Day of wedding logistics

Parent Cafe
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<p>Hello again Parent Cafe!</p>

<p>As much as my old thread had really become a planning thread, the questions I have right now aren’t really about etiquette and I was hoping to get some advice for people with more experience in this department.</p>

<p>First, how many plates per guest should I rent or buy for a barbeque buffet? I imagine some people will go back for seconds, but not everyone, and I’m not sure if people will reuse plates or not (but for sanitary reasons it’s best if they don’t). How about sets of silverware? </p>

<p>Also, I will be buying sleeves of disposable cups, but somewhat nicer looking ones (my brother had them at his wedding). How many cups per guest should I purchase?</p>

<p>Second, I need to purchase my plates if I am going to, but I am waffling because I can rent plain white plates for $.25 each. I have hired a waitperson for the evening because I found a staffing company with reasonable rates, but I am wondering if it is reasonable to ask one person to rinse and rack plates and silverware for 85-100 people. In theory, he or she would have a couple hours to complete the task. The dishes would not need to be clean in the strictest sense but clear of food debris. </p>

<p>Thanks again for any advice you have to give. Planning a wedding during my first year of graduate school was not the brightest idea I’ve ever had!</p>

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<p>I think that your caterer (if there is one) could tell you the numbers. Or – the place you are renting the items from would have a good number. Failing that, look at it this way. Renting the 100 plates at 4/$1 is a total of $25. You would hate it if you ran out of plates – how much would you hate it? $10 worth – that’s another 40 plates. One would think that would be enough! And if you would hate it $20 worth – get 80 extra plates.</p>

<p>A party store could tell you how many cups. They could probably also advise you on the plates.</p>

<p>Question 2: Scrape and rinse plates for return – let’s say there are 120 plates. Does it take 30 seconds per plate to hold it under running water and rinse with a dishrag? I think it takes less time than that – I would say 3-4 plates per minute. Silverware sits in the hot soapy bucket or sink and cleans itself (sort of). So – I think it takes about an hour, maybe a bit more, to get the dishes in returnable shape.</p>

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<p>Julie,
If you purchase plates you will need to buy in increments of how they are packaged.
Do they come in 50s, 100s, 300s?</p>

<p>When you purchase you can over buy and return any complete sets not used.
Will you use the same size plate for dinner and dessert?</p>