Click Away Photography, Byron's South End, Best Impressions Catering, Willow Floral Boutique, Party Reflections
Whether you choose buffet, stations, or a plated service, there are so many options when it comes to your place settings. We explore all of these different combinations below, so let us know your favorite option!
1. Buffet Style
Choosing buffet style dinner is extremely popular because of the flexibility it offers. Typically, a buffet only requires one table for setup, which is easy on your budget and wedding logistics. With the recent pandemic precautions taking over, most venues and caterers now require a server for buffets, which makes the experience feel luxurious for you and your guests. Buffet style doesn't require assigned seating, so we've worked with many couples who opted for assigned tables instead.
Noah Edwards Photography, Highlands Brewery, Blue Ridge Blooms, Luella's BBQ
For buffet style, the table setting options are limitless. You can choose to set up a full place setting complete with chargers, plates, napkins, silverware, glasses, menu cards, and/or name cards. We've also seen a wide variation of this, where couples pick and choose what they'd like to include at the place setting. We frequently witness partial place settings for buffet dining, which still includes your choice of charger, napkin, glass, and utensils. Couples often top it off with a personalized menu, wedding favor, or name card if they've chosen to assign seating.
Morgan Amanda Photography, Weddings with Barbara, Creative Designs AF, Party Reflections, New South Event Rentals
If you opt for a full place setting with buffet style, we'd recommend having someone announce for guests to bring their plates with them to the buffet. Typically, this could be your Emcee/DJ or the individual giving the welcome or blessing before dinner. Depending on your guest count, you may need someone (possibly your planner) to release tables to prevent long waiting times in line. This could also be the perfect opportunity to discreetly ask guests to bring their plates with them to the buffet, instead of announcing it over a microphone. Again, this is only if you opt for a full place setting with plates at the guests' seats.
We've also witnessed couples choose a partial place setting and, to prevent confusion, set the plates up at the buffet for guests' convenience. If you choose to go this route, there are many ways to create a polished table setting that doesn't look incomplete. We recommend dressing up tables with a charger to mark the place setting, a unique napkin fold on top, finished with a cute menu card, name card, or favor. Many couples we've worked with chose to feature a custom cookie or dessert favor at each place setting, which adds the perfect personal touch. Some of our favorite napkin folds for a partial place setting include a classic knot and a waterfall fold. Both folds are very simple to execute, but make a huge difference at place settings.
2. Stations Style
Lightbox Living Portraits, Terrace at Cedar Hill, Willow Floral Boutique, Best Impressions, Party Reflections
Excuse our bias, but stations is one of our favorite dining styles for weddings. With stations, your guests don't have to wait for their table to be dismissed or stand in a long line for the buffet. This also saves you the task of assigning seats and collecting guest meal preferences. Stations combines the flexibility of a buffet with the luxe of a plated service for the perfect balance. Many caterers recommend couples choose 3-4 stations to feature their favorite menu options for guests. Stations are usually set up in different areas around the room to keep the flow of guests moving and prevent long waits in line.
This dining style traditionally offers small plates at all stations so guests can easily go up for seconds or to a new station without carrying their original plate around. Because of this, a partial place setting is typically paired with stations, which you can customize to be as simple or as finished as you'd like. If you want the appearance of a full place setting without the plates, we love the impact a charger, folded napkin, and water goblet can make. If you choose to have water service, keep in mind the added cost for servers, who are amazing for keeping your tables cleared and glasses filled.
Angela Tucker Photography, Whitehead Manor, Willow Floral Boutique, Best Impressions
If a full place setting isn't a huge priority to you, there are still ways to wow your guests without breaking the bank. A unique napkin fold flanked by utensils can still create a beautiful setting, which leaves room for small plates from your stations. Take your place setting to the next level by choosing pretty glasses for water service or a personalized menu card detailing each station's options and location at your venue.
3. Plated Dinner Service
Connection Photography, New Creations Flowers, Roots Catering, Rentals from Party Reflections
Plated service is by far the most extravagant option for a few reasons. Since your plates are coming straight from the kitchen, there's no need for a catering setup in your venue layout. This gives you the freedom (and space!) to include other important features, like a stage for a band, a huge dance floor, orthat cute ice cream cart you've been dreaming about. Plated service also provides guests with the luxury of not making their own plate, just like a restaurant sit-down dining experience. If you choose to have a plated dinner, a full place setting is usually expected because of the nature of this dining style.
Much like a nice restaurant, the utensils, napkin, glasses, and salad/bread plates are set out before guests enter the reception site. Water service is typically included with a plated service, so the servers will take care of clearing plates, filling water glasses, and serving guests their plates. For a complete look, we'd suggest completing the look with an elegant charger to fully accentuate the plated service. Add a personalized touch by including a menu detailing each course on top of the napkin.
Catering by Best Impressions, Florals by Weddings with Barbara, Springhill Suites
To achieve a plated service, guests send in their meat/meal option with their RSVP card. After you receive all of your RSVP's and menu orders, you can start to put together your name cards and seating chart. Assigned seating is necessary for plated dining, since each guest's name card will signify their meal choice for the caterer's convenience. After your seating chart is taken care of, your planner will usually take care of setting out all of your name cards as part of your place setting. We'd recommend discussing the different options your caterer provides, because many will customize the plated experience to accommodate your preferences and place setting style.
Let us know your favorite dining style and table setting option in the comments - thanks for reading!