Planning Tips: Wedding Catering Styles That Won’t Leave Your Guests Hungry!
Food is one of the things that brings people together and what better time to bring people together than during one of the most important days of your life! When it comes to your wedding day, there are not only a lot of options for wedding catering itself, but also for how that food is served.
Interested in finding out what catering style fits your wedding best? We’re talking about four of the most common ways to serve your wedding meal as well as some pros and cons to help you determine what option won’t leave you or your guests hungry!
Plated
A plated meal is where your guests are seated at their tables while their meal is served to them.
There are usually two popular styles when it comes to the plated meal style: one and two options for your guests. The “one option” plated style is where your meal consists of one starter and one main course (or “courses” if your dinner has multiple courses) and that is the meal that everyone indulges in. The “two option” plated style is where your starters and two course options (most often consisting of poultry, beef, or fish) are presented to your guests—usually with their RSVP—to choose from.
This style of meal is perfect for couples that are wanting a more formal option. While this style is seen as traditional, it doesn’t appeal to some as there are limited choices and depending on the style of food—as well as the number of guests attending your reception—the price per person can be quite expensive.
Family Style
Food has brought people closer and helped them bond for centuries and the family-style meal is one that is perfect when you’re looking to bring your guests together and help strangers connect.
With a family catering style, the options you have chosen for your courses are set in the center of the table to allow guests to serve themselves and one another. The downfalls to this style are that you risk guests over-serving themselves which may result in ordering an excessive amount of food to ensure you don’t run low. You will also need to consider how much space the serving dishes will take up on the table. If you are opting for this style, ensure you have large enough tables to accommodate the dishes or plan on cutting down or eliminating your centerpiece decor. This style of meal is recommended for a smaller guest count or an intimate wedding with close family and friends!
Buffet Style
This is one of the more popular styles on the list along with the plated wedding meals. Depending on your caterer (whether they are in-house or outside your venue) you may have the option of selecting one of their catering packages that includes pre-selected courses based on a style or allows you to select your courses to build your own package. These packages are priced at a per-person price.
One of the things that we love about serving your meal buffet style is that it offers many options for guests, even those that have food restrictions, and allows your guests to choose what to fill their plates with (compared to a plated style where even if there are certain items that they don’t care for, they are still served them.)
Serving your wedding meal buffet style also makes it easier for the servers or staff to keep an eye on food levels, refilling when needed. When working with an experienced caterer, they will usually account for guests going back for seconds and can make an accurate estimate of the amount of food needed which can mean less waste and more money back in your pocket.
A few things to note about buffet meals is that if you are planning to have many elderly guests, this style is less convenient for those that are unable to walk or stand for long periods of time. If you have a large guest count, you should allow some extra time on your timeline for dinner as it will take a bit longer for your guests to get through the line. Your DJ or MC can assist with dismissing tables when it’s time for dinner to ensure the buffet area doesn’t get too crowded and to keep the line (and your timeline) running smoothly!
Walk and Fork
This is one of our favorites as it gives you so many options and allows you to get creative with your wedding bites! The walk-and-fork option is great if you are hosting a cocktail-style wedding reception or adding something to the menu as a late-night snack.
The walk and fork options can be stationed, tray passed, or even in a food truck style which can offer anything from burger sliders to tacos. It gives you and your guests lots of options and an opportunity to snack on a little bit of everything. Ensure that if you are choosing a walk-and-fork option and not serving a full meal, make it clear in the invites so that your guests don’t come to celebrate with you on an empty stomach!
With so many options available when it comes to your wedding catering, you are sure to be able to find one that fits in with your style, guest count, as well as your budget!
Next to determining how you will cater your reception, you will want to decide how you will style your space to serve the meals to your guests (which can make the meal even more enjoyable!) this is where The Little Hire Company comes in!
Ready to style your reception?
Here at The Little Hire Company, we offer a variety of premium furniture and decor to rent from your tables to your chairs, tablecloths, serverware, glassware, and more!
If you’re ready to serve your catered reception meal in the perfect setting, click below and let us bring some styling magic to your meal!