buffet or sit-down???

[Jumpin'Jellyfish]

Hello everyone!

I am getting married in 13 months and have my first meeting with DFTW in less than 2 WEEKS!!! As you all can relate, I am BEYOND EXCITED!!!!

However, DF and I have been throwing around the pros and cons of buffet and sit down with each other and now I would like to know your input....

are the prices different at Disney? I know that someplaces a buffet is cheaper but then again it may not be bc of the extra food needed! So what have you all heard?

also, which one do you think is nicer? DF is very concerned with people not walking away hungry!!!

NEED INPUT!!!!!

THanks!
Erica

 

[Error_kitten]

Hello everyone!

I am getting married in 13 months and have my first meeting with DFTW in less than 2 WEEKS!!! As you all can relate, I am BEYOND EXCITED!!!!

However, DF and I have been throwing around the pros and cons of buffet and sit down with each other and now I would like to know your input....

are the prices different at Disney? I know that someplaces a buffet is cheaper but then again it may not be bc of the extra food needed! So what have you all heard?

also, which one do you think is nicer? DF is very concerned with people not walking away hungry!!!

NEED INPUT!!!!!

THanks!
Erica

Were getting married the end of this month and were going with buffet.
Personal I think its better because people are picky eaters what one person likes the other may not.
So half the people will eat allt eh veggies while the other half will eat pasta.
I would assume it will be a balance.
Also I know so many people who eat like birds.
So why give them a full plate of food if they wont eat it all.
I say "Let them eat buffet!"
But thats just me.
I'm also going with open seating as well.
Let everyone mingle and have a good time.

 

[dannirose]

We are going with the buffet as well - we have a wide variety of food allergies on both sides and feel the buffet will be the best option for us. From the photos I have seen the set-up looks pretty amazing and I have been assured by Disney there will definitely be enough food for everyone.

 

[wendy46001]

i went sit down....(surprisingly cheaper with our menu selection...who knew)....still i didn’t want to serve myself in the dress (also didn’t want the guest to have to carry plates)...also we didn’t have very many food allergies/vegetarians...so that made life easier...and it was a lot of food over the four courses...so no one was hungry....
I know Disney does some wonderful buffets...but i always thought sit down was more formal.

 

[JandJ]

We didn't have a Custom and I've not been to another DFTW but I've attended dozens of weddings and been in more than I can count right now! A sit-down feels more formal, but a buffet can be formal too. I have enjoyed both but just one suggestion, if you go buffet see if they can provide servers that prepare plates for you and your DH, and the bridal party. One wedding that I was in that really stands out in my memory, they had a head table for the bride and groom and all of us attendants, and it was buffet, but the servers made up plates with a little bit of everything for the bridal party and served us at the head table before the buffet opened to all the guests. So no one had to stand in line in gowns and tuxedos, which I imagine would be kind of awkward. Also, they called up tables one at a time so there wasn't a huge line snaking through the reception hall.

I have heard that in many cases a sit-down is actually less expensive than a buffet, as wendy46001 said. We had planned a casual at-home reception and were going buffet with finger foods and passed trays and it was really pricey. So if cost is a consideration (and really, when isn't it?) make sure to ask you EM about the cost options.

 

[Laurafoster]

We are going for a sit down meal, mostly because we have a fairly small group. We checked with everyone what they would like to eat - we gave them 3 choices! and everyone in the group chose chicken or beef so we are doing a duo plated entree! It worked out a good price for us, as some buffets had a minimum head count and we couldnt meet that!

 

[happylalagirl]

We decided on a buffet at the Living Seas because we didn't want to choose for people what they ate for dinner. Also, we were trying to incorporate our different ethnic backgrounds into the dinners and it was easier to do that with a buffet than a plated dinner. Whatever you choose, it will be fabulous.

 

[Laurafoster]

Just on another note - if you do decide to have a sit down meal - you dont have to decide what your guests eat! You can let them have different options!"

 

[kimnkel]

Yes, you can do what Laura said, but my understanding is that that gets really expensive because they have to have enough food to cover different people having different things, or else you have to make it part of the RSVP process--and who needs that hassle?

I think that sit down and buffet are equally nice, it just comes down to what you want to do. I am from the south, and we prefer buffets. I personally think it helps to get your guests up and on their feet as much as possible. Stir 'em up and get them circulating, or else they have a tendency to sit on their rears all night and only socialize with those at their own tables. One of the toughest hostess jobs is getting your guests to overcome thier shyness/awkwardness/whatever you call it--and have a good time! You have to be like: Move it, guests! Or how will ya'll get any on you!!

As far as price goes, it just all depends--one may be less expensive or more expensive than the other, depending on what is offered.

Buffets can be lovely--most of the grand old hotels have very formal buffets that my DF and I treat ourselves to when we travel, but sit down can be elegant, too. The idea of serving your guests is nice.

I second the idea of having the staff prepare plates for the bride and groom, but think how much the guests will enjoy standing in line with the bride! It always feels like being around royalty when we guests are near the princess-for-a-day bride!

Good luck with the planning!! Enjoy!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I am having a very intimate wedding and going to dinner at Artist Point but I guess my answer for you would be to have a sit down. I just like them better and they are more formal...have 3 different options of beef, chicken and fish...have a buffet cocktail hour...

Hope this helps!

All the best!
Lauren

 

[mhcueball2]

We are doing a sit-down lunch (a little cheaper than buffet) at CG. They just need to know how many plates of each entree (chicken, beef, salmon), which we are including on the RSVP card. I'm sure they make a little extra in case of any last minute changes.

 

[janine]

We had buffet, and made the right decision. We were a little worried though that for our party of 17 that there would only be a little bit of food, but honestly you could have fed 100 people with it. In fact it didn't look touched!
It was wonderful food and very nicely set out.
We put to gether our own menu from the menus they gave us, then they gave us a price per head, which was about $73 for adults.
I would choose buffet again for sure!

 

[pixie08]

In Disney the prices for buffet vs. sit down are the same. The buffet while some may think is cheaper is not. I think you just have to decidee how you envision your party. We chose sit down but that was just what we wanted and also in NYC where we live that is common and buffets are less common so I think our guests would be more comfortable with that. That doesn't mean you have to pick for everyone. There are a few ways to handle it. The most expensive way is crown service which is the highest end service you can do. It is way over $100 pp but the guests can choose what they want at the recpetion. Another option is a duo plate where both chicken and steak or steak and lobster (or whatever you want) is served on the same plate so there is omething for everyone. The cheapest option (but not always the most convenient) is to offer 2 or 3 options on the rsvp card and let people choose in advance (you just have to make sure you stay organized and know who is getting what and note that for Disney). I am sure Disney can make a buffet elegant so I think the choice is whatever you perfer. Hope that helped a little.

 

[scottsbride]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of their buffet reception???
thank-yoU!

 

[tinkerbela]

we had a buffet with our reception. it worked out wonderfully because everyone got to pick what they wanted to eat and for how much.

 

[Skylarr29]

I prefer a sitdown as I think it would be more formal. Buffets are not necessarily cheaper when it comes to Disney. I like the idea of having a custom meal created for us that reflects both of our styles.

 

[twojo21]

we had a sit down dinner at ariels & it was perfect, the food was so good too. i personally prefer sit down receptions to me its more formal & i wanted my guests to enjoy our reception not stand in line.

 

[Surfingstitch]

Our vote was for a sit down meal.

Either way you are paying the gratuity and the servers are included.

 

[dsnyfan6/18]

I am from NYC - so every wedding up here is sit down.. We are also used to having 3 or 4 choices, and you choose at the reception. I wasn't comfortable with having to ask everyone for their choice with the RSVP card. We had alot of picky eaters, and the buffets were absoutely amazing. I am very picky with set-ups and presentation, since I do catering myself. Needless to say everything exceeded my expectations, and I couldn't be happier. There was so much food taht everyone stuffed themselves and it didn't even look like the buffet was touched! We had the banquet captain serve us (actually only me b/c my husband was too busy socializing) and he did a great job!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

another vote for a buffet!

i was in a close friend's wedding in may, and everyone just LOVED the buffet! it give your guests so many choices, to enjoy whatever they wish!

also, the arrangements done with the food can be so beautiful. good luck with whatever you choose!