Buffet

[bnd94]

Have any of you been to a wedding with a buffet dinner? What were the dishes that they had? Please list any and all of your idea. Since we are making our own food I would like as long as possible to look for recipes and try them out before hand. I don't want to get too fancy, It's gotta be something I can make for a reasonable price. Our wedding is in the fall so I would like more hot dishes but just can't think of anymore :bbconfused: Oh yeah if you can share your favorite recipe, that would be greatly appreciated too.

Here are some that I thought of:
lasagna,
rolls,
veggie platters,
cheese platters
devilled eggs


Also our reception starts at 6. Should we eat soon after? like 6:30?

Thanks in advance ladies. I know you will all have great suggestions.

[CindySue]

1st...I would stick with dishes that are along the same lines as each otheor compliment each other. You are doing that it looks like. You could pick a theme...
Italian - lasagna, spegetti, garlic bread....
Mexican - tacos, enchiladas, nachos....
Chinese - um......eggrolls?.......
etc.
I ve been to a couple of buffets that were themed and were great. i have also been to a couple that just had a variety of EVERYTHING and I didnt think they were so great. I mean I dont like it when spegetti sauce dribbles onto my taco. Even if its potluck, you can say you are having an Italian potluck, a mexican pot luck, etc.

[Jenn060306]

Our reception begins at 5pm with cocktails, then at 6-630 we are to arrive do the reception line and hope to have dinner for 630-7pm. I think starting it at 630ish wouldn't be bad. That way you've got lots of time for speaches and dancing :D

At my FSiL's wedding there was a beef dish, a chicken dish, a pasta dish i think it was penne with tomato sauce, mixed veggies, potatoes, and 2 salads a garden and a ceaser
At my FMiL's wedding we had beef, mini roasted potatoes, mixed veggies, salad, buns.

Since you're doing it all yourself do things that can be re-heated nicely like rice, mixed veggies are easy to cook on the day of, a pasta is easy as well. For salads do a garden with the dressing on the side. Without the dressing on it i don't think it will get soagy so quick. And if you're going to have tomatoes in it use a cherry or grape tomatoe. Also you could have a potatoe salad. They are easy to make in advance and are usually better when they've had time to mix together for a day.
Hope this helps!

[CarlosHoney]

Soup, Artichoke and Spinach Dip, Chicken Wings, Stuffed Mushrooms, ETC.

We're thinking about doing a sit down dinner instead if we can get it for about the same price. If not, then we're going to have sort of a buffet of hors' devours. I think that soup would be especially good since it's going to be colder out, and you could have the soup ready to go when everyone gets there as sort of an appetieser.

If I can think of anything else, I'll let ya' know!! :bbmrgreen:

[rainbowtreat]

My first wedding my ex-MIL did our food, we had it set up as buffet. She made thign slike meat balls, and pasta salads, crackers and cheese, and I know there was more just can't think of it all. 8 yrs ago. I can't remember what I ate yesterday lol forget about 8 yrs ago even if it was my wedding lol.

[usahgrad]

Just a forewarning...pasta does not do well on buffets...it dries out and gets colder faster than anything else.

We'll be having a buffet with chicken, meatballs, potatoes, carrots, green beans, and pasta salad. We'll also have lots of hors or'deurves. I'm trying to stick with healthier things...especially since the chicken ust drips grease...it's really good though! We had it the other night for dinner and I realized that I think we need to buy more napkins!

Do you have Gordon's Food Service around you? They are GREAT for buffets! We're getting everything but the chicken and potatoes there for 200 people for under $200! Sam's Club, Costco, or BJ's has some good larger size prices too! Good luck!

[LaceyinPgh]

Ok, here is what I would do.

I would order fried or roasted chicken from a place like Walmart or Costco. Trust me, it is only going to be a few dollars more and way easier that making your own.

Don't do lasagna, it is a pain to make, do a heavy pasta like rigatoni or ziti. If you look, they have ones that you don't even need to boil. You just mix them with sauce (use extra so it doesn't get too dry). Then top with loads of mozzarella cheese, cover and bake in disposable pans. The extra suace and cheese will prevent it from drying too much. (Kelli has a good point there)

Frozen or canned veggies are good. Either do a mix or do two choices (almost everyone likes green beans and corn). I think you can figure the prep out on those on your own.

Do some roasted red potatoes. Either buy the little ones in bulk from a Sam's Club type place or buy the bigger potatoes and cut then. Drizzle them with olive oil and some butter and sprinkle with lots of salt and Italian seasoning blend. Just bake them covered until they are tender.

Big bags of ready made salad and a couple dressing choices are good. To dress them up throw in some grape tomatoes and black olives. Made some red onion slices through it. One big red onion should do. If you really want to splurge a jar of pepperocinis

If you want a second meat choice then I would suggest seeing if you could get some of those heat and serve roasted pork loins or beef roasts. When you order (if you order) the chicken see what they can hook you up with. If not, a couple of hams will be easy enough to do. You just toss them in the oven and let them heat through. The bonus with hams is you could put out buns for some ham sandwiches as the evening went on.

[WebLady]

The wedding I am working with now is having 'heavy hors d'oeuvres'

2 Hot meats - chicken fingers and cocktail meatballs

2 Cold meats - chicken salad and rolled ham and turkey

Mini quiche tray

Assorted bread basket

Veggie tray with ranch dip

Assorted cheese tray (cubes and slices)

Fruit tray

I have also seen buffet dinner set ups on many occasions. Here is an idea ...

Carved Roast beef

Carved Roast chicken or turkey

Green bean or broccoli casserole

pasta salad?

Roasted red new potatoes

Green garden salad

Bread basket

:goodluck: Now I am :hungry: ;)