sit down dinner.

I feel like with a buffet reception you will have guest lined up like high schoolers .Then the guest that are sitting near the buffet line will have people standing over them talking and etc. Then the guest that was first in line will be waiting for the other guest to finish eating.I think buffet receptions are unorganized and tacky,but thats just my opinion.

Happy Planning!

I think if the food is presented well, and you can find a way to prevent people from standing in line for ages, a buffet can be quite nice. However, I myself like the sit down dinner better. It's nice to have people waiting on you and taking care of you. Of course, it's up to you. The buffet tends to make the atmosphere more casual and less stuffy, and if that's what you're hoping for, then by all means, go for it. However, if you just want people to be social, carefully planning table arrangements is a great way to get people socializing. An open bar would help too :-) All the weddings I've been to seem to have a big group of people mingling by the bar.

I like the buffet idea.. I totally agree with your reasoning for it.. and I know what you mean people look at you funny when you say buffet!  Personally it's your wedding and I think you should go with what you want. Plus I do believe that buffets are cheaper than sit down dinners.. The venue we are going to check out has sit down only I believe but its so decent priced that I dont care.. But I would do buffet for sure otherwise!

we're doing a sit down, in all the weddings I've been to I've only actually been to 2 other ones where they served a sit down meal! lol
(and I've been to over 50!)

It depends mainly on the amount of guests, and how it's set up. One wedding had one huge buffet line for 500 people, it took some people 2 hours to get food!
Then a friend of mine had 225, but 3 buffets set up, (all with the same food), and nobody waited more than 15 minutes.
It also depends on budget, quite often a plated meal is cheaper, since people tend to take a lot more food from a buffet.
Depends on what you serve though, and a again how many guests. Around here servers cost about $75 an hour, so if you need 10 that's a lot of money!

we are having a buffet dinner. It will broken up into stations: example,  under the sea table (fish, hushpuppies, salad...) That's amore table - (chicken, parmesan potatoes, pasta salad... )

not related to the post, but a question for gorgeous6, what are hushpuppies??
We saw them on a menu in Louisiana and I've always wondered?

We had done a sit down dinner only because of time constraints. I don't see a buffet as tacky. so, if that's what you'd like to do, go for it.

We are doing a buffet due to cost.. We could not afford to pay for a sit down dinner even tho I would have loved to do one.  I dont think its tacky or unheard of..  About half of the weddings I have been to have been buffet dinners.  I agree think about how many people you will be inviting and what best fits into your budget.  Our buffet table will be set up where both sides of the table can be used. Moving the people thru faster so no long lines hopefully.

Kristah heres the answer to your question:
The usual ingredients include cornmeal, flour, eggs, salt, baking soda, milk, and water, and can include whole kernel corn, onion, and peppers. Sometimes, pancake batter is also used. The batter is mixed well, adjusting ingredients until it is suitably thick. Then the batter is dropped into hot oil (such as vegetable oil). The hush puppy is typically fried until golden brown, and usually set aside to cool. They are often eaten with catfish, seafood, or barbecue. They are usually made at home or served in restaurants that advertise home-style food as opposed to fine dining establishments. Captain D's, Long John Silver's, Arthur Treacher's, and Skipper's are well-known franchises that serve hush puppies. They are a hearty, heavy food that can easily be eaten while active or mobile as a snack or in addition to a meal.

We are doing a sit down meal. I have been to many weddings, only one of which was a buffet and it was terrible. Since we were 'friends' we went up last, there was no food left, no butter for the bread, I had to eat plain gluten free pasta...so I might be biased. We are have 200 people, and like 15 servers, so no one will be waiting for food, (although I have been to weddings were I had to wait for hours). I think you should do whatever you want though :)

I originally wanted a buffet, because then everyone can choose what they want and how much.  However, since our dinner will not be starting until 7:30 pm we have changed this to a sit down served meal.  Our caterer told us that our guests will be served in 15 minutes rather than the hour that it would probably take with a buffet.  
The only problem we are running into now is that when given the choice many of our guests, that have already sent us their RSVP, have chosen the more expensive meal and we are in great danger of going over the budget.  We probably shouldn't have given them the option knowing that most people won't remember the food.  I do know though that people don't remember good food, they do however remember the bad.  I am still hearing about a wedding my parents went to a few years ago when they ran out of food, so my parents got nothing.

So, after all that, I think as long as you have great food and its enough to feed all of your guests you should have the buffet.  Remember you and your FH are the only ones that will remember all of the little details of the day, so do what you want.

Good Luck!

Hello wedding day buddy :)
But to answer on the buffet or not, I'm also doing a seated dining at my wedding. I just prefer to have it feel more like fine dining, and have my peeps served. I just personally HATE buffets of any kind, guess I'm a little boosheeee (smile) nah, I just like to get whats coming to me and sometimes things run out and get messy with buffets, even when there are servers to help. So just make sure you really wiegh all the pros and cons before you settle on what you're going to do for sure. And also, to answer you about the candy buffet, I'm using some really pretty glass vases, different heights, and I also found some really cute little glass heart shaped bowls at Michaels. I'm also thinking about getting some of those little valentines day cards that we use to give out as kids with the corny little sayings on them, and putting them with each plate setting, lol. Thought it would cute and a little flash back for everyone.

I'll keep checking back on you since we share the same date
Happy Planning!

I've been to weddings that had both types of meals---honestly you can do what you want.  I didn't think any less of the people who had a buffet vs. sit-down.  The only thing I have to suggest is that the buffet food is good---you don't want to serve your guests crappy food.   It also depends on the style of your wedding---sit-down is very formal and buffet is more casual.  I prefer the buffet style because your guests can pick and choose, rather than be stuck with whatever is on their plate.  Either way is acceptable...so it's just a matter of whatever you want to have.

I don't think a buffet is tacky at all.  I believe that with anything whether it is buffet, sit down or hors doeurves, that presentation is everything.

Personally, I prefer a buffet or stations at weddings, because sometimes my taste changes from the time I RSVP & choose one thing.  By the time the wedding rolls around, I might want something else.  Buffets always give variety, & I like that.

My FH & I are having a heavy hors doeurves reception.  I say do what YOU really want.  When you pull it off, then those ppl talking & doubting before will have to bite their tongues!

We are also doing a buffet, broken into 5 themed stations (salad, sushi, pasta, mexican & carving). I liked the idea of guests having options.

I've never been to a sit down meal at a wedding, so my wedding will be the first.  :-)  Sit down and buffet were the same price at our venue...and the buffet examples sucked!  I love the variety of buffets, however, with buffets there are a few warnings.  My MOH had a buffet at her wedding and because everyone wanted to talk to her, the groom, and her family...none of them got to eat!  She was really upset that she paid all that money and never got to taste any of it.  Also, people usually don't make small talk in lines...they just sit there like grumps.  With buffets, the food can only be out for two hours, so you have to hope everyone can get through that line and get what they want in enough time.  Also, make sure you have big enough plates...many people feel self-consious about going up for seconds or thirds and would rather starve than do so...making them miserable for the rest of the night.  So, now that my warnings have been posted...have a happy buffet!