PLATED WEDDING DINNERS
Plated dinners for weddings aren’t as common as you’d think—but they’re often more appealing to brides who have the budget to offer it to their guests. In the 16 years we’ve been catering weddings, only about 20% of our clients even request a plated dinner proposal. It’s not entirely clear whether that’s because of perceived cost differences or simply based on what they’ve seen at other weddings.
It’s true that plated dinners can be more expensive—and there’s a good reason for that. The biggest factor is labor. On-site production for a plated meal is labor intensive, which significantly raises our costs. On the other hand, we’re able to control food costs more precisely by plating exact portions but that savings usually doesn’t offset the added labor.
One way to keep the price in check is to limit menu variations and consider entrées that are more affordable than, say, filet mignon or halibut. Our team can beautifully plate nearly any dish we currently offer for buffet service just because it’s not served family style doesn’t mean it can’t be impressive.
Surf N Turf!
Iron skillet, butter And herb basted tenderloin, and our roasted garlic cream potatoes served with sautéed asparagus and halibut steaks with a lemon dill cream. .
A Valentine’s Day wedding!
Champagne chicken with sautéed asparagus creamy shallot and parmesan risotto with toasted pecans and rosemary garlic focaccia.
Take our Tuscan Stuffed Chicken Rollatini, for example filled with mozzarella, green olive, and spinach, wrapped in prosciutto, and served with roasted cauliflower mash and sautéed asparagus. Or pasta dishes like tagliatelle or spaghetti, which don’t hold well on a buffet but are perfect for a plated service and often more affordable.
Homemade baguette and Caprese salad
The perfect salad for a plated meal at your wedding!
As a chef, I prefer a plated meal because although we focus on the quality of ingredients and the technique in bringing a beautiful dish to your guests, a buffet’s display is more about the decor than the art on the plate. It feels more like a restaurant setting as well which coming from the restaurant industry for many years before starting my catering business, just makes it feel more nostalgic.
For your guests, it’s always a treat to be served at the table and see a beautiful presentation. Starting with a salad and bread with butter gives them something to enjoy before the main arrives. And look—no one’s going to complain about a buffet if the food is great. But if your budget allows for a plated dinner? We love doing them, and we encourage it.
Come schedule a personalized tasting of your ideal wedding dish—plated just the way your guests will experience it.
Tastings are typically available Tuesday through Thursday, 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM, and we’re happy to work out another time if needed.
Chef Christopher Robert - Catering AZ
(480) 420-0007
