Matt and Stephanie, June 2, 2012

Matt and Stephanie were married on a beautiful June day in Viera, Florida at the Duran Golf Club www.durangolf.com which was a different scenario than their rehearsal which took place 2 days prior in an evening full of storms (wish we had photos of that!). Glad the skies turned to our favor :)

Not only were Matt and Stephanie wonderful to work with but her parents were a planners dream! We love when the parents are so involved (in a good way! ;)) and play such a part in their childs big day. Stephanies mom Lisa did every DIY in the book I think and it all turned out so beautifully!

Her great team of vendors included the wonderful Rev. Ann Fuller with Brevard Ministries www.brevardminister.com, beautiful ceremony and personal flowers from the amazing Link at Eau Gallie Florist  www.eaugallieflorist.com and the party kept going all night long with the best, DJ Shane www.djshaneentertainment.com. Indica Woodruff captured the beauty of it all as always! www.indicawoodruffphotography.com Making sure you have an all star team for your big day is essential in making your day the best it can be!

Absolutely love this moment!

Such a wonderful couple!!!

Tasted as good as it looks! I love when vendors get meals and dessert!

Such a fun group! I think all....ok 90% of the bridal party and guests were Publix employees :) Gotta love it!

Plated vs. Buffet, that is the question!

As you begin embarking on the journey of planning your wedding, you’ll quickly realize that choosing your vendors are a crucial part of your planning process. Whether you’ve already chosen a venue for your reception, or you’re still sorting those details out, one important thing you’ll want to consider is your food. Food is one of the most talked about aspects of every wedding, so choose carefully! Below we’ll explain some of the things to consider when choosing between a sit down, plated meal versus a buffet style service.

First, you’ll want to consider your budget. Generally a plated meal is more expensive than a buffet meal because of the amount of staff that is required for a seated meal versus a buffet station. However, this isn’t always the case. Buffets give your guests more variety and also the chance for them to get second helpings, so the options you choose can quickly add up if you choose expensive entrees. We suggest getting prices for both options and seeing what fits your budget needs the best.

Second, think about the demographic, most importantly age, of your guests. Are the majority of your guests older family members that may have trouble navigating around a buffet station? Are there going to be a lot of little children invited? If so, a sit down dinner may work better for your guests. Movement is a big part of choosing a buffet, so ensure that your guests are able (and willing!) to get up and wait in line for their food and carry their own plates. If you have a nice variety, or the majority of your guests are middle aged, you should have no trouble choosing a buffet.

Third, think about the formality of your wedding. Generally, more formal affairs consist of a sit down meal with multiple courses. If you are going for a less formal wedding, a buffet tends to give off a more casual, laid back feel.

Along with the formality of the style of food service itself, choosing between a sit down and buffet style also determines the amount of interaction that your guests will have. Buffet styles allow more room for socializing and mingling amongst guests (as they are waiting in line for food). Buffets feel less rigid and are a great option if you want your guests to eat everything at once, as opposed to sitting down through an appetizer, salad, and entrée course. Sit down meals, because they tend to feel more formal, generally keep all of the guests at their seats throughout the course of the meal and only allow interaction between the guests at their table.

There are other options besides plated and buffet but we won't overwhelm you just yet! Remember there is no right or wrong option, it’s all about choosing what works best for YOU and your wedding.

 Happy Planning!
-Brittany