All my cleverly planned meals

Our caterer is having an Open House next weekend where we'll get another opportunity to taste their food. They will be serving a spread of their most popular options giving us a chance to sample everything and narrow down our choices. After enjoying our first tasting we are looking forward to the wider variety we will experience here. We will also get a chance to see how food is displayed, how tables are arranged, and how the staff works. I'm really excited.

All of this has got me thinking about the type of service we want at the wedding: buffet style or sit-down dinner. It was easy to decide that we want our guests to be greeted with drinks, hors d'oeuvres passed around, one appetizer/themed station, and an open bar, but this whole service thing is a bit more complicated. Add the opinions from the family and the decision has been difficult.

Both buffet and sit down dinners have their good points and there is definitely a distinction between the two. Buffets allow you more time to socialize and choose your own portions, and sit-downs let you relax and get pretty plates of food. To help ease the decision I compiled a list of what we like and don't like about each style.

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Buffet Pros:

• Guests can socialize while in line allowing the photographer a chance to get some nice shots

• Guests can choose their portion size, sides, entrees, and return for seconds, even thirds

• We can have a themed table or carving station for tri-tip

• We don't have to worry about organizing who gets what entree (fish, meat, veggie)

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Buffet Cons:

• Waiting in line

• Some guests will get their food before others

• Not as easy as being served

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Sit-down Dinner Pros:

• Food arrives plated beautifully

• Easier for older guests and kids

• Everyone gets their food around the same time, less time spent waiting

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Sit-down Dinner Cons:

• Having to track who ordered which entree

• Figuring out a way to cleverly note it on escort cards/make it look like part of the design
  

• Guests could change their minds

• Portions will all be the same, leaving some people hungry

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Right now we're leaning towards the buffet. We just want the food service to go as smooth as possible. Also we might compromise with sit-down service for salads, and then buffet for the sides and entrees. Of course there's also the family style service...

How did you decide on your dinner service? What are your experiences with buffet and sit down dinners? Do you have a preference?

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