Are buffets best for 4 year old parties?

[CheeringBell]

I'm planning a birthday party for my 4 year old DD - an octonauts theme. We are hoping to have it in a marquee in the garden - 12 kids or so. Since we don't have enough small tables and chairs I thought the kids could have their food picnic style on the floor. I'm not sure whether to have a buffet table, which will be our dinning room table and possibly to high for some of them to reach or to make individual picnic packs for them. I'm not sure if the packs would work with the fussy eaters (probably most of them).

Has anyone done anything similar or think buffets are the way to go?

Thanks

I think that 4 year olds will kick each others drinks over and put their feet in their sandwiches if they are sitting on the floor.

If you don't have enough tables, would you consider individual lunchboxes (already made up) and something to sit on - chests, trunks, bales? Or borrow some childsized tables and chairs - I've taken mine to friends' houses before for this reason.

Rather than make up a buffet which is always more work than you think I did hotdogs for my 4yos party, buns already split in advance, and a bottle of ketchup at the ready, job done! It was really easy, went down well and though we were sat at a table I think it would work if seated on the floor too. Also drinks in either those cups that you stick a straw through the top (can buy a 24 pk really cheaply from supermarkets and some don't even have nasties in ) or fruit shoot style bottles that you can put name labels on to prevent mixups. Either of these will mostly prevent spills.

Thanks for your suggestions. I could hire some tables and chairs from my local toddler group but can't work out how to get them home (bit tricky in my humble ford KA). I like the idea of bales - again it's the transport issue.

I would love to do hot dogs - buffets can be a lot of work, but DD doesn't like sausages or burgers...maybe fish fingers would that work? I have spotted some cardboard party food bags on amazon which might work.

Fruit shoots - excellent idea.