One of the many decisions you are going to have to make when planning a wedding is what type of meal you want served. With each type comes different considerations including pricing, venue restrictions, staff needed, timeline adjustments, and seating arrangements. Explore the most popular options to help make your decision! Each option includes a typical price point, how much time to allocate in for dinner service, and seating considerations.

Plated

Cost - $$$

Time Required - Average

Seating Considerations - Assigned Seats

Plated meals are served to your guests seated at their tables, similar to a restaurant. Guests pre-select their meal choice when submitting their RSVP to give the caterer an idea of how many of each meal they need to prepare. They tend to be more expensive than other options because typically the food is nicer and the catering company needs staff to be able to serve every guest. Assuming the caterer provides enough serving staff, dinner service can go pretty quickly. You will also need to assign seats for guests so that they get the correct meal.

Buffet

Cost – $-$$

Time Required – Above Average

Seating Considerations – Releasing Tables

Buffet meals are probably the most popular type of wedding catering because they keep costs down and allow for a wider variety of food. Order two to three entrees and three sides for guests to choose between. Buffets tend to be less expensive (depending on your choices) because the food is easier to make in large quantities, and because the caterer only needs a couple of staff members to serve as guests come through the line. However, be prepared for needing a longer amount of time, especially if you only have one buffet line, because you have to wait for everyone to go through. You may want to have the DJ release tables in a certain order so that people who need to eat first (vendors, wedding party) can – this way they can finish quickly and be ready for the next event (i.e. toasts).

Stations

Cost – $$-$$$

Time Required – Average

Seating Considerations – Releasing Tables

Stations are similar to buffets in that there is typically a larger variety of foods, and guests do not have to pre-select meals. The main difference is that stations are typically spread out in the dining area, meaning that lines are shorter, which cuts down on time. Stations tend to be more elevated food than on a buffet, so cost truly depends on the number – and quality – of choices; cost will also be higher than buffet because the caterer needs someone to staff every station. Some popular examples include carving, pasta, and different world cuisines. Similarly to buffets, having the DJ release tables will help manage the flow of guests.

Food Trucks

Cost – $-$$

Time Required – Average to Above Average

Seating Considerations – Releasing Tables

Food trucks have become more and more popular in the last few years because couples can bring in their favorite types of food (or even desserts!). Before researching food trucks, make sure your venue allows them and has the proper equipment and areas to host them. Food trucks can serve as a mobile version to stations; just be sure to book enough food trucks so that your guests get variety and can spread out. Pricing obviously depends on the types of food trucks you have, but typically they are lower in cost for similar reasons as buffet-style. Also, make sure you have a rain plan because nobody wants to wait in the rain to order and get their food. Just like with buffets and stations, have the DJ release tables when it is time for them to go to the trucks.

Heavy Hors d’oeuvres

Cost – $$

Time Required – Below Average

Seating Considerations – High-top tables and lounge furniture

Want a more casual dinner after the ceremony? This is a good option if you do not plan on having a longer reception with a dance floor. The caterer can place different hors d’oeuvres around the dinner space (like unmanned stations) and guests can flow around the room, picking up whatever they would like to eat. If you want to elevate this service, you can also include some passed hors d’oeuvres for guests to snag while they are talking. Even though there are not typical tables for this dinner style, it is recommended to have high-top tables for people to stand at and use, as well as lounge furniture for those guests who prefer to sit.

Choosing what dinner type you want can seem overwhelming, but it does not have to be! Think about your budget, foods that you and your guests will enjoy, and what works best for your day and venue. At the end of the day, as long as it tastes good and it works in your budget and plan, that is all that matters.

Vendor Credits

Photos 1-2:

Photo - Gracie B Photography

Venue and Catering - The Morehead Inn

Photo 3:

Photo - Ricky Crystal Photo

Venue - Virginia State Parks

Catering - Fishin’ Pig

Photo 4:

Photo - Nina Cline Photography

Venue - Magnolia Grace

Catering - Copper Penny