Options and Insights for Your Big Day
When it comes to catering, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each event is unique, and the style you choose for serving your meal can set the tone for your guests’ experience. Here’s a guide to some popular catering styles and insights to help you decide which one fits the vibe for your big day.
1. Buffet Style: Efficient and Crowd-Pleasing
Buffet-style catering is one of the most common choices for weddings and events, and for good reason. It’s efficient, allows guests to choose what they want, and keeps things casual yet organized.
• Double-Sided Line: To keep the crowd moving, we recommend setting up a double-sided buffet line. This keeps things moving quickly, minimizing wait times (and preventing your guests from getting hangry!).
• Table Release Options: Coordinating table releases with your caterer rather than leaving it to a DJ, ensures a smooth and efficient service flow. But a creative DJ can add a fun touch! At a wedding we recently catered, the DJ did a song quiz where the first to name a song had their table released. Everyone loved it! It kept the atmosphere light and fun and the wait times seemed non existent. Without an organized release, guests may all go at once, leading to longer lines and wait times.
• Pro Tip: Buffets give everyone flexibility in options and portion sizes, but they need enough space to avoid congestion around the serving area. Make sure to discuss your table arrangements with us and your venue coordinator. When your caterer has a strong relationship with the venue, both vendors are familiar with each other’s needs and requirements, avoiding any hiccups in the set up process. JMC works closely with some of the best venue’s in the Greater Pittsburgh area and we’ve built real, lasting relationships with their teams.
• Pro Tip #2 –Story Time: We always hope for sunny, beautiful days but that doesn’t always happen with Pittsburgh weather. When a buffet is supposed to be on the gorgeous, sprawling outside deck and the clouds decide it’s a great time to pour down rain, we pivot. We were catering a wedding in North Park everything was ready to go. The chairs were beautifully arranged outside with a decorated ceremony area and we had the buffet line was all set up inside. And then the rain came. PIVOT! Our team lifted the entire buffet table full of everything and walked it to an out of the way area, pulled all of the chairs indoors and into that space to dry them and set the area for a ceremony. Suffice it to say, have a backup plan if you’re going to be outside. JMC will do anything it takes to make your day amazing, no matter what happens.
2. Plated and Served Meals: Elegant and Structured
Want to add some serious bougie vibes? A plated, served meal instantly takes your event up a notch. This style involves a pre-set menu where guests indicate their choices ahead of time. Each person’s meal is then served directly to their seat.
• Seating Chart Required: With a plated meal, we work from your seating chart, so we know who gets what and where. We arrange the plates in our prep area based on that chart, so when it’s go time, everything’s ready to roll and the whole table is served at the same time.
• Meal Choices: Options typically include beef, chicken, fish, or vegetarian dishes, with kids’ meals available as well. You choose the specifics, like tenderloin or sirloin for the beef choice, and all of your favorite sides. JMC can also accommodate dietary needs with options like vegan risotto stuffed peppers or gluten-free selections.
• Additional Cost: A plated meal often requires more staff, which can bump up the cost. But if you’re aiming for an upscale, impressive experience where your guests can enjoy each other’s company without interruptions, it’s totally worth it. It definitely makes your guests feel valued and we see how special it makes them feel.
3. Family Style: Cozy and Communal
If you’re looking for an experience that feels personal and engaging, family style is where it’s at. It’s impressive, sure, but it’s so much more than just a meal. It’s real connection, and, in this fast paced world, that’s where memories are made.
• Shared Experience and Generosity: Family-style creates a cozy, communal space by placing plenty of food at each table for everyone to serve themselves and share with each another. It’s perfect for when you’re looking to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. It’s wild how many friendships start with ‘pass the broccoli’.
• Higher Food Cost: Family style requires more food. Every table receives enough food to feed everyone at their table. Since the food isn’t ordered individually, like with plated and served dinners, we have to assume every person at the table is going to eat the beef AND the chicken AND the fish AND everything else on the table. Are they? Probably not, but we need to make sure everyone can have everything without running out. This style is more expensive than buffet or plated and served meals, but the inviting atmosphere and the personal memories that are made at these kind of events are an absolute win.
Extra Touches for a Seamless Experience
• Special Considerations for Guests: Let us know where Grammy is sitting. Seriously! Tell us about any of your guests with mobility issues. We’ll make sure they have everything they need during dinner and check on them throughout the night. We’ll even plate and serve their food right to them if you’re having a buffet. We also keep an eye out ourselves for any guests who may need help carrying their plates back to the table.
• Babies and Kids: When we know where a kid is sitting, we can plan for them. When we set up a table that we know will have little ones, we set out extra napkins and swap the forks and knives with spoons. We don’t put any kid’s meals out on the buffet line, we bring them already plated to the table, so it helps to know what table they’ll be at.
• GRWM Snacks: Snackies are life. While you and the crew are getting ready, think about adding a personal fruit or veggie tray to your bridal suite if you’re getting married at your venue.
• Don’t Miss Out on Your Apps: After you share your first kiss, you’ll head off for pictures while your guests enjoy cocktail hour. When you get back, the odds of remaining appetizers aren’t great. We account for heavy app eaters, but the bacon wrapped water chestnuts are literally irresistible. If you ordered appetizers just for your guests, then nbd. But, if you’re a die hard stuffed mushroom fan, tell us! We’ll keep some hot and reserved just for you or put it in the fridge and send it with you at the end of the night.
No matter what style you’re going for, JMC’s got you. This is what we do. It’s our favorite time of the year. Watching all of these happy couples celebrate with the people they love is a really special thing and we feel privileged to be part of it. We’re here to help your dream come true with careful planning, extra attention to detail, and of course, delicious food.