If you want your wedding reception to feel warm, relaxed, and genuinely fun, family style service is worth a serious look. Instead of plated meals arriving one by one or guests filing through a buffet line, platters of food are set right on the table for everyone to pass and share. It encourages conversation, creates a communal atmosphere, and lets your menu take center stage.
Why Choose Family Style for Your Wedding Reception?
Family style dining sits comfortably between a formal plated dinner and a casual buffet. Guests stay seated, servers bring generous dishes to each table, and everyone helps themselves. The result feels intentional and communal without requiring the rigid formality of a multi-course plated meal.
For New Orleans weddings in particular, family style service is a natural fit. Louisiana food culture has always been about gathering around good food and sharing it freely. Dishes like shrimp and grits, Creole rice, and slow-roasted entrees are made to be passed around a table.
Tips for Planning a Family Style Dinner Wedding Reception
1. Choose Dishes That Travel Well
Family style service means food sits on the table for a while, so pick dishes that hold up. Braised and roasted proteins, hearty grain dishes, and room-temperature salads tend to work better than anything that needs to be served the moment it leaves the kitchen. At Elysian Events Catering, our wedding menus include options like chicken bonne femme and shrimp and grits, both of which are excellent candidates for family style presentation.
2. Plan for Generous Portions
When food is passed family style, guests tend to serve themselves more than once. Build your quantities with that in mind. A good caterer will help you calculate the right amounts, but as a general rule, plan for roughly 20 to 30 percent more food per person than you would for a plated meal. Abundance is part of the appeal here.
3. Consider Your Table Size and Layout
Family style works best when there’s enough room on the table for platters to sit without crowding out centerpieces, candles, or place settings. Talk to your caterer and venue coordinator early about table dimensions. Longer rectangular tables often work better than round tables for this style of service, though rounds can work with the right setup.
4. Keep the Menu Focused
With family style dining, more is not always better. A few well-chosen dishes that complement each other are more impressive than a sprawling spread with too many options competing for space. Think about one or two main dishes, a couple of sides, and a salad, and let each dish shine.
5. Account for Dietary Needs
Because guests are sharing from common platters, make sure there are clearly labeled options for guests with dietary restrictions. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free guests should all have something on the table they can enjoy freely. Elysian can accommodate special diets and will work with you to build a menu that takes care of everyone at the table.
6. Coordinate With Your Catering Team on Service Timing
Family style service has its own rhythm. Platters need to be replenished, tables cleared between courses, and servers need to be attentive without being intrusive. Work with your catering team to map out the service timeline and make sure there’s a clear plan for how the meal will flow from start to finish.
Popular Family Style Menu Choices at Elysian Weddings
Some of the most requested dishes for family style service at Elysian weddings include:
- Shrimp and grits with charred tomato cream
- Chicken bonne femme: game hen roasted with mushrooms, bacon, potatoes, garlic, and herbs
- Roasted oyster mushroom sauce piquant
You can explore the full selection on our Wedding Packages Menu page, or reach out to our team to talk through a custom menu built for your guest count and vision.
Elysian also offers a range of wedding catering packages that can be adapted for family style service. And if you want to add a memorable touch alongside the meal, consider pairing your dinner with an oyster bar during cocktail hour.
FAQ: Family Style Dinner Wedding Receptions
Is family style service more expensive than a buffet?
Not always. Family style service typically costs more than a basic buffet because it requires more active service staff to bring platters to tables and replenish them. Family style service also often requires larger quantities of food than buffet service, which increases the cost. However, it is often priced similarly to or less than a formal plated dinner. Your final cost depends on your menu, guest count, and how many service staff are required.
How does family style service work with a large wedding?
Family style works well at weddings of all sizes, including larger ones. The key is having enough staff to serve all tables efficiently and enough food prepared and ready to come out at the same time. A good catering team will coordinate the timing so no table is waiting while another is already eating.
What if some guests have dietary restrictions?
Elysian can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary needs. With family style service, the best approach is to make sure each table has clearly labeled options so guests with restrictions can identify what works for them without having to ask.
How far in advance should we book wedding catering?
Sooner rather than later. Booking your caterer well ahead of your event date is recommended because it gives you time to plan your menu, schedule a tasting, finalize service details, and address any logistics with your venue. Reach out today to check availability and get started.
Ready to plan your family style dinner wedding reception? We’re excited to hear all the details. Get in touch!
