Last Updated on January 10, 2023 by admin
Event planning is a complex and lengthy process with many steps – one being planning the catering for your event. Catering for an event includes considering a vast range of dietary requirements, the type of event you are hosting, and the number of guests in attendance. To lighten your load, you can book external event catering, but you can check out the catering tips below to give you a helping hand with how to instruct your event catering team.
Event catering tips:
- Prepare well
- What type of event is it?
- Know your quantities
- Can you go more casual?
- Present your food nicely.
Catering tips for events
Prepare well
Corporate caterers can provide excellent catering services by providing them with as much information as possible. It will also be most helpful if you contact your caterer with plenty of warning and relay this information to them as soon as possible.
Information to pass on to your caterer:
- Number of expected guests
- Length/duration of the event
- Type of event
- Time of day
- Location
- Budget
Ensure that you have a wide range of refreshments available for all dietary requirements if you do not ask your attendees about their nutritional needs in advance (although I highly recommend this).
What type of event is it?
The style or type of event you are hosting will significantly influence the most appropriate catering type. When considering the kind of event you are hosting, consider whether it is formal or more of a casual affair.
If it is a casual situation, then ‘party’ or more buffet-style food is probably best for your guests and attendees to grab at – think mini pizzas, cheese and biscuits, sausage rolls, meats (and fake meats), and bread. Conversely, if the event you are hosting is formal, you should discuss more of a sit-down meal affair with your caterer. Food and drink are a good thing to offer during networking if the schedule for the event is tight, so the type of food offered should also allow the attendees to mingle if this is the plan.
Know your quantities
The last thing you want when your event rolls around is to find that there needs to be more food for all your hungry and thirsty attendees, or you end up with too much and risk food waste! Trying to find the perfect middle ground can be a task in itself.
Suppose your event is one of the more formal types suggested above. In that case, a great idea to ensure enough meals go around is to have all your attendees choose a dish from a set menu and order a set number of each word through your caterer, so the right amount of food is prepared.
If, on the other hand, you are offering a more casual buffet affair, it is essential to think sustainably. There is a good chance you could end up with surplus food left over, so you must have a plan regarding what you will do with this. We recommend looking into food shelters in the area of your venue and donating any leftovers there.
Can you go more casual?
As briefly alluded, the catering often appears at events during the designated networking period. Therefore, a more casual affair when it comes to catering is often the way forward!
Buffet or ‘help yourself’ finger food is much easier to eat while mingling amongst people at the event, unlike a three-course sit-down meal, and often takes less to arrange.
As a top creative catering tip, consider considering if you can afford to go more casual with the event food and drink.
Present your food nicely.
It will likely also be your external caterer’s job to present the food, but this is separate from the fact you have the creative freedom to make suggestions. Your event’s food presentation will directly reflect your company and brand, so you must create an excellent first impression.
You can do a food presentation creatively to fit with the theme of your event by adding decorations to your table display, or you can go with offering a particular cuisine for consistency, whether Mexican, Chinese food, or beyond.
A real positive to present your food aesthetically pleasingly is that you can get great photos with the food spread! Great event photos will be invaluable to your future marketing strategy. Trust us on that one!
Are you planning an event?
If you are looking into catering for your event, event catering is one of many things you want to plan.
If you are planning on hosting an event soon, as part of the planning process, you will also be looking to hire an event photographer. And, yes, you can use this event photographer to take photos of your beautiful catering display!
Through Splento, you can book an event photographer instantly and with zero fuss. Splento photograph a wide range of events – from concerts to gala balls and school formals. When you book an event photographer for your sustainable event through Splento, you can expect to receive your fully edited photos in 24 hours!
Contact Splento today to ensure your sustainable event is one to remember!
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