By: Chi_Rox_
Weddings are a significant event in ones life. If you do it right you’re only walking down that aisle once, so it’s important that the big day goes exactly how you want it to. Between the guest list, decorations, seating arrangements, and first dance songs there is a lot of decisions to be made. The folks who shouldn’t have a choice to make? The guests. We can do this by eliminating the completely overdone plated meal option.
Life is a constantly moving speed train where we as humans are navigating the most efficient route best we can. The average person makes 35,000 choices every single day, meaning we all are experiencing some form decision fatigue. There is science behind how when we as humans struggle to effectively make decisions when confronted with too many options. This concept alone proves that people cannot largely be trusted to make a decision that satisfies their needs and allows for their boxes to be checked.
When we make the decision to go to a wedding (a yes or no question thankfully), more often than not you are then tasked with deciding what type of plated dinner you want- usually the stereotypical chicken, fish, steak, or vegetarian. In one given moment months before you sit down at said table, you’re asked to know what you would want to eat. I myself, a 30 something woman with access to nearly any type of food I can imagine, never know what I want to eat-not even for dinner that’s coming up in 90 minutes. You’re now asking me to know what I would tolerate eating six months in advance? Without a the menu to see what it comes with? Preposterous.
Not only am I being asked to make a decision for a form of me that I haven’t met yet, I’m also being asked to decide between 4 insanely boring options. A slab of meat, some veggies, and a simple carb? Sure, that’s great if I’m on a strict diet or at a boring work convention that I don’t want to be at-not a wedding. When I think of weddings I think partying, camaraderie, and overall just high vibes. You know what doesn’t vibe? A slab of meat, some veggies, and a simple carb. Plated wedding meals are the sister of hospital meals-they fill you up, but did you really enjoy it?
It’s clear the most obvious choice for weddings is the buffet style. Now I get it, you’re probably thinking “but Chi_Rox_, you just spoke about how people don’t do well with multiple options and now you want to throw them in a buffet?” Yes, 100%, full speed ahead. Buffets provide the illusion of choice when it’s really just a controlled environment. It’s a win-win situation because Bride and Groom can have the say in what is available but folks can make a real time decision about what is best for them.
All in all, wedding how you want. It’s your day, and folks should largely just be excited to be on the guest list. That doesn’t mean we can’t focus on what really matters-the illusion of choice and feeling like you’re in control when this day isn’t even remotely about you. You may now kiss the chef.