Who knew there were so many choices when it comes to serving your guests on your wedding day?  I can honestly say I had no idea how many options existed until stepping through the doors of the catering company I now work for.  I walked into a world of seemingly endless service options!  There’s plated and buffet—which most everyone knows of,  and then there are Stations, Cocktail Style service, Russian service, Family Style, French service… the list goes on and on.  I wanted to take a minute and give you a brief education about two styles we are seeing more and more out here on the East Coast.

The first being Family Style Dining:
This option is a perfect for a bride looking to have a sit down dinner, but doesn’t want it to be super formal. This service helps guests feel “right at home,” and offers guests a variety of options. Food is prepared, placed on big beautiful platters (if you have a good caterer) and set on the table for guests to pass at their leisure—just as if you were sitting at the Sunday dinner table with your own family. This also allows guests to pick and choose what they would like to eat, without being as extensive as a buffet. This style also eliminates people having to choose “beef or chicken” beforehand which means less tracking and organizing for you!

The second and rapidly growing in popularity is Russian Style Service:
This style is popping up more and more out here. It’s Family Style Dining with a higher-end feel. Food is prepared and arranged just like Family Style, but the waitstaff does not leave the food on the tables. Instead, the staff walks around each table serving guests from a variety of food he/she has to offer. This requires a larger number of servers, and therefore will cost you a bit more than Family Style or a plated dinner, but it makes for an impressive service.
Don’t get overwhelmed with options. First decide what kind of feel you want guests to have on your wedding day. If you find yourself a good caterer, they will be able to point you in the direction that is right for you!

Photos by Molly Lorincz