Buffet food question

[Sweetchocolatecandy]

We are getting married in October and are planning buffet food on the evening. How much buffet food would we need for approximately 26 people (20 adults and 6 children)? Sorry, we’ve never organised a buffet before and the venue have advised that any food left over would need to go in the bin so we don’t want to order too much! Is it a general rule that we cater for 2/3 of the guests or would you not risk it and over cater? TIA

always overcater, IMO.

Otherwise you get what happens at our friends' wedding (and DH's 50th) and the first few greedy fuckers leap up to the table at a rate of knots and snaffle all the food so that there is not even a single slice of roast beef left for the final 12 diners.

[bitter/not bitter]

People ALWAYS go fucking nuts at buffets.

Oh and ask the venue if they will make up doggy bags. I have literally never been to a buffet of any note where there was leftover food. Particularly if you have dancing and people can come back to graze.

i would overcater than undercater its always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

iv been at weddings and the buffet has been completly devoured and i have been at an engagement party when they had extremely undercatered and people ended up with nothing to eat.

@3GreenPullups good point, thank you. We do have some guests coming that are quite big eaters too so that makes sense!

Not sure if the evening buffet is in addition to an earlier meal ie for evening guests? Or is the main catering?

If the former bear in mind that some all-day guests will eat from the evening buffet as well!

Don't forget that meat eater eat the veggie options but not the other way round

@Wowthatsalot

Don't forget that meat eater eat the veggie options but not the other way round

Oh that is so true. DH is vegetarian and all too often is left with some baguette and green salad because the good stuff has gone.

Always overcater. People serve themselves really big portions at buffets. Your intentions of having no waste are great but there will be several people who will get a bit of everything and don't mind leaving half a plate unfinished.
Hide Hand the vegan/dairy free/gluten free options directly to people who need these. Or have enough for all 26 .

Stagger the putting out of the food a bit, especially the vegetarian or vegan items, to foil those who greedily pile their plates with everything as soon as the buffet opens.

Are they doing the food? If they are talk to them about it,they will surely have a better idea ? They'll be able to advise as they will know what size portions etc they are.

Oh that is so true. DH is vegetarian and all too often is left with some baguette and green salad because the good stuff has gone

Well of course because it's just food. If you have to be told that everyone will eat things like cheese sandwiches and onion bhajis and to supply enough of these for everyone to have them then you shouldn't be in the business of catering.

I would advise against too many options. If you have 4 meats, 3 types of fish, quiches, pizzas, 8 different salads, 4 types of bread etc a lot of people will have a bit of everything and end up with a food mountain. By focusing on having fewer good quality dishes people will enjoy it just as much and take far more sensible portions

Good advice from AtleastitsnotMonday.

If you can it's actually better to have staff handing out trays of canapés. People are less likely to be greedy duckers then.