The Pros of Plated, Family Style, and Buffet Meals

Let’s face it-the modern bride has a lot on her mind: the venue, area scheme, the flowers, the marriage ceremony, the music, etc. All of this and more on top of working her nine-to-five job. But one growing trend that has made the bride’s life easier as it pertains to planning the big day is the option to have a buffet-style wedding reception. It’s true-fifty percent of couples choose a buffet-style reception, according to Wedding Wire.

Cost & Choice
For many couples, the cost is a sizable element of wedding decisions. One of many ways couples try to save money is on a buffet-style reception. Though you’ll order the same amount of food, you may well be in a position to hire less additional help beyond your catering team to clean up the meal. However, speak to your catering coordinator to see how they can work within your budget as many factors like the size of the reception will determine the price.

Along with the cost, many couples are worried about choice. Once you select a buffet-style wedding instead of a sit-down meal or family-style, your guests will have more variety in their entree selections. Which is great for guests with different dietary needs.

So if you’ve been looking up Golden Corral menu prices today, here are some things you ought to know about this restaurant chain. Below are the latest Golden Corral prices. (DINE-IN MENU)

ITEM	PRICE
Adults
Breakfast
Saturday & Sunday (Open – 11 A.M.)	$10.49/person
Lunch
Monday thru Saturday (Open – 4 P.M.) – Beverage Not Included	$10.29/person
Adult Dinner
Beverage Not Included
Monday thru Thursday (4 P.M. – Close)	$14.99/person
Friday & Saturday after 4 P.M.	$14.99/person
Sunday after 11 A.M.	$14.99/person
Children
Includes Beverage
3 & Under (Free)	$0.00/child
Ages 4-8	$6.99/child
Ages 9-12	$7.99/child
Dinner
3 & Under (Free)	$0.00/child
Ages 4-8	$7.99/child
Ages 9-12	$8.99/child
Seniors
Breakfast
Saturday & Sunday (Open to 11 A.M.) – Ages 60 & Over.	$9.99/person
Lunch
Monday thru Saturday (Open – 4 P.M.) – Ages 60 & Over, Does Not Include Beverage	$9.79/person
Senior Dinner
Beverage Not Included
Monday thru Thursday (4 P.M. – Close)	$13.99/person
Friday & Saturday after 4 P.M.	$13.99//person
Sunday after 11 A.M.	$13.99//person
Senior Early Bird Special (Mon. thru Fri. from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M.) – Includes Beverage	$8.99/person
To Go
Breakfast	$6.99/pound
Lunch (Monday thru Friday)	$6.49/pound
Dinner (Monday thru Friday & all day Saturday & Sunday)	$8.49/pound

Disclaimer: Prices shown above have been sourced from Golden Corral located at 2155 Riverside Pkwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30043. They may not cover recent price changes. Contact the restaurant directly to get the latest prices and updates.

Below are the latest Golden Corral prices. (TAKEOUT MENU)

Not only does the buffet-style wedding allow your guests to have a variety of menu items, it also allows your friends and family to mix and mingle when they grab a plate. The key to having the buffet go smoothly in the reception is to have attendants keep tables and lines moving to ensure everyone has a chance to eat before dancing begins.

Display
Decorating for your wedding day is stressful-especially if you will be the DIY bride taking it on yourself. But many couples don’t realize your buffet can become part of the wedding decor. Consider using elegant chafing dishes, incorporating flowers, and decorative food cards to highlight the top features of each dish.

So, you have a major event coming up next year. Perhaps it’s a holiday soiree or maybe a business luncheon or possibly a wedding. And if there’s to be food involved, there’s without doubt that you’ve been thinking about the best options for most of your meal.

When it comes to serving food at your event, you’ll have lots of options to choose from. Many hosts are absolutely set on having a served, plated meal. That’s often the number 1 choice for a very formal event. Another option is to serve your main meal “family-style”, which include putting large bowls and platters on the table for all to share. That can be a good option, depending on your food choices, and could be very economical as well.

And then there’s the buffet meal. Many hosts treat this as only a choice for a more laid-back event, but the truth is that buffet foods can be quite lovely and may offer food that is simply as scrumptious as what is served at a sit-down dinner. In addition there are a number of other wonderful perks associated with buffet catering and choosing this type of meal for your event.

Variety – With buffet catering, you may offer more foods and a greater variety of items as well. Buffets often include several entrée choices as well as many sides, salads, and more. As well as for dessert, buffet caterers provides an enormous spread of sweets that guests will love much more than that single ice cream parfait or slice of cheesecake. In addition, variety means there’s likely to be something everyone likes, this means less wasted food.
Portion options – With a plated meal, everyone provides the same amount of food, no matter their appetites. With a buffet option, those with small appetites might take smaller portions while those who enjoy eating can load up on their favorites. Again, the choice to regulate one’s portion results in less waste.
Dietary restrictions – Buffets are a fairly easy way to offer options to those with particular dietary restrictions. For example, most caterers will suggest that you have several vegetarian options as part of your choices and you will probably even want to include something like a gluten-free pasta and some gluten-free desserts on your buffet. In this manner, everyone can enjoy their meals together and no person will be waiting for their special plated vegetarian entrée to arrive.
Guests can mingle – Which has a buffet meal, guests do indeed have to get out of these seats to get their food. Some individuals might groan a bit about that, but it surely is nice for your guests to be able to meet others at the buffet tables and enjoy a chance to chat for a bit before they return to their assigned table.
Cost – In many cases, the price of a buffet meal is less than that of a sit-down option. For many who are hosting large events, that’s one of the main considerations, so pricing should be discussed with your selected caterer before you make a final decision about meal styles and food selections.
A little bit of both

If you’re not totally sold on the buffet option for your wedding, party, or other event, maybe you’ll want to consider a meal it really is a blend of plated meal and buffet. You might think about having plated salads on the tables for your guests at the start of the meal and then letting them partake of the buffet for their entrees and sides. Afterwards, you can do a plated dessert if you prefer, or give you a wonderful sweets spread buffet-style for your friends to enjoy.

Consult your caterer
Your caterer provides you with a host of options for buffet catering, from very “fancy” foods for weddings and formal parties to options that are much more casual, including barbecue selections. Buffets are also available for breakfast and lunch events and can be a very cost-effective way to feed a huge number of individuals at meetings or conferences.