Because they remind you of being a child and gathering around the table for the most cherished time of day, dinner time. Family-style meals consist of having a few different entree platters and a few side dishes dropped in the middle of each table and then each guest serving themselves from these communal dishes. Essentially this dining style combines the best part of a plated meal with that of the buffet. Guests don’t have to get up from their seats to get their food but still get some options on what they choose and how much they take. Here are a few things to consider when deciding if this style of dining is right for your wedding:

Timing is a major PRO of Family-style dining. All of the food will be dropped at each table at (or nearly at) simultaneously which means everyone can start eating at the same time. Once food hits the table guests can then begin serving themselves immediately and directly from their seats. This totally beats waiting in long buffet lines or waiting for the next course to make its way back around to your table!

Family style can be served at any type of seating arrangement, but we think why not stick with the theme of the dining experience and go for long family-style tables. Just like sitting at the dinner table at home. Ironically these long tables create a real intimate feel and totally get your guests talking and all feeling a little more involved in the festivities. The sharing of dishes like this at a table totally encourages engagement and memorable conversations between your guests. We recommend family-style dining for lower guest count weddings. The intimate size of the guest list will fit perfectly with the intimate style of the dining.

One major thing to consider when opting for Family-style dining is the space needed on the tables to drop all the platters of food. If your wedding vision includes tons of table decor: big/multiple centerpieces, lots of candles, garlands, etc, that take up most of the table space you’re going to run into some issues come dinner time. If you want lots of table decor AND a family-style dinner discuss with your coordinator or the serving staff ahead of time how you will make room or remove some of the decor during dining.

Of course, you can have family-style dining for a group of any size, it’s your wedding and anything is possible! BUT we recommend this for smaller groups, especially if your goal is the more intimate one big family sitting down together for dinner vibe.

This may not be the most cost-effective dining style, but it also won’t break your budget. We would say it falls right between buffet and plated somewhere. Family style often requires more waitstaff than buffet style however even with making enough to ensure nothing runs out it still usually ends up coming in less than a plated meal per head.

So, what do you think?! Is family-style dining for you?

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