No wedding is complete with the right food option. For some this is a sit down meal that mingles the guests, bridesmaids, and groomsmen together. Plus, it’s really quite comfortable to have a dining experience like this! Sit your guests in such a way that ensures the conversation will flow, and make sure the drink refills are flowing all evening long.
But in our opinion, the best wedding food option is a buffet! Not only does this ensure everyone gets a bit of everything, but there’s less pressure in staying seated and sociable. There’s also the chance to go back for more if you’re still hungry, and perfectly good leftovers can be easily boxed up and sent off with the guests as they leave.
If that sounds like the best option for your big day as well, check out our guide below. Here’s a list of the best ways to plan a wedding buffet that everyone will be able to enjoy.
Keep it Moving
When you have a buffet at an event, there’s a very strong chance the line is going to back up and cause a jam. Not only is that an eye sore when you’re at such a special event like a wedding, but it’s also frustrating and boring.
You need to keep the line moving to ensure everyone gets a plate of hot food at least once – as well as access to the food they really want to try. If someone clears all the cupcakes from the buffet before the last few guests even get to that spot on the table, they’re going to miss out!
You can set up a queuing system, if need be, to ensure everyone files in an orderly way. Most people who run buffets at their wedding also allow two lines on either side of the table. This way people can go to either side and grab what they want in half the time.
Clearly Label All Dishes
Any dishes at a buffet can be easily mixed up. Anyone who’s coming to the wedding with intolerances and/or allergies should be made aware of the nature of your catering well in advance. Make sure you have all the information you need to set out a spread everyone can safely dig into.
This also means very clearly and prominently labeling the dishes you’ve got down. Don’t let people guess what each pot or tray contains. Clearly lay out what’s on offer, how it’s been prepared, and if there are any potential allergens.
Big labels with big lettering are best here, and try not to let the font get too fancy or swirly. While you’ll want to decorate these in the same theme as the rest of the wedding, people should be able to read them without mistaking any of the latters.
Work with Versatile Caterers
The catering is obviously the most essential part of the wedding buffet. If the food options are too limited, have been sat out for a while, and aren’t cooked to a healthy and tasty standard, no one will even touch the buffet! But with a catering team working behind the scenes, you’ll avoid these pitfalls and everyone will have a lovely time.
As such, now’s the time to get in touch with a company like Saint Germain Catering. It’s usually best to have on site caterers running the buffet, and even serving it as people come round, to ensure everyone gets a fair, clean helping. You definitely don’t want spoons going back into the wrong trays – that’s an allergy attack waiting to happen!
Keep an Eye on the Utensils
A buffet usually comes with spoons, ladles, and forks already set out. This way any and all guests can use the same utensils to move the food they want onto their plates. It ensures a smoother, cleaner process, and you don’t have to remember to bring your own cutlery up with you either.
That being said, if you’re going without caterers, keep a careful eye. To start with, and like we mentioned in the point above, make sure utensils are always put back with the same dish. You also want to ensure nothing is dropped or falls on the floor. If it is, replace it immediately with a clean version.
And finally, if there’s a family member (usually a younger child) likely to try and lick a fork or spoon after they’ve used it, keep a tight rein on them!
Put Must Haves on the Dining Tables
To simplify the buffet process, make sure every dining table at the venue is already laden with the condiments people will want to use, as well as salt and pepper pots. You may want to pop down a bread basket on each table too, if you’re offering complementary buns and slices too.
If you don’t have any select dining tables, put these items on a different table to the main buffet. With this set up, people can move from the buffet to the side table and prevent the queue from jamming up anymore.
Encourage Guests to Come Back for More
Finally, make sure your guests know that the buffet is there to be used! Encourage people to go back for more if they want some, and don’t be shy about that yourself.
Create a free environment regarding the food; there are no restrictions (other than the obvious dietary ones), and everyone is welcome to have as much or as little as they want. There’s really no need for wedding outfit dieting any longer!
Want to Have a Running Buffet at Your Wedding?
Then make sure you plan one with these tips in mind. Invest in quality catering, make it easy to serve, and make sure the guests know exactly what they can get. And don’t let anyone feel bad for wanting to head back for more – you could even put a sign up that lets the guests know at least two trips to the buffet table are expected!
