A Guide to Planning a Big Catering Event

It can occasionally feel a little overwhelming to plan a sizable catered event like a luncheon, fundraising gala, or corporate holiday party.

It can occasionally feel a little overwhelming to plan a sizable catered event like a luncheon, fundraising gala, or corporate holiday party. When it comes to menus and vendors, there are a ton of considerations to make. However, you and your corporate caterer will be able to offer the best options if you enter the process with some clarity regarding your audience and the order of events. The following are some things you should think about before evaluating various caterers for large events.

Size of the audience and dietary restrictions

A guest count is one of the first questions that all caterers will ask. You don't need to know the exact number just yet, but having a ballpark figure or being aware of the venue's capacity could help the vendor estimate how much food will be required.

You should also find out if any of your visitors have any dietary requirements, such as preferences, allergies, or religious dietary requirements. As soon as you have this knowledge, make sure the vendors you are speaking with can incorporate these restrictions into their menus and method of cooking. For instance, if any of your guests cannot eat pork, you should make sure your caterer does not cook with lard or pork fat. Alternatively, your caterer needs to be cautious of cross-contamination if any guests have food allergies.

Plated or buffet?

Knowing the order of events or the type of event will be useful in this situation. If you're planning a fundraising gala with concurrent speakers and events, you might choose to serve a plated dinner so that your guests can keep their attention on the proceedings. The best option might be a buffet, though, if your event is a business luncheon with a scheduled lunch break.

Plan Your Budget

Simple boxed lunches to extravagant five-course meals and action stations are all examples of culinary experiences. Even though it might be alluring to include best tacos in houston, a dessert bar, opulent hors d'oeuvres, and a unique cocktail menu, the cost of these things can add up quickly. Caterers can easily suggest the best options to help you create the experience you're after while staying within budget if you have a budget in mind before speaking to vendors. Additionally, it will assist you in keeping your attention on the crucial choices.

Pick a caterer you can trust.

After you've evaluated and discussed a variety of options, be sure to select the caterer with whom you feel the most at ease. Take into account their length of service and the events they have experience with. You want to make sure they will reduce anxiety on the big day rather than stir up trouble.

Search for Top Tier Catering if you need a corporate catering partner with years of experience. For catering large events, business luncheons, and parties, our professionals can create custom menu options.