Buffet vs Plated Wedding Dinner in Los Angeles: Cost and How to Choose
For a Los Angeles wedding catered by us, a buffet dinner is $155 to $210 per guest and a five course plated dinner is $295 to $350, depending on guest count. Family style sits between them at $195 to $250. Every rate is all in: the kitchen team, dishwasher, plates, cutlery, linen napkins, delivery, setup, collection and gratuity. Chefs cook on site, and the minimum is 50 guests.
Price per guest by guest count
The price per guest falls as the guest count rises.
50 to 99 guests: buffet $210, family style $250, plated $350
100 to 149 guests: buffet $175, family style $215, plated $315
150 to 199 guests: buffet $165, family style $205, plated $305
200 to 249 guests: buffet $160, family style $200, plated $300
250 guests or more: buffet $155, family style $195, plated $295
What the difference costs at 120 guests
Buffet: 120 x $175 = $21,000
Family style: 120 x $215 = $25,800
Plated: 120 x $315 = $37,800
At 120 guests, plated costs $16,800 more than a buffet, or $140 more per guest. All three are before 9.75% sales tax on food. Servers for clearing, water and wine are booked by the hour at $79, and a plated dinner needs more of them than a buffet. We size the floor team to your menu and room on the quote.
When a buffet is the right call
You want to spend less per guest, or put the money into the bar or the band.
Guests like to choose what they eat and how much.
You have a long dietary list. Labelled dishes let guests pick for themselves.
The reception is relaxed and the timeline is loose.
The trade off: tables go up in turns, so the last table eats well after the first, and lines can form. Your coordinator releases tables one at a time to keep it moving.
When plated is the right call
The wedding is formal and you want every guest served at the table.
You want everyone eating at the same time, which keeps toasts and the first dance on schedule.
You want portions and presentation the same on every plate.
The trade off: it is the most expensive format and needs the most servers. Guests choose their main course in advance, so collect it on the RSVP and mark it on the escort cards.
Family style: the middle option
Shared platters go to each table and guests pass them round. Everyone eats at once, as with plated, and guests still choose what goes on their plate, as with a buffet. Tables need room for the platters, so check the layout with your venue.
Before you decide
The kitchen. Many estates, ranches and gardens have no catering kitchen. We bring a portable one at $2,550 per station, one station per 100 guests.
Dietary needs. Send the list with your guest count and the menu is built around it, whichever format you choose.
The bar. Bar packages start at $19 a guest. See wedding bartenders in Los Angeles.
Full rates are on our event catering page. To price your wedding, get your price in two minutes or send us the details.
