{"id":10277,"date":"2019-08-23T15:34:07","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T15:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theweddingsecret.co.uk\/magazine\/?p=10277"},"modified":"2020-02-14T13:38:02","modified_gmt":"2020-02-14T13:38:02","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-a-finger-buffet-and-a-fork-buffet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theweddingsecret.co.uk\/magazine\/whats-the-difference-between-a-finger-buffet-and-a-fork-buffet\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the difference between a finger buffet and a fork buffet?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After the\nvenue, food is probably the biggest consideration for couples planning their\nwedding. When you\u2019re perusing\nthe brochure pages of wedding venues and catering companies, it can\nquickly get overwhelming! There are so many options, from a sit down meal to a\nfinger buffet or a fork buffet\u2026 What do these actually mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Well,\nluckily for you, we have read hundreds of menus, and we\u2019re going to explain\nsome of the differences for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference between the two lies mainly in the\nlevel of service and type of food offered at your reception<\/a>, and the manner in which\nguests are expected to receive and consume it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finger Buffets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Firstly,\nlet us look at the more well-known of the two, finger buffets. It\u2019s highly likely that you have\ncome across one of these at some point in your life! This type of catering is\none that most couples leave for the evening celebrations, after the earlier formal sit-down meal.\nThey usually serve a finger buffet to feed the late-arriving evening guests, and some of\nthe peckish all-day\nguests too. Largely depending on what time the main reception meal finishes,\nfinger buffets are usually set up between 7 and 10pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Finger buffets are informal meals, especially in comparison to a three\ncourse meal. They are set up\neither on a heated table, hotplate or sometimes an unheated surface for guests\nto help themselves. They most often consist of bite-size, often quick-to-make snack-type\nfoods, for example\nspring rolls, sandwiches, bacon baps, chips and salads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finger\nbuffets are especially common if there are no tables to eat at, for example if\nthere is a dancefloor. Instead, guests will come and help themselves and then mingle with\ntheir plates of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fork Buffets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Somewhere\nbetween the formality of a three-course spread and a casual finger buffet sits\nthe fork buffet. Although it may sound like the latter but with cutlery, in\nfact it\u2019s more of a mix of the two. (And, yes, you certainly can use cutlery\nfor a finger buffet.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally,\nfork buffets include more experienced cooking and one particular style of\ncuisine. They can be used in place of a three course meal, but could also suit\na more formal evening reception. Often, they are served as the main feature of the wedding\nreception, enjoyed in a formal, sit-down manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A variety of main courses and side dishes presented attractively, often in chafing pans, on hotplates or a\ntable. Fork buffets usually feature fewer individual items than finger buffets,\nbut guests can nevertheless mix and match their dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One table\nat a time, guests are invited up to fill a plate which they collect at the\nbuffet itself. Fork buffets\nare most often manned with serving staff to assist in serving or to\ncarve meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which one should you choose?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now that\nyou understand the difference, you can decide which one you want. A buffet of\nany description gives your\nguests more choice over what they eat, which can solve many dietary issues.\nOf course, be careful with cross contamination if someone has an allergy (therefore\na served fork buffet might be better). Also, our advice is to always\noverestimate the vegetarians attending; a meat-eater can pile their plate with\nall kinds of food, and want to make sure there\u2019s enough veggie food to go\naround.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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People cost\nmoney to hire, so the fewer servers you need, the cheaper your meal is likely\nto be. A sit-down meal will be the most expensive option, with a fork buffet\ncheaper and a finger buffet the cheapest. Although, do remember that finger\nbuffets are often served after something more substantial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a\nlook at the rest of your wedding. If you have splashed out on the venue,\ndecorations and bridal party outfits, a small buffet is going to look tacky.\nRemember that your guests have likely paid a lot to attend, including clothes,\ntransport and accommodation. However, if everything is low-key then a buffet\nmay fit your situation perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A buffet\nallows for a lot of flexibility, both in terms of variety of food and quantity.\nBut, in terms of service\noffered, the ease of pre-ordered dishes being delivered to your guests\u2019 tables\nmay win out. Take all of this into consideration when you book your\ncaterers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to look at\neven more examples of food to serve at your wedding, we\u2019ve got your back. Check\nout our article about the wedding breakfast, with four different styles of\ndining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of food to expect<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course, a lot of\ncaterers will have an idea of what they can serve \u2013 hot, cold, or sweet \u2013 at a\nbuffet. However, while we\u2019re on the subject we thought we would get your taste\nbuds tingling! If you fancy any of these ideas, try to find a caterer who will\nwork with you to create a bespoke meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey Pesto Catering<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Finger Buffet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n