Whether you’re planning a wedding reception for 400 people or a small corporate dinner with your closest team members, you will be faced with a choice: a plated meal or buffet-style food stations. The decision will depend on your goals and the overall atmosphere of your private party. Below are some important considerations to bear in mind when making this decision.

Plated Dinners

A plated dinner at your private party typically signifies a formal event. Guests can stay seated at their tables and are not tasked with carrying their plates, making this an ideal choice for a gathering where older people or folks with mobility issues are in attendance. Another benefit of plated dinners is that every guest is served the same, specific portion of the meal, which cannot be guaranteed with a buffet. However, with a plated dinner, scheduling is important; all attendees will need to be in their seats at an appointed time, so the food can be served when it is hot and fresh.

Food Stations

Food stations are excellent for a relaxed private party. Guests can get up and mingle with one another as they make their way through the buffet line; if you're hosting a corporate networking event, this socialization time can be crucial. Since attendees are serving themselves, the timeline is more relaxed than it is for a plated dinner, and the food is kept hot by heating devices at each station. Because everyone is serving themselves, some will take larger portions than others. However, this often evens out because there will always be guests who choose smaller portions for themselves.

Understanding the differences between plated meals and buffet food stations can help you better determine which is the right choice for your private party. Makoy Center offers both options at their event venue, which has been serving the Franklin County, OH, area for over three decades. The event space accommodates up to 400 people and is the perfect setting for weddings, corporate gatherings, private parties, and trade shows. Call (614) 777-1211 to schedule a tour, and visit their website to see pictures of the venue.