How do banquet and catering differ?

Do you know that people are still confused between banquet and catering despite being two very different things? In Singapore, we have very distinct definitions for “Buffet” and “Banquet”. The most distinct difference between them is the definition of it. A banquet is a formal meal served to a large group of people which usually involves more than 5 courses of dishes that includes main courses, desserts and soup. They are usually served in major events such as a wedding, a ceremony or any other events that can involve guests. On the other hand, a buffet, catered or not, refers to a casual meal served to either a small or medium-sized group of people in either public or private setting where meals are meant to be self-serviced. The food selection may not be as grand as banquets but it is definitely self-sufficient. Here are some points of difference between a banquet and a buffet.

Location

The location of the banquet has to be somewhere grand. This can range from a private ballroom to a large convention hall. Banquets are usually hosted on an invitational basis and are never open to the public. Whereas for buffets, they can be commonly found in restaurants that are opened to the general public. In the case of a buffet catering, you can get them delivered to your intended location.

Price