Different Ways to Serve Guests at a Wedding
When planning your wedding, the food service at the reception is one of the key factors you must consider. While the seated meal is the most traditional, it is not the only option for serving food to your guests. There are other popular options, such as buffets, to consider. Choose the catering style that works best for your type of wedding and budget.
Other People Are Reading
-
Sit-Down Dinner
-
The most traditional way to serve guests at a wedding is with a sit-down meal where waiters bring the food to the table. This is also often the most expensive option. There are two different ways your guests can choose what they would like. Either you include food options with the invitation RSVP card, or you can have a menu at each place setting with two or three options for each course. Seated meals are ideal for very formal and traditional weddings.
Buffet
-
The buffet is a more budget-conscious choice for meal service. Typically, guests line up to get their own food when their table is called. Some prefer this because there are usually more food options to choose from and guests are in charge of what goes on their plate. However, the downside is often long lines of people waiting for food, which can keep guests distracted from the other wedding festivities. This can be minimized by selecting someone to monitor the buffet line and only allow one or two tables to go up at a time. Buffets are versatile and can be used for just about any type of wedding, from casual to upscale.
-
Food Stations
-
A variation of the traditional buffet, food stations break up different types of food in different areas of the room. This helps avoid long buffet lines and saves time for guests that may not be interested in a particular type of food. They are also ideal for getting guests out of their seats to mingle and interact with other guests they come across at the different food stations. You can have different stations, such as a pasta station, meat station and a salad bar. Another idea is to have different international food stations around the room, such as Italian, Chinese, Mexican, American and Greek. Other station ideas include a potato bar, macaroni and cheese station and a dessert bar.
Finger Foods
-
For a small wedding or if you have a tight budget, a finger food reception may be your best option. Instead of serving a full meal, you can have waiters walk around the room with different hors d'oeuvres and miniature food favorites, such sliders, tea sandwiches and crab cakes. Include dessert finger foods as well toward the end of the night, such as mini cupcakes and petit four cakes.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
