When planning and coordinating your events, it is a point of pride for you to take every specific detail into account. As an event planner, your reputation in the industry is at stake, and you may have guests who may be willing clients in the future, if you impress them enough. If you have enough confidence in your skills as an events planner, then this should be no problem.
However, there might be some areas that you have overlooked in your planning. One of these areas is the dining options in your event. While it seems like a no-brainer, it’s a pretty important part of your event planning. The type of dining option you offer at your event should match the kind of event you’re holding, whether it’s a formal, or a casual event.
In addition to that, you should also take into careful consideration who is going to be dining at your event. The demographic that is present at your event should be one of the things that you should take into consideration. Here is a breakdown on a buffet style of dining at your events versus a sit-down plated style.
Buffet
Buffet style meals are typically served during functions where a large number of people are involved, and if it’s a more casual affair. Some people prefer buffets over plated meals because there is more variety in a buffet. It makes it easier for event planners to order different types of meals to cater to attendees’ different dietary preferences.
This helps guarantee that everyone will enjoy themselves during the meal. However, as mentioned, buffets are more popular with events where there is a more casual tone to it. Events like parties and work events are great for buffets because the meal is not the focus of the event itself.
This would not do well for events that have guests that might have difficulty maneuvering around large groups of people, like an older demographic of attendees.
Plated
Plated meals, or sit-down meals are better suited to formal events, like fundraisers and awards shows. The sit-down dinner style is more suited to the formal tone of the events because servers bring the food to the attendees’ tables, which makes everything more organized and low-key.
This is opposed to the hustle and bustle of a buffet service. It also makes it easier for attendees to talk among each other without having to get up to serve themselves. However, the disadvantage of using a plated service style for your planned events is the limited selection of meals.
This means that you have to contact attendees ahead of time to take down any dietary preferences, which makes things a little more difficult if attendees do not respond accordingly.