I have received a lot of questions recently regarding wedding banquet etiquette. First I believe it is necessary to distinguish between a banquet and formal dinner. Then I will answer your questions in turn. A formal dinner has a set menu, (entrees, main and desert), upon which there may be a choice of two or three dishes for each course. Guests are seated and served by wait staff, usually “silver service”. A banquet, however, is a feast of many dishes, usually “rich” in nature. These dishes would not normally be common day fare as they are celebratory dishes to honour the bride and groom and their guests.
Q. How should the table be set for a wedding banquet?
Please refer to the following link:
wedding table setting.
The main difference between a formal dinner and wedding banquet is that for the latter wait staff deliver several dishes to, and leave them on, the table for guests to help themselves. Therefore, serving mats and serving implements are additional to the formal table setting.
Q. How many courses should be served at a wedding banquet?
This is entirely dependent upon your budget. Usually seven upwards.
Q. What should the ratio of wait staff to guests be?
A formal dinner will be approximately 1:12 wait staff to guests and banquet 1:20. However, this is dependent upon the competency of the wait staff and whether the hosts prefer 1 wait staff per table.
Q. When can men remove their jackets?
Jackets may be removed after the toasts to either Queen or Country.
Q. When is it permissible to smoke?
Smoking is also permitted after the toasts to either Queen or Country. However, due to its anti-social nature, smokers should never smoke at the table, but excuse themselves and smoke in the designated smoking areas.
Q. Do ladies have to leave the room when port is served?
This is dependent upon your country’s traditions. Usually this is no longer observed, with the ladies joining the men for port. If in doubt, however, you should follow the lead of the bride.
Q. Is it appropriate for a child to attend a wedding banquet?
This is totally dependent upon how well behaved your child is! Remember the food will be rich, perhaps not suitable for a child’s pallet. Similarly, the banquet is a long drawn out, late affair, again perhaps not suitable for all children.
There is no mystery surrounding wedding banquet etiquette. Basically, it is a matter of common sense. If in doubt follow the lead of your hosts. If there is an MC discretely ask him or her to clarify any points of procedure you are unsure about.
