Hire dinner, starter, dessert and side plates in white, Graphite and Storm porcelain for weddings and catering events.
Plate hire sets the scale for the meal before service begins. Expo Hire stocks the 11 inch white porcelain dinner plate, the 9 inch starter or dessert plate, the 7 inch side plate plus matching Graphite and Storm dinner plates. Caterers use these sizes for weddings, banquets, conference dining and buffet service because each course needs enough space on the table and on the plate.
Complete the crockery order with bowls, cups and saucers, serveware and tableware.
The 11 inch dinner plate covers most main course service. Caterers use it for plated dinners, carvery mains and buffets because it gives enough room for protein, starch and vegetables without crowding the rim. The 9 inch plate handles starters and desserts, from plated cheesecakes to terrines and small sharing starters. The 7 inch side plate supports bread service, petit fours, canapés at table or a side salad course. A three course dinner often needs all three sizes in the same order because the side plate stays on the setting while the kitchen turns the starter and main course plates through the room.
Buffets often change the ratio. Guests tend to fill one plate with mixed items, so planners usually increase the count of 11 inch plates and cut back on smaller plates unless the menu includes a separate dessert station. The colour range also shapes the result. White porcelain keeps the food front and centre and suits hotels, wedding barns and corporate dining. Graphite dinner plates create a sharper edge around lighter food and work well in darker rooms or on black linen. Storm dinner plates sit in the middle and suit contemporary private dining and gallery events.
Keep the plate choice linked to the wider crockery pattern. If you choose Graphite for the main plate but need white bowls and cups because of stock or budget, the table can look split. Many caterers solve that by choosing one range across the full booking and then building the cutlery and glassware around it. That approach speeds service too, because staff can recognise the correct stack at once in the prep area.
Seated dinners need plate counts that match the guest list and the menu flow. Buffets need higher turnover on the dinner plate because one guest may revisit the station more than once. Your planner should also think about the room reset. Staff can clear and restack the same 11 inch plate faster than a mixed batch of odd sizes, which helps when the venue moves from dining into speeches or dancing.
Expo Hire lets your team return the plates dirty after service. Scrape the food, stack the plates and leave the washing to us after collection. That gives caterers more time to clear the room and get back on the road after a late finish.
Most caterers use the 11 inch dinner plate for main course service because it holds a full plated meal or buffet portion with enough room around the rim.
Yes in most cases. The 9 inch plate works for starters and desserts, while the 11 inch plate stays for the main course.
Yes. Buffets usually need more 11 inch dinner plates because guests carry mixed items on one plate and may return for another round.
Yes. Expo Hire stocks Graphite and Storm dinner plates as well as classic white porcelain.
Expo Hire does not charge a security deposit. A free minor damage waiver covers minor damage and loss. Excessive or negligent damage is charged at 10 times the hire price. Full details in our terms and conditions.
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For orders over £1,000, you can confirm a booking with a 25% deposit and pay the balance up to 28 days before delivery. The checkout offers this automatically. Full details in our terms and conditions.
