Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 0:29:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 20:40:47 GMT
Our church is planning a formal valentines dinner and a show with a Christian comedian. They're going the extra mile to make this a sold out event.
I've been asked to come up with the centrepieces and other decor as that's my passion. Everything will be elegant with red roses, candles, etc.
they plan on serving this fancy dinner (done by a caterer) in paper plates and plastic utensils. I think there's a time and place for paper plates and disposable cutlery, but not when you're going for a formal atmosphere.
So that got me thinking, do you care what your food is being served on? I'm fine eating on paper for the informal events but I can't imagine going to nice dinner n show all dressed up, and then being served with paper plates.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139 
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Post by scrappington on Feb 1, 2015 20:43:23 GMT
Costco has nice plastic but real looking plates.
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Post by chaosisapony on Feb 1, 2015 20:43:53 GMT
I agree with you. If it is being billed as a formal event and people are expected to dress up and have a nice catered meal then no paper plates. I would actually be kind of put off by it if I paid for formal dinner and show and got served with disposable plates and utensils. It would make the whole event look less formal and more tacky.
I'm not against paper and plastic for everything, there are events where it's completely appropriate and I wouldn't bat an eyelash at being served on paper. This event doesn't sound like that type of circumstance.
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calgal08
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,519
Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Feb 1, 2015 20:43:53 GMT
Nope, no way. I can't stand paper plates and plastic utensils. To me, the only place they're acceptable is a kids b/d party, and that's it. I know it sounds dumb, but to me, food doesn't taste as good if not served on real dishes. Same with water, I can only drink water from a glass, not a plastic cup.
I'm guessing people are paying to attend the dinner, in which case, use some of the $$ and rent real plates and silverware.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,709
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Post by Dani-Mani on Feb 1, 2015 20:44:22 GMT
I've seen plastic plates that look real. For church especially I don't see the need to use expensive cutlery and China, especially for Valentine's Day. Maybe my opinion would change if it was the inauguration of the new pastor or what not.
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Post by epeanymous on Feb 1, 2015 20:44:41 GMT
Paper plates and plastic utensils do not read as formal to me, no.
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Post by denda on Feb 1, 2015 20:44:41 GMT
I would be fine with paper.
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Post by Sam on Feb 1, 2015 20:46:00 GMT
How much is your church charging and what is the food?
Personally, I wouldn't want that given how cheaply you can get plates/utensils etc
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Post by gar on Feb 1, 2015 20:47:15 GMT
Paper plates do not equal formal.
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Gravity
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,233
Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on Feb 1, 2015 20:48:53 GMT
I hate eating with plastic utensils! If it's a formal dinner, you need proper plates and flatware.
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
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Post by perumbula on Feb 1, 2015 20:52:52 GMT
meh. I served my dd's wedding dinner on paper plates with plastic forks. I knew we wouldn't have the kitchen help to do real dishes, and I didn't want to have to stand over a sink for two hours doing dishes myself on what was already the busiest day of my life. Yes, the paper plates weren't quite the "right" thing, but I weighed my options and went with what was best for everyone at the event and not just what would look right.
How much kitchen help are they expecting to get? Are you willing to do dishes in the kitchen all night so they can have the "right" kind of dishware? Does the caterer include clean up in their fee?
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Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 0:29:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 20:53:54 GMT
I've seen plastic plates that look real. For church especially I don't see the need to use expensive cutlery and China, especially for Valentine's Day. Maybe my opinion would change if it was the inauguration of the new pastor or what not. What difference does it make? To me it doesn't matter what holiday it's centred around, all I know is it's being promoted as formal. Not strict formal, I'm sure we'll have some come in their Sunday best but others will come in their nice suits and dresses. And it cheapens it to me if I'm dressed up for a fancy dinner and then have the food chucked on a plate like it's a backyard bbq. |
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Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 0:29:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 20:54:02 GMT
We had a very nice dinner on Friday at our church. Each Sunday school class decorated a table & brought our own plates, etc.
We had real glassware & disposable plates/utensils. I was glad, because though I helped with other parts of the event, I didn't help decorating our table, and I didn't want someone to have to clean our dishes afterwards.
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Post by jemali on Feb 1, 2015 20:55:44 GMT
I agree, for a formal dinner like that you should have real plates and silverware. Especially if there is any type of meat, how are you supposed to cut it with a plastic knife?
All the churches I have been a member of have a large amount of dishes and silverware and a dishwasher. It shouldn't be all that much work for cleanup.
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Post by boxermom73 on Feb 1, 2015 20:56:16 GMT
If it's formal at least get the nice plastic ware! But I would use real things ...
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Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 0:29:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 20:57:29 GMT
We wouldn't be using fancy china or special cutlery. Just the regular stuff the church kitchen has. The only problem had been that the kitchen was running low on plates and needed to go buy another 50 to which they baulked, apparently paper is fine to them.
There would be enough dishwashers, so that's not the issue. Just a bunch of people who don't have a stylish bone in their body and can't see that it doesn't go with the formal feeling.
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Post by anonrefugee on Feb 1, 2015 20:58:04 GMT
i don't think you can say "paper" anything and "formal" in same sentence.
But realistically, for a church event, especially if volunteers have to handle clean up, a lot can be forgiven. No pun intended.
I guess it depends on size of congregation and if event expects public participation. I was member of one congregation with a full time kitchen staff, but that's not normal where we live now.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Feb 1, 2015 20:58:34 GMT
Calling it "formal" precludes the use of paper plates and plastic utensils.
But... if this event is being done all by volunteers then I might acquiesce to that decision being made. I'd still prefer the use of "real" plates and flatware, but I'd understand the reason why they weren't being used.
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Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 0:29:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 20:58:58 GMT
If it's formal at least get the nice plastic ware! But I would use real things ... There is no budget for them to get the nice plastic. They showed me their selection today, creamy white totally tacky paper plates. |
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Post by boxermom73 on Feb 1, 2015 21:01:52 GMT
II feel like if you don't have the budget to do it right ... Don't do it ... Have a simple dinner or event like a BBQ or potluck... I hate half don't events... What's the point? And it cheapens your hard work.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,709
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Post by Dani-Mani on Feb 1, 2015 21:04:07 GMT
I've seen plastic plates that look real. For church especially I don't see the need to use expensive cutlery and China, especially for Valentine's Day. Maybe my opinion would change if it was the inauguration of the new pastor or what not. What difference does it make? To me it doesn't matter what holiday it's centred around, all I know is it's being promoted as formal. Not strict formal, I'm sure we'll have some come in their Sunday best but others will come in their nice suits and dresses. And it cheapens it to me if I'm dressed up for a fancy dinner and then have the food chucked on a plate like it's a backyard bbq. For me, a huge difference. For you, none. To each her own. |
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Post by Katiepotatie on Feb 1, 2015 21:04:16 GMT
Nope. Not paper!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 21:04:42 GMT
How much is your church charging and what is the food? Personally, I wouldn't want that given how cheaply you can get plates/utensils etc They're charging $60 per couple. They need a few grand to pay for the comedian and then double that for the food. They should have charge more like $70 and then had an extra $10 person to for this sort of issue. They didn't factor any extra expenses. Although I was given a few hundred dollars for decor, not nearly enough but I'll Diy what I can and use as many fresh roses as the budget allows. While I know $60 isn't a lot for a formal event, they are trying to keep it at cost only so price doesn't become an issue for many. The food I'm not quite sure on. I believe some sort of chicken breast, stuffed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and I believe broccoli with some sort of special cheese sauce. They told the caterer that it needed to be appropriate for a formal dinner. |
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Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 0:29:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 21:07:22 GMT
II feel like if you don't have the budget to do it right ... Don't do it ... Have a simple dinner or event like a BBQ or potluck... I hate half don't events... What's the point? And it cheapens your hard work. Thank you, this is exactly how I feel about it. I was asked to be their decorator because they know my work is elegant and it's in tune with what they're wanting. I actually wish I could decline the job now. I don't want my name attached to a dinner that was supposed to be formal but served on paper plates... |
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Post by padresfan619 on Feb 1, 2015 21:07:37 GMT
I threw a baby shower last year and decided to buy "fancy" plastic cutlery instead of using real silverware. One of the guests thought they were real and put them in the dishwasher, and they all survived! Now they are my lunch time utensils, I just toss them now after one or two uses.
So I guess if it is decent looking stuff, I wouldn't mind. But if it is cheap stuff that will leak or break, I would be annoyed.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Feb 1, 2015 21:08:04 GMT
I may give a side eye if I'm sitting at a formal event dressed nice and be giving a paper plate to eat out of but in all honesty as long as the food is good I don't care what it's served on lol
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Post by anonrefugee on Feb 1, 2015 21:08:18 GMT
II feel like if you don't have the budget to do it right ... Don't do it ... Have a simple dinner or event like a BBQ or potluck... I hate half don't events... What's the point? And it cheapens your hard work. I know what you're saying... But maybe Formal is a relative term. If all their events are picnic potlucks with games, then this event with entertainment and catering, dressed up becomes Formal by comparison. It's going to depend on the attitude of the participants though. My family doesn't even use paper plates & plastic for kid parties but I could go with the flow. My DH, otoh, would make snarky comments all night long about it. His shins would be bruised from my "nudges". |
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Post by freecharlie on Feb 1, 2015 21:09:11 GMT
Honestly, I wouldn't really care, but I might raise an eyebrow.
Does the church have good plates and silverware or would it need to be rented?
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Post by Sam on Feb 1, 2015 21:09:39 GMT
How much is your church charging and what is the food? Personally, I wouldn't want that given how cheaply you can get plates/utensils etc They're charging $60 per couple. They need a few grand to pay for the comedian and then double that for the food. They should have charge more like $70 and then had an extra $10 person to for this sort of issue. They didn't factor any extra expenses. Although I was given a few hundred dollars for decor, not nearly enough but I'll Diy what I can and use as many fresh roses as the budget allows. While I know $60 isn't a lot for a formal event, they are trying to keep it at cost only so price doesn't become an issue for many. Where they are going wrong (unless there are a lot of people attending) is charging $30 per head with a comedian costing 'a few grand' - that's ridiculous - get a DJ and dance floor with some romantic tunes and have a good old dinner and dance if that's what will make a profit. |
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scrappinwithoutpeas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,004
Location: Northern Virginia
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Post by scrappinwithoutpeas on Feb 1, 2015 21:11:54 GMT
A lot of times caterers will provide the plates and flatware - either included with the meal price or for an extra charge. Has someone compared that cost with the cost of paper plates & plastic flatware? Also, there is inexpensive "semi-disposable" (for lack of a better word) dinnerware available that is made to look nice for formal events, but it is a step up from paper. It may even be available from the caterer. There is a similar style of flatware - looks like silver and is quite sturdy (more than typical plastic cutlery) but is actually disposable. Both are actually reusable. We bought a whole lot of this style (both cutlery and dinnerware) for a large family anniversary celebration. We got it at a party store. It looked formal and held up well. It was convenient, in that we didn't really care whether people saved it or not; most did but it was inexpensive enough that we were OK with some just being tossed out. (We were prepared to wash/dry/store the rest.) I actually still have most of the cutlery and it gets pulled out now and then for large family gatherings.
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