The pros and cons of different types of catering

May 27, 2016 - Party Catering

From casual buffets to elegant plated dinners, the options
for your catering styles are seemingly unending. The serving style that you select
may leave a major impact on your guests, but gain, it’s vital to sort through
all your options. Luckily for you, we’ve been doing this for more than three decades.
We have seen it all and the experience that we have has enabled us to know the
cons and pros of every catering style. Before settling on five-course meals its
important to look at their pros and cons

Plated dinners

Pros

They are traditional and elegant, plated dinners add layers
of sophistication to refined catering styles. If you have professional servers
and traditional entrees, you can make a stylish statement. Plated dinners
encourage conversations amongst guests during meals or between courses. They are
ideal choices for couples who are not expecting wild dance floors. The meal
itself is always an engaging activity that takes a substantial amount of time. Plated
dinners also allow customization options whereby you can craft a perfect menu
for your taste

Cons

On the flip-side, plated dinners are tricky for couples who
are anxious to hit the dance floor so that the party can commence. You can
counteract this dilemma with carefully planned schedules so that you can keep
courses moving; this is always important so that you can get the guests to the
dancing floor as soon as possible. Plated dinners do not provide a wide range
of meal options; ensure that you ask the guests about their allergies or preferences
so that you can avoid any faux pas.

Buffet

Pros

The laid-back style of buffets offers something to everyone;
buffets are great choices if you prioritize most of your guests. It also
ensures that your guests get whatever kind of food they prefer. Even though buffets
are more casual as compared to plated dinners, they are still practical and elegant

Cons

The logistics that are accompanied by buffets are very
tricky; you do not want a scenario where all the guests will be forming a line
at the same time. Servers are advised to discreetly stop at each and every
table so that the guests can know when it is their table’s turn

Family style

Pros

This style encourages conversations amongst the guests that
are on the table; this is made possible because when they pass the dishes, they
find an opportunity to interact. Guests can also help themselves with the
dishes that suit their tastes and there are never awkward moments whenever they
pass the dishes that they do not like

Cons

This style works perfectly for families; for guests, doing
an interaction over the table looks forced especially if they do not know each
other. It’s important to do a practical sitting arrangement if you are opting
for a family style serving

Table display appetizers

Pros

Table displays always give an incredible look; apart from
giving an incredible taste, table displays add visual impacts to the reception venue

Cons

Table displays require lots of small plates on most occasions;
you will therefore need a reliable place where you can dispose dishware after
the guests are through with the appetizers. Ensure that you converse with the
caterer beforehand so that you can coordinate the serving logistics

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