Choosing Your Service Style

The service style you choose for your event can set the tone for the entire event. Buffet, plated or family-style service each has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's explore each option to help you determine which is the best fit for your event.

Buffet Service

Buffet service is a versatile and popular choice for many events as it allows guests to serve themselves from a variety of dishes.

Pros:

• Variety: Buffets generally offer a range of food options that accommodate different tastes and dietary restrictions.
• Social Interaction: Guests can mingle and interact with each other as they move through the buffet line.
• Customization: Guests can choose their own portions and create their own plates.
• Flexible Timing: Buffets work well for open-house-type events when guests are coming and going at different times.
• Requires Less Service Staff: Buffets are relatively low maintenance and require minimal service staff, which can save you money relative to plated or family-style service.

Cons:

• Lines: Depending on the number of guests, there can be long lines if everyone is eating at the same time. Who hasn’t been to an event where the first people to eat are finishing while others are still in line?
• Food Waste: Buffets can lead to food waste, as people tend to take more than they can eat.
• Difficult for Those with Physical Limitations or Small Children: Because people fill their own plates, parents of small children typically have to go through the line multiple times to fill their and their kids plates. People with physical disabilities also face unique challenges with a buffet.

Plated Service

A sit-down, served dinner is a classy option for more upscale events.

Pros:

• Formal Atmosphere: Plated service creates a sophisticated and elegant dining experience that can be a treat for your guests.
• Controlled Portions: Portion sizes are predetermined, which helps minimize food waste.
• Efficiency: The service is typically organized to serve all tables several courses in a synchronized manner.

Cons:

• Limited Choices: Guests usually have to choose their meal options in advance, limiting their choices.
• Higher Cost: Plated service can be more expensive due to the number of staff required for serving.

Family-Style Service

Family-style service strikes a balance between the formality of plated service and the variety of a buffet.

Pros:

• Shared Experience: Family-style service encourages guests to interact and share food, creating a warm and communal atmosphere.
• Variety: Guests can sample a variety of dishes without having to leave their tables.
• Flexible Portions: Guests can choose their own portions, as they would with a buffet.
• Timing: All your guests generally eat at about the same time.
• Accommodating of parents and those with physical limitations: Saving the need to move about the room, family-style service is a welcomed relief for those wrangling small children or who are mobility impaired.

Cons:

• Space: This service requires larger tables to accommodate the platters, which may not be suitable for all venues.
• Logistics: Coordinating the timing and delivery of platters can be more complex.

Making the Right Choice

When choosing the best catering service style for your wedding, fundraising gala or corporate party, consider your budget, guest preferences, and the overall vibe you want to create. Each service style offers a unique dining experience, so think about what will make your event special and enjoyable for you and your guests. Whether you opt for a buffet, plated, or family-style service, the key is to select a catering service that aligns with your vision.

At CKC Good Food Event Catering, we specialize in delivering exceptional dining experiences tailored to the vision for your event. Let’s work together to make your event truly memorable.

Submit an inquiry today.