HOW to serve food

[CookieMonsters]

Then a buffet for the main. We didn't have place settings, everyone just sat where they wanted. Which had good points and bad points.

wat were they???

[duckduckgoose]

Good - it was really casual, people could move around, it fit with our plan of having a "party" rather than a formal uptight do. I sort of didn't want a "traditional" wedding so I didn't want place settings. I know it stressed out my friends who got married before working out where to put people.

Bad - people ended up sitting wherever there was room - so for example dad ended up sitting next to people he didn't really know that well while on the bridal table (that I wanted just for me and DH) we had his mum's lawyer sitting with us as there was no seats and he was last to find a seat.

So I think it was good overall but I would perhaps make it clear who sits at the bridal table and have lots of seating so people aren't scrounging around for seats wherever they can find them.

[SalsaMama]

We had a sit down (tell the waiter which of 2 options you'd like) meal.

I've been to cocktail receptions before which are lovely in that you can mingle, however I struggled at a couple when I was pregnant and there was hardly any seating. Would have been great to have had some seats for the oldies (who were my competition for the few seats) and me!

[*Chels*]

We had drinks and finger food served while we did photos,and then a sit down buffet which was awesome!! I think these are great coz everyone chooses their food and can pig out as much as they want

[BigRedV]

My wedding will be buffet. I've been to a wedding that just served finger food and mostly standing but didn't like that too much.

[Me]

We did an alternate drop and personally I love them! Much prefer them to a buffet, but it helps that dh isn't a steak fan and I am, and he's a seafood fan and im not, so we automatically swap if we get what the other prefers.

[misskittyfantastico]

I think they all have pros and cons. I personally had drinks and canapes followed by a sit down dinner - everyone chose their entree and main.

[zinfandel]

I think buffet is the best style. Your guests will definitely enjoy this since they can go back to the buffet as much as they can!
when attending weddings, I always prefer buffet

[Johanna82]

Our wedding is on Saturday so can't say if it works well or not yet, but we are having a buffet style meal however the selection of food will be placed separately on tables so guests dont need to get up. There are big platters on each table with more than enough food for everyone at that table, 2 meats and a vegetarian option, salads, potatoes etc. We have large wooden styled platters( the wedding has a bit of a rustic look) and there will be 2 on each table ( one for meats one for salads etc) and people can help themselves without having to leave the get up or line up. Hopefully it works well!

[RainbowSky]

I went to a wedding recently where they had alternate drop entree and then the main course was a whole heap of main dishes and sides (mini steaks, salmon, chicken pieces, beef dish, potatoes, rice, veggies etc) put onto a lazy susan in the middle of each table. It was AWESOME. Everyone got to try some of each dish and you could have a little or a lot, depending on what you wanted. No-one had to put up with a meal they didn't really like and I just thought it was the best idea! It was still a formalish type sit down dinner but the way they did the food gave quite a nice, relaxed feel to it. Dessert was the wedding cake, all garnished nicely so everyone got a piece of that but you could do an alternate drop for dessert as well. Best idea I reckon.

I love the food at cocktail weddings but I really don't like the lack of seating. I get really sore and tired standing for hours on end and every cocktail wedding I've been to - I've never been lucky enough to score a seat. So personally I'd never go with that option unless there was a seat for everyone and maybe sit down dessert/cake and coffee.