Need help choosing which style of Catering is the right fit

 "Plated" Catering is much like a restaurant style atmosphere.  This is where there is assigned wait staff or servers that will tend to the tables of your seated guests.  Each course of your meal is typically delivered to each individual person in your party.  This style is most commonly used at Formal Events such as Balls, Weddings and Upper Scale Parties or events.

Some things to consider prior to committing to a "Plated" Event

Although this option can be perceived as the more elegant choice than most other types of dining, this may not be the most suitable style for every event.  Here are a few things to weigh off when deciding which style is right for your event:

1)  Plated Meals will have extra costs incorporated due to increased, mandatory wait staff as there are payroll and gratuities involved for the wait staff.  Also, you will probably be renting the plates and settings which can also come with a rental, set-up and cleaning fee.

2) Plated meals often require a staging area where the caterers and staff can arrange your food prior to bringing it out to present to your guests.  This can cause to be a distraction at times for your guests if the staging is happening in  plain view.

3) You will typically need to send out "Response" cards in advance to your guests and give that information to your caterers weeks prior to the event so they know  how much of what type of food to prepare.  You will also need to give your Caterer an accurate seating chart so they know where to deliver specific food to your guests.  This will also require you to have place cards with your guests name on them at each seat based on the seating arrangements that you designed.

4) It is very common to have a "Social" or "Cocktail" hour prior to a plated meal to give your guests time to soicalize prior to being seated.

"Buffet" Style Catering is by far the most common and most popular style of catering for many reasons.  This option allows for the guests to serve themselves the portion sizes and items that they choose.  This gives the picky eaters, dieters and also guests with food allergies a chance to find something that they will enjoy.

This option can be used for formal and informal events. 

Some things to consider prior to choosing a Buffet style menu.

1) Because this option requires little to no staff to maintain it, it is typically much less expensive than "Plated" meals. 

2) This option however may not be the most suitable if you all of your guests need to be finished at the exact same time.  

3) Depending on the size of your event you may require more than one line or station to eliminate long lines, frustrated guests and some guests finishing their meals before others begin.  This will need to be discussed witht he caterer during the initial consultation as there can be additional charges for additional staff and set-up.

4) It is not uncommon for some guests to enjoy seconds or even thirds, especially of the proteins such as steak, chicken or fish.  You may decided to purchase additional amounts of food in case this happens to be sure that all of your guests are fed.

Just like a sit-down or plated dinner, a family style meal will have your guests seated at a table while waiters bring out the food on large serving platters to be passed around, just like you were having dinner at Mom’s house on a Sunday afternoon. This is a very inviting and interactive approach to your event and can encourage interaction and conversation between guests that may not be familiar with each other and allows guests to get a chance to know each other as they dine. 

Some things to consider prior to choosing "Family Style" Catering.

1)  Your tables may need to be larger than normal to accomodate the space needed to hold all of the additional platters.

2) This option will incur the costs of more wait staff than a buffet meal but still much less than a "Plated" meal.

"Active Station" Dining is typically used as an "Add On" to a buffet line or can be the sole source of food.  This option gives your guests the feel that their meals were individually prepared custom for them.

Typical options for this would be a "Pasta Serving" station, "Prime Rib Carving", "Turkey Carving", "Omelette Bars", Waffle Bars, Caesar Salad Bars and also Foods that need to be controlled due to food costs such as Prime Rib, Roasted Pig or Turkey. 

Having multiple stations setup throughout your event area can be very helpful when you are trying to reduce the amount or length of lines.

This can be multiple Buffet lines, multiple "Active Chef" stations or even a mix of both.

This can also be fun when showcasing an "Around The World" (different ethnic foods from different countries) type of menu or even a "Market" type of menu (Fresh veggie station, carved meat section, cheeses, breads, desserts, pastas...).

It is amazing to see just how popular and trending that having a food truck style caterer has become in the last year.

Not only is having a Food Truck/Caterer service your event exciting and fun but it can also help to keep your costs down when your looking at options such as Grilled Sandwiches or burgers verses Chicken and Steak.

The guests love the idea that they can step up to the truck and order what ever they want off of the menu.  This removes an enormous amount of stress from the planners as they no longer have the need to decide to the menu.