Buffet or Sit down at a wedding

[aristocatz]

what do you prefer

Here in CT it has been a long time since a buffet was offered!

Sit down or buffet are both fine with me, but I'm not a fan of family style.

 

[aristocatz]

My only expertise comes from watching "Four Weddings". The buffet always gets a low score.

Is that show still on? I love that show! I used to watch it when I was planning my own wedding.

 

[mom2rtk]

Is that show still on? I love that show! I used to watch it when I was planning my own wedding.

Lots of old episodes show all the time. But I think I might have heard something about them coming back with new episodes? Not sure, but I'll watch some if they do. I can only handle a couple episodes at a time, but sometimes it's just the right amount of snark.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

At my first wedding we saved on the liquor bill by limiting the selections available. Not all 12 or so Scotches the venue offered, just J&B and Dewar's. Same for vodka, gin, etc. Just one or two selections for each type. Beer was just Michelob and Heineken.

I suppose we could have saved even more by choosing rotgut brands, but we didn't want to go too cheap.

One wedding I attended served nothing but rotgut liquor. All the varieties (whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.) had the same brand label. Probably some liquor store's private label.

I didn't care, it was free and I still got buzzed.

 

[McKelly]

I've been to an equal amount of buffets and sit-downs. To be honest, I prefer the food at buffets. When I go to weddings, I'm not really expecting fine dining. That way, I 'm not disappointed.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Almost every wedding I have been to has been a combination of cocktail foods and a later finger food buffet, with open bar and music and dancing. It's actually more of a party than a dinner - usually cocktail foods are served and then later some sort of buffet spread is laid out but it's not the type of food that everyone sits and eats together - it's meant to be eaten whenever people are hungry throughout the night. Weddings where I'm from aren't sit-down affairs - people walk around and chat and only sit when they're tired or old. When the dance music starts the party ramps up a few notches. My own wedding reception was like this and pretty much every other one I've ever been to.

 

[JaneBanks]

Weddings here are typically a cocktail hour and a sit down dinner. Every wedding I've been to (including my own) had everybody up dancing, socializing, etc. Just because the dinner is a served dinner doesn't mean the reception isn't fun and an awesome party. I've never been to a table service wedding where nobody left their table.

 

[CarolAnn856]

Almost every wedding I have been to has been a combination of cocktail foods and a later finger food buffet, with open bar and music and dancing. It's actually more of a party than a dinner - usually cocktail foods are served and then later some sort of buffet spread is laid out but it's not the type of food that everyone sits and eats together - it's meant to be eaten whenever people are hungry throughout the night. Weddings where I'm from aren't sit-down affairs - people walk around and chat and only sit when they're tired or old. When the dance music starts the party ramps up a few notches. My own wedding reception was like this and pretty much every other one I've ever been to.

Almost every wedding I've been to has had a sit-down meal, and believe me, that didn't stop anyone from partying, dancing, and socializing.

I definitely prefer sit-downs, and I've usually had really good food. That all depends on how good the caterer is that the bride and groom choose, and you can have good or bad at a served meal or a buffet. Whether you are served or serve yourself has no effect on the quality of the food. Most weddings I've attended, including my own, offered a choice of entrees, so there was always a good variety of options, including vegetarian.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I don't care either way. The cheaper the better.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Wow, some of you are defensive. All I said was that weddings where I'm from are more like a party (from start to finish) and less like a dinner. It's just a different mindset. There was no intended implication that a dinner wouldn't be fun. Sheesh!

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

Lots of old episodes show all the time. But I think I might have heard something about them coming back with new episodes? Not sure, but I'll watch some if they do. I can only handle a couple episodes at a time, but sometimes it's just the right amount of snark.

My dream job was to be the permanent judge on that show. I will NEVER forget the tackiest wedding I have ever witnessed - the groom rapping his vows wearing tacky sunglasses (indoor wedding). It even had a cake straight from 1982 - complete with staircases with plastic bridal party figurines. It was awesome!

 

[jerseygal]

We had 80 guests at our wedding and rather complicated family dynamics. My mil is a rather difficult Indian woman who is religiously vegetarian. We had assigned tables to contain her and a buffet to meet all of the varied dietary needs. The food was a delicious selection of American and Indian food. We got tons of compliments on it months later. As for alcohol, we had a beer and wine bar. We couldn't afford a full bar and didn't want to have drink tickets or a cash bar. Since the location and caterer allowed us to provide the alcohol we bought it on sale at World Market and at Costco. It was of a much higher quality than normally served at wedding receptions but cost much less than if the caterer had provided the alcohol. The guests ended up drinking more than the estimate given to us by the caterer because of that so they ended having to do an alcohol run when we ran out.

I just got a "chuckle" out of your words, "rather complicated family dynamics". Blessed are those who don't have "rather complicated family dynamics"! We are not "so fortunate", feel sad about this, but I am the ever so proud, future Mother of the Groom, this coming August. He is an INCREDIBLE son, my future DIL is a wonderful woman, so I am thankful for that, NO petty nonsense will ever tarnish this beautiful day. Just breathe, I tell myself! HOPE that your wedding was magical, despite your "rather complicated family dynamics"!