--- title: "Grazing Table Ideas for Melbourne Events | Platter and Co" description: "Grazing table ideas for weddings, kids parties, baby showers and offices: styles by time of day, themes, canapés, dietary options and sizes in Melbourne." url: https://www.platterandco.com.au/guides/grazing-table-ideas updated: 2026-10-21 --- # Grazing table ideas Updated 12 October 2026 · Platter and Co, Melbourne The best [grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-tables-melbourne) idea is to match the style to the time of day and the crowd: a brunch or fruit table in the morning, a savoury table for lunch or evening, a sweet table in the afternoon and a kids table for a children's party. Platter and Co makes all of these in Melbourne. This guide gives practical ideas using what we make, from mixing styles and adding [canapés](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-table-add-ons) to hiring stone, dishes and silverware and sizing the table for 10 to 180 guests. ## Which grazing table style suits the time of day? Start with when your guests arrive. - Morning: a [brunch grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/brunch-grazing-table) of mini pastries, banana bread, waffles, frittata or quiche and muesli, or a [fruit grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/fruit-grazing-table) of 8 seasonal fruits. - Lunch: a [savoury grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/savoury-grazing-table) of cheeses, salami and prosciutto, sourdough, crackers, dips and olives. - Afternoon: a [sweet grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/sweet-grazing-table) of donuts, slices, cookies, chocolate, rocky road and marshmallows. - Evening: a savoury table, with a sweet table beside it if you want dessert. - Children's party: a [kids grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/kids-grazing-table) of fairy bread, carrot sticks, donuts, crackers, hummus and sweet treats. ## What grazing table ideas suit weddings, showers and offices? These are starting points, and we can help you adjust them. - Weddings: a savoury table with a sweet table beside it, or a brunch table for a morning wedding. See [wedding grazing tables](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/wedding-grazing-table-melbourne). - Baby showers: a sweet table, or a fruit table for a lighter late-morning event. See [baby shower grazing tables](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/baby-shower-grazing-table-melbourne). - Birthdays and engagements: a savoury table for a milestone, with a sweet table if there is a cake. See [birthday and engagement tables](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/birthday-engagement-grazing-table-melbourne). - Kids' parties: a kids table, with a savoury or fruit table for the adults. - Office events: a brunch table for a training day, or a savoury table for a client event. See [corporate grazing tables](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/corporate-grazing-tables-melbourne). ## Can I mix savoury and sweet? Yes. The enquiry form lets you pick more than one style, so you can set a savoury table beside a sweet one, a fruit table next to a savoury one, or a kids table alongside a savoury table for the adults. Mixing styles gives guests something salty, something sweet and something fresh. ## What colour and theme ideas can I ask for? If your event has a theme, tell us when you enquire. Our team will work closely with you to create a table that suits it, and we will let you know what we can do. - A baby shower or birthday: share the colours or theme of the day and our team will work with you on the sweet table. - A children's party: tell us the theme, and we can swap or add items on the kids table to suit. - A seasonal look: the fruit table is made of 8 fruits that are in season, so it changes through the year. ## What canapés and extras go well with a table? Canapés take some of the load off the table, so you may be able to stay with a smaller size. They have a minimum order of 30 and include sausage rolls, vegetarian rolls, party pies, pastizzi, lamb koftas, free-range chicken skewers, arancini balls and fresh fruit skewers. As a rough guide, caterers plan 4 to 6 canapés per person before a meal, and 10 to 12 when canapés are the main food over two to three hours. Sandwiches (48 triangles) and wraps (24 pieces) suit lunches, one-person grazing cones give each guest their own serve, and fresh fruit juices suit a morning table. See [grazing table add-ons](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-table-add-ons). If you want anything served hot, the venue needs a fully functioning kitchen. ## How can hired stone, dishes and silverware change the look? The standard set-up is disposable or recyclable, which keeps clean-up easy. For a dressier look at a wedding, an engagement or a client event, you can hire stone, dishes and silverware with your table. Tell us when you enquire and we will include them in your quote. Hired items are the only thing that comes back to us. See [grazing table hire](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-table-hire-melbourne) for how set-up works. ## What ideas suit dietary needs? We can cater for gluten free, dairy free, nut free, vegan and vegetarian needs on request. Tell us early, with the numbers and any allergies. Our kitchen handles a range of foods, so we do not make allergen-free guarantees. - A vegetarian or vegan crowd: ask for a vegetarian or vegan savoury table, because the standard spread includes cured meats. - A brunch with vegetarians: the standard brunch table has ham, cheese and tomato croissants, so ask for a vegetarian version. - A nut free children's party: ask for a nut free kids table. - A mixed crowd: add a fruit table beside a savoury table, and tell us about any fruit a guest cannot eat. ## How big should the table be? Choose a size from your guest numbers. The number is a maximum, so a smaller crowd can use it. See [how much food a grazing table needs](https://www.platterandco.com.au/guides/how-much-food-grazing-table-per-person) and [what is a grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/guides/what-is-a-grazing-table). - 0.5 m savoury or sweet: up to 15 guests. - 1 m: up to 35 guests. - 2 m: up to 55 guests. - 3 m: up to 75 guests. - 6 m: up to 180 guests. ## Questions people ask ### What are good grazing table ideas for a birthday? A savoury table suits a milestone birthday such as a 21st or 30th, and a sweet table suits a party with a cake. Many hosts choose both. For a children's party, a kids table is made for it. ### Can I have a savoury and a sweet grazing table at the same event? Yes. Choose both styles on the enquiry form. Weddings often have a savoury table with a sweet one beside it. ### Can I add hot food to a grazing table? If you want anything served hot, the venue needs a fully functioning kitchen. Tell us what you have in mind and where, and we will let you know what works. ### Can a grazing table match a party theme? Yes. Tell us the theme or colours when you send the enquiry form, and our team will work with you to create a table that suits it. ### How far ahead should I book a grazing table? At least 5 days, and earlier is better for busy dates. See [how far in advance to book a grazing table](https://www.platterandco.com.au/guides/how-far-in-advance-to-book-grazing-table). ## More grazing table options [All grazing tables](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-tables-melbourne) · [Savoury](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/savoury-grazing-table) · [Sweet](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/sweet-grazing-table) · [Brunch](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/brunch-grazing-table) · [Fruit](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/fruit-grazing-table) · [Kids](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/kids-grazing-table) · [Corporate tables](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/corporate-grazing-tables-melbourne) · [Hire & set-up](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-table-hire-melbourne) · [Packages](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-table-pricing) · [Add-ons & canapés](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-table-add-ons) · [Cost guide](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-table-cost-melbourne) To plan yours, see our [grazing tables in Melbourne](https://www.platterandco.com.au/pages/grazing-tables-melbourne) and send the enquiry form below with your date, guest numbers, theme and dietary needs. [Request a box quote](https://www.platterandco.com.au/collections/all) Enquire about a table or canapés ## What our customers say **4.3 ★** from 24 Google reviews · [Read them all on Google](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1382373880980948176) ★★★★★ I had a last minute order for a cheese platter box, and received excellent customer service. Great communication and updates through the day. Really happy with the final product! We will be return customers! Kim V. · Google review ★★★★★ It fed 70 guests with ease and left everyone raving — not just about how stunning it looked, but how delicious everything was. Sarah M., first birthday party · Google review ★★★★★ Jess did our grazing table for our wedding and she was nothing short of spectacular from the get go! She was so helpful and lovely catering to everything we asked for and the food was so fresh and such a big hit. Rebecca R. · Google review --- Platter and Co · 238 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia · Phone or text 0481 974 842 · hello@platterandco.com.au · Instagram @platterandco.melbourne Web page: https://www.platterandco.com.au/guides/grazing-table-ideas · Every page: https://www.platterandco.com.au/llms.txt