Reception Dinner Styles: Which One is Right for You?

Planning your reception? Here are some common reception dinner styles to choose from and how to decide which one is right for you.

Choosing a reception dinner style is only one of the many decisions you’ll have to make when it comes to planning your wedding reception. Once you have your reception venue and catering squared away, the next step is to decide how you’d like the meal served. Many things should be taken into consideration when choosing a reception dinner style, such as the formality and head count of your wedding.

Here are some common reception dinner styles and some tips to help you decide which one is best for your big day:

Buffet—A buffet is one of the most popular reception dinner styles. Your guests have the freedom to stand in line and serve their own food, choosing from a variety of entree types. This is a great reception dinner style option for just about any kind of wedding, although it typically works best at small to mid-size weddings.

Sit-Down—A sit-down reception dinner style is ideal if you have a very large number of guests attending or if you’d like to make things comfortable and convenient for your guests. Servers will personally serve each guest at the proper time and will give them table-to-table service. This option is typically used at very formal weddings, but it’s also a nice reception dinner style for a small, intimate wedding reception.

Family Style—The family-style reception dinner is more popular than ever before, although it’s been a favorite of countless couples across many different cultures over many years. The family-style reception dinner style creates a friendly, laid-back atmosphere and encourages conversation amongst your guests.

No matter how large or small your reception will be, a family reception dinner style is a wonderful option. Picnic-style tables are often used, as are round, small tables similar to the kinds you’d find in a family dining room or kitchen nook. Consider this reception dinner style if you want a cozy reception with lots of conversation and laughs throughout the occasion!