Keep track of what you’re spending by keeping all of the receipts spent on the buffet together. Create a budget chart, either on a sheet of paper or in a computer program, such as Excel or Microsoft Word.
Arranging your table in advance will ensure that you are not making last-minute decisions and preparations. If you have more time, consider drawing the set-up on a sheet of paper. Choose the one that you like the best, then recreate it using your table and dishes.
If your location has multiple rooms, consider serving the food and drinks in one room, then having the seating in another room.
An eight-foot table will hold enough food for twenty to thirty people. You will need to put multiple tables together if you are having more people than that over. Make sure that you have a set of serving spoons and tongs for each dish–one for each side of the table.
This minimizes the potential for spills. This is another way to ensure that your guests can maneuver the lines with ease. Consider having separate tables for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Water should be served at its own table. Depending on how many guests you have, you may want to have multiple pitches. This way, your guests aren’t waiting in line.
Keep the types of food as separated as possible. For example, keep dessert far from the first course of the meal. If you will have vegetarian and/or vegan options, it might be a good idea to keep those separate from the non-vegetarian and non-vegan tables. Consider having a smaller table set aside for appetizers. You can place this closer to the wine or champagne table, even.
If you wished you had room to set a plate down momentarily, leave enough extra space on the buffet table for people to do so. If you wished you had the option of tasting the food first, leave toothpicks or little spoons next to the dishes for your guests so that they can try the food. If you ran into issues with trash, consider setting up more trash bins and making them more noticeable so that guests can easily spot them.
Decide on a color or a theme when putting out everything on the table. This will bring the look of the table together and make the meal look more appealing. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to decorations. Rather than choosing lots of colors and patterns, stick with just one or two solid colors instead. Many catering places will offer things like plates, cups, and silverware. Rental places for tables and chairs will sometimes have tablecloths that you can borrow as well.
Be sure to put condiments near the type of food they belong with. If you have separate tables for things like appetizers and desserts, you will need to add tables for plates near them as well.
Make sure you put out all types of silverware that will be needed. For example, don’t forget spoons if there will be soup.
Make sure the labels are written in bold, large, and clear writing that all guests will be able to read with ease. Typed labels will be more legible than handwritten labels. If a food contains a common allergen, such as peanuts, it would be a good idea to add a warning label as well, such as: Contains Peanuts. If you know that some of your guests are vegetarian or vegan, it would be nice to mention which dishes contain meat or dairy.
You can rarely go wrong by including a vegetable and fruit tray. Make sure to put out a vegetarian or vegan option.
Fruits that contain a lot of water are great for summer buffets, like watermelon. Rich foods, like cheesy mash potatoes, are good for winter meals.
You can send out a list of ideas for dishes and ask for feedback a week or two before the buffet. Be sure to have a variety of food. Don’t have six or eight all-meat items. Include dishes with vegetables and grains in them as well. If you’ll be serving meat, try to have two different choices, such as chicken and fish, rather than two chicken dishes.
Put out chafing dishes to keep foods hot, and ice platters to keep food cold.
Consider switching foods during the course of the buffet. If the carrots aren’t being eaten enough, switch them out with a food that is going fast. Some foods become unappetizing the longer they sit. For example, if the salad is starting to look slimy or the casserole is congealing, switch it out! Try to add in a little variety if you’re serving across multiple buffet tables. [16] X Expert Source Natasha MillerEvent Planner & CEO, Entire Productions Expert Interview. 20 April 2021.
If you’re having a buffet for a holiday, choose decorations that correspond with that holiday. Saint Patrick’s Day decorations could be green, white, and gold. A Fourth of July buffet can be decked out in red, white, and blue. If you really want candles, consider LED or battery-operated candles instead. They last longer and you don’t have to worry about fire hazards. Don’t get too carried away with the decorations. A scatter of confetti is better than large ornaments and figures that take up too much space. If you want to have a statement decoration, consider putting it on a table that won’t be frequented, such as the cake table or drinks table.
