Charleston Event Catering Service Styles

At Duvall, we provide a vast array of catering service styles to offer excellent options for any event.
You can rely on our Catering & Event Sales Managers to help you choose the most appropriate event catering style for your special occasion in Charleston.

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Passed & Displayed Hors D’oeuvres 

Our selection of hors d’oeuvres includes a variety of delectable bites for you and your guests. They are perfect for casual or formal events. 

There is no better way to spark lively conversation and create an energetic social atmosphere than to enjoy bite-sized treats. With passed and displayed hors d’oeuvres, as well as some added small plates or stations, you can replace dinner altogether.

While passed and displayed hors d’oeuvres offer an exciting and dynamic option, they can be one of the more expensive styles of catering due to labor and preparation costs. The number of guests is an important cost factor, as well.

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Stations

Our stations offer a variety of foods for guests that require more personalized dishes. With guests up and moving from station to station, this catering style encourages light mingling as guests fill their own plates. Our stations can be displayed or attended by a chef, depending on your preferences. 

Costs will differ based on the number of guests hosted, the amount of food required, the length of the event, and staffing.

REQUEST QUOTE

 

Small Plates

When you opt to enjoy small plates service, one of our chefs will thoughtfully prepare a beautiful arrangement of composed plates, typically including a protein, side, and vegetable. 

Small plates are displayed at various stations, allowing guests to move about and select their preferred dishes as they desire. The small plates catering style promotes a rich social atmosphere and an abundance of taste profiles.

Our small plate service is an affordable option for nearly any event. Similar to our hors d’oeuvres service, each plate will be prepared ahead of time and guests will be free to enjoy as many plates as they would like. 

REQUEST QUOTE

 

Carving Stations

For the freshest cuts, our carving stations are attended by one of our chefs, offering options from land, sea, and garden. Guests can get up and mingle as our chef prepares a dish to their liking, helping to encourage a vibrant social experience.

Carving stations are on the less expensive side, although they do require a chef to attend the station. Costs will be affected by the number of guests, as well as how much food they desire.

REQUEST QUOTE

 

Served

Our servers will attend to your guests’ needs, bringing plates of food to the table for each of your guests. All guests are seated ahead of the meal and all guests are served at the same time. 

With our family-style service, our servers will treat your guests to platters of food at each table to be passed around as though they were enjoying a meal in their own homes.

There is no better way to ensure the satisfaction of all your guests and to keep spirits high for the duration of the event.

Expenses vary based on staffing costs, as well as the number of guests that will need to be served.

REQUEST QUOTE

 

Plated

Our plated service offers a traditional catering style, allowing guests to select their preferred dish. All guests are seated at the same time, while our servers deliver their chosen dishes.

Plated dinners can be a cost-effective option, allowing you to control expenses by selecting what foods will be available to your guests ahead of time. This allows costs to remain predictable, as guests are asked to make their selections ahead of time.

REQUEST QUOTE

 

Family Style

Family-style service offers a more relaxed, casual, and warm atmosphere. Our servers bring large platters of food to each table. Instead of enjoying a composed plate, guests are free to create individualized dishes by passing food around the table to create a familial, at-home experience. 

With this catering style, there are a variety of options available. Family-style service is perfect for any event in which you’d like to create a sense of community.

When it comes to family-style service, you don’t have control over how much each person eats, so you need to make sure to order enough to satisfy every table. Our chefs are happy to help with suggested portions.

REQUEST QUOTE

 

Buffet

Our buffet service offers a wide selection of proteins, sides, and vegetables, allowing your guests to help themselves as desired. With a buffet, there is no traditional line to stand in. Instead, guests are free to come and go, creating their own plates and making selections from the buffet.

With buffet service, your guests can eat as much as they like. With this option, hosts can enjoy savings on staff costs because a buffet does not require servers to bring dishes to each table.

REQUEST QUOTE

 

Passed & Displayed Hors D’oeuvres

Our selection of hors d’oeuvres includes a variety of delectable bites for you and your guests. They are perfect for casual, formal, non-profit or even corporate events.

There is no better way to spark lively conversation and create an energetic social atmosphere than to enjoy bite-sized treats. With passed and displayed hors d’oeuvres, as well as some added small plates or stations, you can replace dinner altogether.

While passed and displayed hors d’oeuvres offer an exciting and dynamic option, especially for wedding catering, they can be one of the more expensive styles of catering due to labor and preparation costs. The number of guests is an important cost factor, as well.

REQUEST QUOTE

Stations

Our stations offer a variety of foods for guests of social events that require more personalized dishes. With guests up and moving from station to station, this catering style encourages light mingling as guests fill their own plates. Our stations can be displayed or attended by a chef, depending on your preferences.

Costs will differ based on the number of guests hosted, the amount of food required, the length of the event, and staffing.

REQUEST QUOTE
 

Small Plates

When you opt to enjoy small plates service, one of our chefs will thoughtfully prepare a beautiful arrangement of composed plates, typically including a protein, side, and vegetable.

Small plates are displayed at various stations, allowing guests to move about and select their preferred dishes as they desire. The small plates catering style promotes a rich social atmosphere and an abundance of taste profiles.

Our small plate service is an affordable option for nearly any event, including a birthday party, baby shower or bridal shower. Similar to our hors d’oeuvres service, each plate will be prepared ahead of time and guests will be free to enjoy as many plates as they would like.

REQUEST QUOTE

Carving Stations

For the freshest cuts, our carving stations are attended by one of our chefs, offering options from land, sea, and garden. Guests can get up and mingle as our chef prepares a dish to their liking, helping to encourage a vibrant social experience.

Carving stations are on the less expensive side, although they do require a chef to attend the station. Costs will be affected by the number of guests, as well as how much food they desire.

REQUEST QUOTE
 

Served

Our servers will attend to your guests’ needs, bringing plates of food to the table for each of your guests. All guests are seated ahead of the meal and all guests are served at the same time.

With our family-style service, our servers will treat your guests to platters of food at each table to be passed around as though they were enjoying a meal in their own homes.

There is no better way to ensure the satisfaction of all your guests and to keep spirits high for the duration of the event, whether its a fundraising event or otherwise.

Expenses vary based on staffing costs, as well as the number of guests that will need to be served.

REQUEST QUOTE

Plated

Our plated service offers a traditional catering style, allowing guests to select their preferred dish. All guests are seated at the same time, while our servers deliver their chosen dishes.

Plated dinners can be a cost-effective option, allowing you to control expenses by selecting what foods will be available to your guests ahead of time. This allows costs to remain predictable, as guests are asked to make their selections ahead of time.

REQUEST QUOTE
 

Family Style

Family-style service offers a more relaxed, casual, and warm atmosphere. Our servers bring large platters of food to each table. Instead of enjoying a composed plate, guests are free to create individualized dishes by passing food around the table to create a familial, at-home experience.

With this catering style, there are a variety of options available. Family-style service is perfect for any event in which you’d like to create a sense of community.

When it comes to family-style service, you don’t have control over how much each person eats, so you need to make sure to order enough to satisfy every table. Our chefs are happy to help with suggested portions.

REQUEST QUOTE

Buffet

Our buffet catering service offers a wide selection of proteins, sides, and vegetables, allowing your guests to help themselves as desired. With a buffet, there is no traditional line to stand in. Instead, guests are free to come and go, creating their own plates and making selections from the buffet.

With buffet service, your guests can eat as much as they like. With this option, hosts can enjoy savings on staff costs because buffet catering does not require servers to bring dishes to each table.

REQUEST QUOTE
 

Why Choose Duvall Catering?

With over 40 years of experience, Duvall has provided catering services for over 21,000 wedding, corporate and social events, ranging in size from 15 guests to as many as 5,000.

Since 1978, Duvall has been catering in the Charleston area, supporting the local community with confidence. We are prepared to handle any event with professionalism, hospitality, and an abundance of flavor.

When you partner with the team at Duvall, you will be able to select from the freshest, most delicious foods, made from scratch by our expert chefs.

We elevate the catering experience, handling the lighting, decor, menu design, and entertainment so you don’t have to lift a finger. We work with hosts and provide a wide range of planning tools so they can always be aware and in control of the costs.

We understand that special something in the air that makes a party feel electric. You can trust us to capture that buzz of excitement or romantic glow of a special evening, helping you to bring your event to life with charm and hospitality.

If you have an event coming up and need catering services, call us at (843) 763-9222 or provide details about your event on our contact form. No matter what the size or complexity of your event may be, we can handle it with ease.

 

Here are just a few of our most popular event services:

Wedding Catering

There is nothing more romantic than a Charleston wedding prepared by Duvall. You can rely on us to help you select a Charleston event venue, design and plan the ceremony and reception, and prepare a catering service that will satisfy guest lists large and small.

We know planning a wedding can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone. Let us do all the heavy lifting for you, giving you the beautiful day that you have dreamed of.

Wedding Catering

Corporate Event Catering

When you’re preparing for a corporate event, there can be a lot of pressure to get things done right, on time, and on budget. High standards, sharp deadlines, and exact budgets matter. Duvall can help.

With one phone call, you can mobilize the best event planning team in Charleston to make your event a success.

Corporate Events

Social Event Catering

No matter what the occasion may be, big or small, your event deserves special attention. Whether you are hosting a birthday dinner, special anniversary, bridal shower, family reunion, baby shower, or a simple get-together, we will design your event to shine.

Fundraising or generating support for your non-profit? Duvall can help to make the day a memorable, effective experience for your guests.

Social Events
 

Serving Style FAQ's

1What Are the Different Styles of Catering Service?
Duvall offers the following catering service styles: •Passed and Displayed Hors D’oeuvres •Stations •Small Plates •Carving Stations •Served •Plated •Family-Style Service •Buffet Service If you have any questions about our catering styles of service, you can always contact us through our online form. We’ll be sure to get back to you with all of the information you need to make planning a breeze.
2What Are Some of the Most Popular Service Styles at Weddings?
The most popular catering styles for weddings are plated portions, stations, buffets, and family-style service.
3Can the Different Catering Service Styles Feed the Same Amount of People?
The short answer is: It depends. No matter what, we will provide enough food for the catering style and event that you choose. However, different catering styles include dishes of various sizes. You may need to know a little bit about your guests’ appetites to decide which style may be most appropriate to their needs. For instance, a plated service typically serves a single meal to each guest, whereas a buffet allows each guest to eat as much as they like.
4What is the Cheapest Catering Style?
Our buffet catering style offers the most value for any occasion. With a wide selection of proteins, sides, and vegetables, guests can select exactly what they want and enjoy as much as they want without being limited to specific portion sizes.