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[Laura14]

Family style. 

Us Italians have no problem piping up and telling the rest of our loved ones to send the $%#@! (insert food item) down this way and fast.  

[proudlyfromNJ]

Buffet here. Our dining room table is very narrow. No way to fit all the food. Kitchen peninsula is right behind the table so it's no problem for people to get up and help themselves.

[CANDLEQUEEN]

Usually ours is Buffet Style, but this year we have a few less people,so we are doing Family Style. But once everyone has fixed their plates, we do take dishes and put them on the side, so that there is more room to eat.

Christmas will definitely be a buffet, as we always have more people and its easier, and people can serve themselves and get just what they want. We always have a children's table set up as well.....

For Thanksgiving we are having 15 adults, 2 children.

For Christmas we usually have about 24 adults and about 8 children......

[aroc3435]

@faeriemoon   Buffet style for appetizers.  Family style for the entree.

If people bring a lot of extra desserts we put those on the kitchen counter with a stack of plates and dessert forks and folks help themselves.

Self service for drinks.

[Lipstickdiva]

DH's side of the family has always been buffet style for every holiday even though the most of us there ever were was 9. 

My side of the family always did family style  I always thought it was a nuisance for the very reasons @faeriemoonsaid.  I'd just start to take a bite of food and someone wanted whatever was next to me.  LOL  And I always hated to disturb someone to ask for something.

A couple years ago, my side of the family increased a lot due to marriage and the inclusion of the wife's family as well so now it is always buffet style for all gatherings.  So much easier.  

[haddon9]

Years ago we used to do the family style and put the kids at the "kids' table".  Last several years it's been buffet style.  I want my table to look pretty and in my fantasy world I would have a footman or server standing behind my guests Downton Abbey style! LOL!

[Sooner]

We have done buffets for casual parties, summer entertaining and such but always a sit-down family style meal at the table for holidays.  We would dress nicely for it and it is a big deal with a prayer first.  We all linger over the table.

At least it was that way until everyone but three of us have died. But we still do a sit down meal with food on the table, china and best flatware, and dishes, even though it is the two of us now.

[PA Mom-mom]

@faeriemoon I would LOVE to do buffet, but I have sticklers for tradition in the family - even some of my grandchildren! When we were building our house, my brilliant SIL told me to widen the archway from the dining room to the living room so that I could run a table and chairs through it and still get behind the chairs. So, we can do up to 24 (we only have 18 this year). The kiddies don't mind sitting at the other end of the table, because they feel they can preside over their own little kingdom while still keeping in contact with the other end of the table. One year my oldest grandson even wore a crown! Hahaha! We have side tables and a buffet in the dining room to hold desserts and extra side dishes. People usually wander into the dining room before the table gets crowded with serving dishes, so at least the get a look at the decorations. All that being said, it would be such a releif to just put out all the dishes and just say Go!

[Marsha2003]

We always serve big family meals buffet-style.  There are over 30 people.  We don't even fit around one table.

[Mominohio]

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@faeriemoon wrote:

.....  Is your Thanksgiving dinner served buffet style or family style?  Forever I did these holiday meals family style but over the past few years I have changed to buffet style.

I prefer having a pretty table to look at rather than platters of food taking up all the space.  But the main thing I dislike is the passing of the food.  When you set a table for 10 or 12 and the thing someone wants is down the other end, it is annoying to interrupt the flow of conversation passing food around the table.  Family style works much better with  fewer people, IMO.

What's your plan?

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@faeriemoon

I feel exactly the same. A formally set and pretty table is ruined by half empty platters and  serving dishes, the mood and conversation destroyed by all the passing and asking, and just minutes into the meal, the table is in disarray and the smooth flow of conversation gone. 

I set the table formally, and put the food on a buffet or counter and people are free to get up and move about to get and refill their plates.