subject: Arranging Catering For An Event [print this page] Arranging Catering For An Event Arranging Catering For An Event
Anyone who has ever arranged a big event knows how much there is to think about and how stressful it can be - no matter how well you prepare. One area where there's no need to stress, however, is the catering. A bit of thought beforehand can help your event run amazingly smoothly on the day. Make sure you know the location and timing of your event well in advance to give the caterers enough time to draw up menus and prepare everything they need.
Another issue to consider when planning catering for the big day is the special requirements of your guests. You need to know, for example, how many of them are vegetarian, if any have food allergies and if any of them have religious needs. This information should be passed on to your caterers to help them design their menus and accommodate all of your guests. You should also make sure your guests are aware of the food available so they can make informed decisions.
You also need to be very aware of your costs your overall budget and how much of that is for catering as it's easy to go over budget when taking care of a large amount of people. Get a good idea of how many will be attending as caterers often charge you per person. They also offer a range of menus for different prices based on the cost per person, so make sure you know your options and they know your budget so your menu stays on cost.
Also give a bit of thought to how the caterers will transport and store all the food for your event. Try looking for caterers with their own fleet of vehicles or who are based near to, if not actually at, the event location so they can transport the food with minimal difficulty. Also make sure your venue has good storage facilities where food can be kept before it's needed so it doesn't spoil. Let your caterer know as soon as possible if they'll need to provide the storage.
You also need to give a bit of thought to whether you want to have a formal sit down meal or a buffet. A lot of event managers recommend a buffet for big events, but make sure you have people to serve the food so the queue moves along quickly. Inform your guests prior to the event about what food will be on offer so they won't hold up the queue by taking ages to decide what they want. A bit of advance planning should ensure your catering runs smoothly.
