Banquet vs. Party — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 30, 2024
A banquet is a formal, elaborate meal event, often for large gatherings, while a party is a broader, social gathering that can range from casual to formal.
Difference Between Banquet and Party
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A banquet specifically refers to a formal event centered around a meal, typically involving multiple courses and served to a large group of people. It is often associated with special occasions, such as weddings, official ceremonies, or gala events. In contrast, a party is a general term for a social gathering, which can be either formal or informal and does not necessarily include a full meal.
While banquets are characterized by their structured, seated meal format and often have a formal dress code, parties may vary widely from backyard barbecues to sophisticated cocktail gatherings, with food options ranging from snacks to buffets.
Banquets usually have a predetermined menu and serving sequence, often catered by professional staff, highlighting the event's formality and organization. On the other hand, parties might feature self-serve food stations, potlucks, or even catered food, depending on the occasion and the organizer's preference.
In terms of decorations and setting, banquets are typically held in large halls or rooms suited for formal dining, often with elaborate decorations and table settings. Conversely, parties can be held anywhere from a home to a public venue, and the decorations can vary from minimal to themed, based on the event's nature.
While banquets often include speeches, awards, or presentations as part of the event, parties may focus more on entertainment, games, or socializing, with less structured programming.
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Comparison Chart
Type of Event
Formal meal-centered gathering
Social gathering, formal or informal
Food and Service
Multi-course meals, professional service
Variety of formats, can be casual or formal service
Venue
Large halls, formal settings
Any suitable location, flexible settings
Decorations
Elaborate, themed decorations
Varies widely, from minimal to themed
Common Occasions
Weddings, galas, ceremonies
Birthdays, holidays, casual get-togethers
Compare with Definitions
Banquet
Elaborate meal event.
The banquet featured a five-course meal that impressed all the guests.
Party
Social gathering.
They threw a party to celebrate her 30th birthday.
Banquet
Ceremonial dining.
The awards ceremony concluded with a luxurious banquet.
Party
Informal celebration.
The neighborhood block party was a hit with families.
Banquet
Large gathering meal.
They organized a banquet in the hotel’s grand ballroom.
Party
Event with friends.
They planned a costume party for Halloween.
Banquet
Multi-course service.
Each course at the banquet was paired with a different wine.
Party
Gathering with food and drinks.
The office party had a great selection of snacks and beverages.
Banquet
Formal dinner.
The company hosted an annual banquet for all its employees.
Party
Festive occasion.
New Year’s Eve is the perfect time for a big party.
Banquet
A banquet (; French: [bɑ̃kɛ]) is a formal large meal or feast, where a number of people consume food together. Banquets are traditionally held to enhance the prestige of a host, or reinforce social bonds among joint contributors.
Party
A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing or other forms of entertainment.
Banquet
An elaborate and formal evening meal for many people
A state banquet at Buckingham Palace
Party
A social gathering especially for pleasure or amusement
A birthday party.
Banquet
Entertain with a banquet
A banqueting hall
Party
A group of people who have gathered to participate in an activity
A search party.
Banquet
An elaborate, sumptuous meal; a feast.
Party
A group of soldiers selected for a duty or mission
A raiding party.
Banquet
A ceremonial dinner honoring a particular guest or occasion.
Party
An established political group organized to promote and support its principles and candidates for public office.
Banquet
To honor at or partake of a banquet.
Party
A person or group involved in an enterprise; a participant or accessory
I refuse to be a party to your silly scheme.
Banquet
A large celebratory meal; a feast.
Party
(Law) A person or entity that participates in a transaction, makes a contract, or is involved in a lawsuit as a litigant.
Banquet
(archaic) A dessert; a course of sweetmeats.
Party
A subscriber to a telephone party line.
Banquet
A ceremonial dinner party for many people.
Party
A person using a telephone.
Banquet
(intransitive) To participate in a banquet; to feast.
Party
A person
"And though Grainger was a spry old party, such steps couldn't be his" (Anthony Hyde).
Banquet
(obsolete) To have dessert after a feast.
Party
Of, relating to, or participating in an established political organization
Party members.
Party politics.
Banquet
(transitive) To treat with a banquet or sumptuous entertainment of food; to feast.
Party
Suitable for use at a social gathering
Party dresses.
A party hat.
Banquet
A feast; a sumptuous entertainment of eating and drinking; often, a complimentary or ceremonious feast, followed by speeches.
Party
Characteristic of a pleasurable social gathering
A party atmosphere.
Banquet
A dessert; a course of sweetmeats; a sweetmeat or sweetmeats.
We'll dine in the great room, but let the musicAnd banquet be prepared here.
Party
To celebrate or carouse at a party or similar gathering
That night we partied until dawn.
Banquet
To treat with a banquet or sumptuous entertainment of food; to feast.
Just in time to banquetThe illustrious company assembled there.
Party
(legal) A person or group of people constituting a particular side in a contract or legal action.
The contract requires that the party of the first part pay the fee.
Banquet
To regale one's self with good eating and drinking; to feast.
Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets,I would not taste thy treasonous offer.
Party
A person.
Banquet
To partake of a dessert after a feast.
Where they did both sup and banquet.
Party
A person; an individual.
He is a queer party.
Banquet
A ceremonial dinner party for many people
Party
With to: an accessory, someone who takes part.
I can't possibly be a party to that kind of reckless behaviour.
Banquet
A meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed;
A banquet for the graduating seniors
The Thanksgiving feast
They put out quite a spread
Party
A group of people forming one side in a given dispute, contest etc.
Banquet
Provide a feast or banquet for
Party
Active player characters organized into a single group.
Banquet
Partake in a feast or banquet
Party
(video games) A group of characters controlled by the player.
Party
(politics) A political group considered as a formal whole, united under one specific political platform of issues and campaigning to take part in government.
The green party took 12% of the vote.
Party
(military) A discrete detachment of troops, especially for a particular purpose.
The settlers were attacked early next morning by a scouting party.
Party
A group of persons collected or gathered together for some particular purpose.
Party
A gathering of usually invited guests for entertainment, fun and socializing.
I'm throwing a huge party for my 21st birthday.
Party
A group of people traveling or attending an event together, or participating in the same activity.
We're expecting a large party from the London office.
Do you have a table available for a party of four?
Party
A gathering of acquaintances so that one of them may offer items for sale to the rest of them.
Tupperware party
Lingerie party
Party
A small group of birds or mammals.
Party
(obsolete) A part or division.
Party
(intransitive) To celebrate at a party, to have fun, to enjoy oneself.
We partied until the early hours.
Party
To take recreational drugs.
Party
(intransitive) To engage in flings, to have one-night stands, to sow one's wild oats.
Party
To form a party (with).
If you want to beat that monster, you should party with a healer.
Party
Of a fence or wall: shared by two properties and serving to divide them.
Party
Divided; in part.
Party
(heraldry) Parted or divided, as in the direction or form of one of the ordinaries.
An escutcheon party per pale
Party
A part or portion.
Party
A number of persons united in opinion or action, as distinguished from, or opposed to, the rest of a community or association; esp., one of the parts into which a people is divided on questions of public policy.
Win the noble Brutus to our party.
The peace both parties want is like to last.
Party
A part of a larger body of company; a detachment;
Party
A number of persons invited to a social entertainment; a select company; as, a dinner party; also, the entertainment itself; as, to give a party.
Party
One concerned or interested in an affair; one who takes part with others; a participator; as, he was a party to the plot; a party to the contract.
Party
The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant.
The cause of both parties shall come before the judges.
Party
Hence, any certain person who is regarded as being opposed or antagonistic to another.
If the jury found that the party slain was of English race, it had been adjudged felony.
Party
Cause; side; interest.
Have you nothing saidUpon this Party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?
Party
A person; as, he is a queer party.
Party
Parted or divided, as in the direction or form of one of the ordinaries; as, an escutcheon party per pale.
Party
Partial; favoring one party; partisan.
I will be true judge, and not party.
Party
Partly.
Party
An organization to gain political power;
In 1992 Perot tried to organize a third party at the national level
Party
An occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment;
He planned a party to celebrate Bastille Day
Party
A band of people associated temporarily in some activity;
They organized a party to search for food
The company of cooks walked into the kitchen
Party
A group of people gathered together for pleasure;
She joined the party after dinner
Party
A person involved in legal proceedings;
The party of the first part
Party
Have or participate in a party;
The students were partying all night before the exam
Common Curiosities
Can a party become a banquet?
If a party includes a formal meal setup and follows a structured dining experience, it can resemble a banquet.
What type of entertainment is expected at a banquet?
Entertainment at a banquet might include live music, speeches, or presentations, often more subdued than at a typical party.
What typically distinguishes a banquet from a party?
A banquet is a formal, meal-centric event, often with a structured program, whereas a party can be more varied in formality and focus.
Can both banquets and parties include dancing?
Yes, both can include dancing, but in banquets, it usually follows the meal and formal program.
What venues are best for hosting a banquet?
Banquets are best hosted in venues that can accommodate large seated meals, such as banquet halls or large dining rooms.
Is a banquet appropriate for small groups?
Typically, banquets are designed for larger groups, as the setting and service are geared towards grander scales.
How should one dress for a banquet versus a party?
Dress codes for banquets are usually formal, while parties can range from casual to formal, depending on the occasion.
Are banquets always held indoors?
While most commonly indoor due to their formal nature, banquets can also take place in outdoor settings like gardens or under tents.
What makes a party informal compared to a banquet?
The informal nature of some parties is due to the casual setting, relaxed food service, and less structured activities.
What are the key planning differences between a banquet and a party?
Planning a banquet often involves meticulous attention to the meal and program sequence, while party planning might focus more on entertainment and flexibility.
Is a banquet more expensive to host than a party?
Typically, due to the scale and formality, banquets can be more expensive than less formal parties.
What are common reasons to choose a banquet over a party?
Choosing a banquet might be appropriate for formal celebrations, significant achievements, or when a high level of formality is desired.
How does guest interaction differ at a banquet compared to a party?
Interaction at a banquet is often more formal and structured around the dining experience, whereas parties encourage more free-form socializing.
What food service styles are common at parties?
Parties may feature buffet-style service, finger foods, or even food trucks, depending on the event's informality.
Can banquets be themed?
Yes, banquets can have specific themes, often reflected in the decorations, menu, and attire.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
