When planning an event, one of the most important things is to find a good catering event for your guests. Find out how right here
Finding a good catering company for your event is extremely important, but it’s also much easier said than done. If you’re new to hosting and planning events, here are some essential tips on how to choose the best catering company just to get you started.
Some of the things you need to consider are things like how much it’s all going to cost and which company offers the style of food you want to go for. After cost consideration, it’s time to throw a fun curveball into the mix – food trucks. These food catering trucks have rapidly gained popularity at events, delivering a medley of delicious cuisine that can suit every guest’s preference. With a food truck, you’re not just serving meals; you’re also providing a unique, interactive experience that can liven up any event. So, along with a scrumptious spread, you’re also gifting your guests a memorable gastronomic journey.
You should also ‘try before you buy,’ which means scheduling a tasting. It will also be an advantage but not essential if the caterer that you decide to go with has experience with the venue you have selected for your big event. Learn more about how to find a good catering company right here.
Things to remember when choosing a great catering company for your event
There’s so much to remember when organising an event, and there are lots of things to consider, especially when it comes to the catering side of things. Some of the most important things to remember when choosing a catering company for an event you are organising include the following:
Consider what kind of catering is right for your event (e.g., reception service, buffet service, or table service)
Consider how much you are willing to spend on catering
Do your guests have any special dietary requirements?
How many people are expected to turn up to your event?
The type of venue you book can help you choose the best caterer
Will the event be formal or informal?
How will the seating be arranged for your guests
If it all seems a little bit too daunting, then you may want to consider hiring professional event staff from trusted companies, such as the Event People, who have lots of experience in this sector and do all the hard work so that you don’t have to.
What kind of catering is right for your event, and how much do you plan to spend on catering?
One of the questions you must ask yourself is, do you want reception service, buffet service, or table service? If you’re on a tight budget, then perhaps reception service is the better option. It will cost you less, and it includes finger food/nibbles and drinks, which your attendees can have while wandering about without having to sit down at a specific table.
If you have a little bit more spare cash, then you may want to go for buffet services. Your guests can choose from a broad range of food and drinks, and they can dish it up themselves and pour their own drinks. If you aren’t too worried about costs, then you may want to go for the table service option. With this, your guests are seated at specific tables and have food and drinks served to them by the specially trained catering staff.
Do your guests have any special dietary requirements?
A good catering company will easily be able to adapt to any dietary requirements that you and your guests may have. You should, therefore, make an effort to find out which of your guests have, for example, food allergies or food intolerances. They may also have special medical diets, a coeliac disease, or they may only eat certain foods based on their religious beliefs. You may also have lots of vegetarians or vegans attending. You need to gather this information as early as possible and check that the company you select can cater to these specific requirements.
How many people are expected to attend?
Find out how many people are most likely to attend before hiring a caterer. For example, you don’t want to hire a caterer for 500 people, and then only 50 people turn up. There’s nothing worse than waste, especially when it comes to food.
Which type of venue have you booked, and is it going to be a formal or informal event?
If you have booked a room in your local village pub for close friends and family members, then you don’t want to book a caterer that specialises in catering at fine dining events. Likewise, you don’t want to book a cheap caterer that can only provide things like chicken nuggets and finger sandwiches if you are going to book an expensive venue for important people, such as your work colleagues, management, directors, and CEOs.
Other things to remember when booking a good catering company
Remember to have a tasting session, where possible, before hiring a caterer, just to see if they are up to scratch. Check their references and try to find some reviews for previous events they have catered to. Make sure your caterer is easy to get in touch with, and see how polite and well-mannered they are. If they are rude, controlling, or aggressive, then you do not want to book them. Finally, try and remember to have fun at your event. If it’s a success, and everyone loves the catering, then you may want to hire them again in the future for another event.
