Wedding Day Decision: Better Choice Buffet of Sit Down Dinner?

Wedding Day Decision: Buffet or Sit down Dinner?

            It’s hard to comprehend the how many decisions one has to make to finalize the details of your wedding day.  The list goes on and on…from seating charts to party favors, these minor details we agonize over seem to be forgotten in a moment as the whirlwind of your wedding day flashes by.  One choice sets the tone for the evening and will make it a night to remember or forget.  Food, is the obvious choice, often overlooked can make or break a wedding.  If the food is great your guests will marvel for months.  If your caterer does a poor job, it can quite possibly ruin everyone’s night. 

         Not every wedding has a cocktail hour before the reception.  For most this is an easy situation to exceed expectations.  Your guests are itching to have a drink and a snack, break free from the confinement of church and begin the fun festivities of the evening.  A more difficult decision that couples debate over is whether to have a buffet or sit down dinner at their wedding reception.  These two simple ideas have many benefits and some people are hard pressed to change their mind from say a sit down dinner to a buffet.

         Why would a sit down dinner be a better choice?  There are a couple reasons that tie in to two key elements of our subconscious.  Those are convenience and appearance.  Most of us prefer to be waited on.  It’s the idea of everything you need taken care of and brought to you while you can sit back in your chair.  It’s the single most important factor that drives a multi billion-dollar industry.  When the food and drinks are brought out to you it appears to be a more elegant party since you are receiving better service.  If the service is higher quality we assume the food is as well.   We feel this way because of the presentation and anticipation.  As the wait staff begins to bring out food our brain starts to wonder and anticipate a delightful meal.  The chef can arrange and garnish each plate to present what looks to be an excellent meal.  This is why most weddings follow this format in order to add an elegance and ease to enjoying the reception.

Shore Catering Sit Down DInner

            Why would you even consider a buffet?  There are actually a lot of reasons to choose a buffet over a sit down dinner.  The most obvious is the quantity of food.  With any buffet your guest have the option of taking a smaller portion or heading back up a second or third time to get their fill.  With any wedding there is a high amount of food waste, but surprisingly less for a buffet.  Timing is another key issue to think about when deciding on a buffet.  At a wedding reception so much is happening between dancing and rituals that often times a buffet is a much better choice.  There will be an exact moment that guest can begin dinner and know that they will have a hot meal when they sit down.  It also allows the guests who like to dance and mingle to decide what time is right for them to eat instead of coming back to cold dish at their table.  Guests don’t have to commit to fish or chicken, they can have both if they would like.  In spite of appearance or previous notions, the quality of food will be just as good if not better.  Buffets are a great way to get people up and out of their seats to interact with one another and have a good time.  It also allows them to ask questions to the catering staff to help make an informed decision on their meal.  Finally with a buffet, there are no mistakes or confusion.  It happens all the time with a sit down, your guest order prime rib and instead chicken is brought to them.  Giving guests the ability to decide exactly what they want will always make them happier.

Shore Catering Buffet

         Ultimately, the choice is yours, but the benefits of a sit down or buffet style reception will always outweigh the negatives.  Working together with your caterer and asking them questions will help you decide which choice is right for you.   The most important thing is choosing a caterer with experience that provides great quality in food and service.  Best of luck, and don’t stress too much over the details or you won’t be able to enjoy your wedding day.

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Brick, NJ

Shore Catering's Winter following Hurricane Sandy: Restore the Shore

Route 35 South

As Spring rolls forward we want to take a moment to reflect on a historic winter that we will all remember.   It’s been five months since Hurricane Sandy has permanently changed our lives and the shape of the Jersey Shore forever.  What many of us thought would be another typical hurricane turned out to be the 2^nd worst to hit the United States in terms of deaths and destruction.  Sandy is the largest produced in the Atlantic at over 1100 miles wide and causing an estimated 75 billion dollars (33 Billion in New Jersey alone) worth of damage when it’s thirteen-foot storm surge made landfall. 

            I remember working our last Clambake of 2012, what I considered a nice fall day, slightly overcast and a chill in the air.  Saturday October 27^th, in Toms River New Jersey, our customers enjoyed lobsters in their backyard as they prepped the backyard for the hurricane.  They discussed how Hurricane Irene the year before was made out to be a big deal.  I think most people believed the media cried wolf and that this storm wouldn’t be as bad as some forecasted.

Needless to say we all know what followed, I had the unique perspective of being almost too close to the damage of Sandy.  I was about a mile up the road from the Mantoloking Bridge, which we heard a report that it washed away (see attached video “Miracle of Route 35”).  The next morning I spoke to my brother who works for Jersey Central Power and Light and he told me it would be 2 weeks before most of us get power back and months before areas severely effected.  Over 2.6 millions customers in the state of New Jersey were without power.

Shore Catering and A & S Deli opened up for business a few days after the storm.  We were without power and working by candlelight. Our store was extremely busy since few places in Brick were open for business.  We had prepared over 1200 lbs. of ice to help keep our food from spoiling. I had to drive down to Manahawkin, New Jersey to find a generator so we would have power. 

Soon after the U.S. Coast Guard called, they were in need of food to support their facility and workers.  Most of the bases in New Jersey were damaged, so everyone was working out of Sandy Hook first to restore operation at that base.  Our job was to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for 200 people daily.  The realization that we had no power, refrigeration, and the complexity of simple tasks like getting gas or ordering from our vendors made our job increasingly difficult.  We banded together like so many other people through the United States, we rented an 18 foot refrigerated trailer, bought a second generator and fought the traffic and gas lines all the way up to Sandy Hook to provide the United States Coast Guard with food for the next six weeks.  Shore Catering finally regained power on the 10^th day, which made our lives somewhat easier.  The men and woman of the U.S. Coast guard were so grateful to have hot meals while they dealt with the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy.

As time passed, our daily routines began to resemble normal.  It wasn’t until we started providing food for New Jersey Natural Gas when I saw firsthand how devastating the storm was and how long the recovery effort would take.  Shore Catering supported the storm team of 200 men and women working from Mantoloking to Seaside Heights daily with fresh salads, soup, and sandwiches.  New Jersey Natural Gas has done a wonderful job and provided our food to contractors and the National Guard while working on the barrier island. 

We also helped a variety of church groups and shelters with donations of hot and cold food platters.  We chipped in to help support family and friends with clothes, furniture and other supplies to help our community. We also provided bags of ice free of charge to help keep perishables from spoiling during the power outage.

            The good news is our business is strong and preparing for another great summer.  Shore Catering continues to grow and we have expanded our menu’s, vehicles and social media presence by improving our Facebook page, Wedding Wire page, created our own blog and modified our website.  We have seen tremendous interest to cater weddings this year as well as our clambakes and barbecues. Many of our venues and beach houses we catered at have suffered severe damage, which forced us to reach out and build new relationships.  I am inspired by the hard work, dedication, and compassion shown towards New Jersey and it’s residents.   I hope we all appreciate the benefits of living at the Jersey Shore and support given to us from those in and out of our communities.  We thank our friends, family and customers in hopes that everyone continues to have a happy and healthy year as we begin our spring season.

Please check out our current Facebook Promotion.  Like us on Facebook and nominate us for NJNG’s Love to $ave, Love the Shore Campaign for local businesses for chances to win prizes. 

Great Wedding Information at the Shore

Jersey Shore Wedding AssociationWinter 2013 BRIDAL SHOW

             Thank you to all the Brides, Grooms and Vendors who attended our

                      Winter Bridal Show,  Sunday 1-13-13  at the Captains Inn

With close to 30 vendors in attendance, 200 brides and another 200 Guest - a Great time was had by all!     Congratulations to our winners of...

                             over $35,000 in Wedding Products and Services

                Congratulations:    Samantha Burkner our Grand Prize Winner

                     Our Jersey Shore STRONG contest winner:  Becky Grodzki 

and our Jersey Shore Strong contest Finalists:  Becky Burzloff,   Jill Clemens,  Melanie Dryer,  Megan Isaksen,  Jenn Murray,  Marianne Nicoletti,  Lauren Normyle,  Jessica Paolo and Andrea Thompson

To learn more about the Jersey Shore Strong Contest, the ladies and their stories and to see pictures from our Bridal Show - Visit us on FacebookWe All know that Hurricane Sandy has changed our lives and the landscape at the Jersey Shore forever.  There are a number of great Rentals and Venues which will no longer be in operation to host weddings,  Please comment on any wedding venues that you know are used for off site catering to help assist with new arrangements for our bride and grooms.  Thanks so much, stay strong in our efforts to restore the shore.

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