Although they may require similar equipment, a buffet and a banquet are rather different. A buffet is a meal where guests serve themselves rather than wait for food to be served. They are usually casual and informal and can serve all types of dishes. Guests will go to a serving table and help themselves to the dishes on offer before going back to their seats. A banquet, on the other hand, is more formal. It's typically a meal served over with several courses by waiters. Guests will stay in their seats and wait for the food to be served. One significant difference between buffets and banquets is that a banquet may be held in honor of someone (such as a wedding, a birthday party, or an anniversary), whereas buffets are generally just held to offer food.