We love offering Family Style Service as one of the catering options for our clients. This style very popular for rehearsal dinner but is becoming more and more popular for both weddings and corporate events.
What is Family Style Service?
Family Style Service, for the most part, is exactly what it sounds like. The same as you would serve family and friends if you invited them to your home for dinner.
We generally prefer to serve a plated first course to get guests settled in and comfortable. The first course is followed by platters of your selected entrees, side dishes, condiments, and rolls that are placed on each guest table.
Guests are able to serve themselves, take what they enjoy, pass on other things and share the platters with those around them. We provide enough on each platter so no one feels like they are taking the last piece and we will bring more as needed.
This style of service really promotes guest interaction and conversation, not only about the foods people are passing but about themselves and the event too.
What Type Event Does This Service Work Best For?
Family Style Service is amazing for a rehearsal dinner where there is not a lot going on. Couples really want people from different segments of their life to get to know each other.
A corporate luncheon or a networking event will also work exceptionally well with Family Style Service. A working lunch with a presenter is another option for this style of service; just allow a little time for people to pass everything and start eating before the presentation begins.
For a wedding, offering Family Style dining can work really well as long as you know your mix of guests and do a little prior planning.
When Would Family Style Service Not Be a Good Choice?
Family Style Service might not be the best option if you have a lot of wedding guests who tend to be up and moving around; either dancing mingling or at the bar. If half the table is gone, passing food around the table becomes very difficult and the food will get cold. The same would apply to doing toasts or parent dances in the middle of dinner.
We love this style of service for showcasing our local, Florida Fresh ingredients. Talk to our Catering Events Managers today to find about Family Style Service for your upcoming event.