Dining Styles Explained

Can you name all 4?

When it comes to your wedding reception, we always like to remind couples that this will be the first time you are hosting your family and friends as a married couple. So, how you host them should feel true and authentic to you! Maybe you’re someone who loves a formal dinner party and always has the table set for your friends before they come over. Maybe you love a good potluck and enjoy a table where food is being passed around. Or maybe the thought of having everyone sit for a meal feels super unnatural, and you prefer to have nibbles all night.

Whatever your style may be, lean into it!

There are 4 main types of food service for events:

plated;
buffet;
family style; and
cocktail.

We break down all 4 for you below with the pros and cons of each, so when it comes time to nail down your menu, you have all the necessary information!

1 — Plated

Plated is often considered the most formal dining style. It is typically served as either a 2 or 3-course meal, and allows your guests to get comfortable at their table, enjoying conversation without the interruption of getting up and down. Everyone is guaranteed to have the same amount of food as their neighbour; no second helpings available.

With plated dinners, you MUST:

collect dietary requirements and meal selections from your guests in advance.
have a seating plan so the caterers can serve the correct entrees to each table.
ensure that place cards have a meal indicator on them. This allows servers to provide faster service and prevents guests from changing their mind last minute and pretending they ordered the beef when they actually ordered the chicken.

Most couples assume that plated dinners have a higher price tag, but this isn’t always the case! The amount of serving rentals needed is less, and the caterers do not need to plan for food “overage.” However, the cost of service staff is often higher, as more hands are needed to ensure a smooth dinner service.

2 —Buffet

The classic buffet may get a bad rap sometimes, but trust us—it can be the best choice! If your guest list includes big (or picky) eaters, giving them lots of choices and the ability to go up for seconds is always a hit. You also save yourself a lot of headache during the RSVP process by not needing to collect meal selections or pre-assign seats at the tables. However, dietary information still needs to be provided to caterers to ensure that guests with specific needs are taken care of.

One of our favorite things about buffet service is the speed. Moving guests through the line is typically quicker than serving a plated or multi-course meal, giving you and your guests more time to mingle and visit before speeches and dancing begin.

3—Family Style

Family style service has become very popular over the last decade, and for good reason. If you’re wondering what it looks like, think of Thanksgiving dinner at home. Platters of food are placed on the table, and guests pass them around.

Why do we love it? Guests can stay seated like in a plated service, but the shared experience of passing food creates a warm, communal atmosphere.

Here are some things to consider:

The menu can be served all at once or in courses—discuss this with your caterer.
Family style is typically the highest in cost due to higher service fees and the need for serving platters and utensils.
Table space can be an issue, especially with round tables. Long tables work best. Be sure to plan gaps in your table decor to make room for platters.
Food portioning can sometimes be tricky if guests take more than their share. Caterers often add extra to each platter, but portion control ultimately falls on your guests.

4—Cocktail Reception

Passed canapés, food platters, chef-attended stations—cocktail-style service is designed to keep your guests moving. While typically done during a pre-dinner cocktail hour, it can also serve as the primary meal at your reception. If you’re looking for an evening that feels relaxed, encourages mingling, and adds variety to the menu, this option is perfect.

For a cocktail reception, we suggest:

6-10 passed canapés per person.
1-2 heavier chef-attended stations (think risotto bar, sushi station, gourmet mac & cheese, kebabs, tacos, etc.).
a fun and tasty dessert to finish off the meal.

We recommend cocktail receptions for events that don’t run excessively long. Limited seating means guests might tire if they need to stand for hours. An event starting in the late afternoon or early evening (5 pm – 6 pm) with food, mingling, and dancing sounds perfect to us!

Last thoughts…

There’s a lot to think about when choosing your dining style, and keeping your budget and venue in mind are just as important as everything else. But most importantly, have fun with your wedding meal planning—this is YOUR day, so have your cake (and eat it too!).

dining styles explained