Planning a wedding? There’s no doubt about it: food and beverages will be a main focus and expense. As a host, planning and staging any successful event requires presenting extraordinary dining service to create an exceptional experience. This is even more true when it comes to weddings, where guests will likely have opinions on what they’re biting into on your big day.
Fortunately, there are numerous options to consider, ranging from casual, festive cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to a more proper, elegant plated dinner. The experienced event professionals at Thierry Isambert Culinary & Event Design can help you decide on the perfect serving style to complement the event's purpose and delight your guests, ensuring the event is memorable and has extra special personal touches. Let’s take a closer look at the different catering styles and consider what each has to offer for a memorable dining experience.
Cocktail & Hors d’Oeuvres
This type of service offers guests the freedom to mix and mingle. The atmosphere is casual, yet sophisticated. Guests can sample tasty appetizers and sip on the finest craft cocktails, beers and wines. Appetizers can be passed by servers or presented buffet style so guests can easily help themselves. Bartenders are available to ensure guests enjoy the drink of their choice. This is ideal for an intimate group or a corporate function.
Why we love it: This option allows guests to circulate and network in a relaxed atmosphere. Food costs are reduced compared to a buffet or sit down dinner catering.
Points to consider: While food costs can be reduced, liquor costs can be higher than with other service options. It’s important to be clear in the invitation that food service is limited to appetizers and cocktails so that guests are not disappointed if expecting a full meal.
Food Stations
Food stations are a popular trend and add culinary excitement to an event. Multiple food stations are arranged in your event space, providing your guests with an array of meal choices. For example, you might feature a tapas station, raw bar, a pasta station, and a carving station. You’ll also want to include dessert and coffee stations to complete the dining experience. Guests can pick and choose from any station, creating their own dinner menu while simultaneously enjoying each other’s company.
Photo: Lukas G.
Why we love it: There is more interaction and excitement among guests as, which is a bonus at any event. Meals are prepared to order, so each invitee can have it exactly as they like. Multiple food stations help reduce waiting time for food service ensuring an easy flow to the dinner service.
Points to consider: Multiple food stations will require a venue with space to accommodate them, and several chefs will be necessary to run the stations. People tend to eat more with food stations which may increase your food costs. Stations may disrupt presentation during the dinner hour.
The Plated Dinner
The traditional seated dinner service is by far the most sophisticated and popular of food service choices. Typically, plated dinner service consists of several courses individually served by trained and experienced waitstaff. Guests are usually given a choice of two to three entrees, which they pre-select when they RSVP for the event. Formal, elegant, and suitable for most high-end events, plated dinner is always delightful for the guests and a good way to elevate the dining experience at a wedding.
Photo: Asaf Kliger
Why we love it: Guests are more relaxed as they enjoy being served, especially if they are in formal attire. They have more time for table talk and in-depth conversation. Any presentation will not be disturbed by numerous guests moving around the room, so all eyes will remain on the couple as they sway together during their first dance.
Points to consider: Since the menu is preset, meal options are more limited. By far, it is the most expensive option since more details go into the table arrangements and settings. Place cards and complete formal place settings are needed.
Photo: Alee Gleiberman
There is no right or wrong approach to creating a special event. Ultimately, the style of dinner service chosen should complement the style and theme of the wedding and the ambiance you wish to create for the guests. All the extra thought that goes into every detail will ensure the invitees have the most memorable and enjoyable experience of a day that is meant to be unforgettable - and that’s the ultimate goal. Cheers!
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