How to Choose a Caterer for Your Event
Corporate events can be made or broken by their food and drink. Even if your presentations, speeches and showcases are all perfect, guests will expect refreshments to match.
Furthermore, the downtime during your event is when guests will be socialising, and having good food and drink on hand will make the whole process far more memorable and enjoyable. To help, we’ve put together this guide to choose the right caterer for your event.
Your Event
The first thing to consider is what kind of event you’re running. Larger events will obviously need catering that is scaled to match your needs.
But the type of event also matters. Are you hosting a networking event or having a team-building day out with your new staff? Depending on how formal your event is, you may opt for plated service, whilst more relaxed events can benefit from a buffet.
Depending on the event, you can spice things up with a unique catering choice. For example, you could try an afternoon tea box delivery, such as the ones from www.afternoonteabox.com, to give your guests or team a memorable meal.
Your Guests’ Expectations
You’ll want to consider the kind of food your guests are expecting too. Extras such as cocktails may be expected for certain gatherings, for example. Cultural backgrounds are also important, as you may want to incorporate an eclectic selection of meals. Keep in mind dietary requirements, providing vegetarian or vegan options and checking allergies of any guests beforehand.
Venue Size
Depending on seating arrangements, you may want to opt for a buffet to let guests move around and mingle. When catering for a large group with plated service, can you ensure you’ll have enough space for everyone and the food?
Working with local caterers that have frequently used your event’s venue is a safe bet, as you’ll be working with people that have encountered any problems with the venue already and will be more capable of meeting your needs. In general, a caterer familiar with your specific event size or theme will save you lots of hassle.