This is one of those great debates that has no right answer.  The bottom line: the cost of a reception is often what you serve rather than how you serve it.  Hence a basic sit-down chicken dinner will be cheaper than a fancy buffet with shrimp, sliced beef tenderloin and other pricey dishes.

Conversely, a five-course lobster sit-down dinner may cost several times more than a simple buffet with hors d’oeuvres like fruit, cheese and sandwiches.

Caterers tend to steer couples toward the type of reception they do most often.  Therefore, a caterer who frequently does buffet receptions will tell you a sit-down dinner is too expensive and vise versa.