A family style wedding dinner is a type of meal service where guests are served platters of food to share, rather than individual entrees. This style of dining is becoming increasingly popular as couples strive to create a more intimate and interactive experience for their guests. This is opposed to a more traditional sit-down dinner where each guest is served their own individual plate of food.
Family style dinners also tend to be less expensive than sit-down dinners, as there’s no need to hire waitstaff to individually plate and serve each guest.
If you’re considering having a family style wedding dinner, be sure to chat with your caterer about what options will be available and whether it’s the right fit for your big day.
Pros and Cons of a family style wedding dinner
When it comes to wedding dinner options, family style is becoming increasingly popular. A family style wedding dinner is a more casual, relaxed type of meal service where guests share platters of food family-style, instead of being served individually. This option is often seen as more intimate and interactive, as it encourages guests to mingle and chat while they eat.
There are definitely some advantages to opting for a family style dinner. For one, it can often be less expensive than other types of meal service. It’s also more conducive to mingling and socializing, which can be great for guests who may not know each other well. Additionally, this type of dinner often allows for more creativity when it comes to menu planning – you’re not limited to traditional sit-down entrées when you opt for family style.
That said, there are also a few potential drawbacks to consider. One is that it can sometimes be messy – think spilled food and drinks – so if you’re looking for a more elegant affair, this might not be the right choice for you. Additionally, because guests are sharing plates and utensils, it’s important to make sure that everyone is comfortable with that level of intimacy (some people may not be).
What to serve at a family style wedding dinner
When it comes to wedding dinners, there are a lot of different options to choose from. Family style is one option that allows everyone to sample a little bit of everything and enjoy a relaxed, comfortable meal together.
Italian food is a popular choice for family style wedding dinners as the Italian culture already lends itself to the idea. Your caterer can make big bowls of pasta and salad and place them in the middle of each table allowing the guests to serve themselves from the bowls.
Any type of food can theoretically work as a family style meal. You could also consider having a meat carving station and having all the sides served family style at the tables.
Family style wedding dinner ideas
If you’re looking for ideas to make your family style wedding dinner unique, look no further. Here are some great ideas to get you started:
- Incorporate your heritage into the meal. If your families are from different cultures, consider serving dishes that represent both cultures.
- Ask your caterer to prepare a “family style” meal, with platters of food that guests can help themselves to. This is a great way to encourage mingling and conversation at the dinner table.
- Serve comfort foods that everyone will enjoy. This could be anything from macaroni and cheese to pot roast.
At Eighty Eight Catering, we would be happy to talk to you about a family-style dinner at your wedding. Contact us to learn more.