Putting on a major event can be very exciting, but it can also come with a lot of responsibility. Depending on the size of your party, you may want to consider investing in professional services such as an event planner, a caterer, perhaps even a designer and some entertainment. You want people to enjoy your event, and if you have the time, energy, resources, and funds, going all out to put on the party of the year will turn out to be worthwhile for everyone. And if you bring in that extra help, your chances of actually being able to enjoy the party will be that much higher.
From corporate menus to extravagant decorations
Whether you are planning the holiday office party or an extra special birthday celebration, there is going to be plenty to think about. Even if your event is focused around some other activity or entertainment other than the dinner, you want the food to be expertly on point, which is why many people turn to special event catering services. You don’t want a perfectly festive gathering to be soured by measly attempts at hors d’oeuvres or off tasting main dishes. The food portion of the party is one that should ideally go seamlessly.
The best event planners and catering services will likely have set menus for you to choose from, based on the type of event you are hoping to pull off. From corporate menus to wedding reception dinner plate choices, you can work with your caterer to put together the best fit for what you have in mind, what will work with your venue, and what is feasible if there are any allergies or special dietary restrictions.
Understanding the services available to you
Some companies specialize in outside catering services, for those events that will be held in a big tent or out in the open. In situations like these, there are particular conditions that must be met in order for the catering team to prepare, cook, and serve the desired food. It can present unexpected obstacles for those who are not prepared to do all of the work outside, and so finding a team that specializes in that will make things go much more smoothly. If you are checking out corporate menus for a major business event that you need to pull off without a hitch, shop around for catering companies that have had plenty of experience putting on these types of events.
Whatever type of party you are planning, if you are counting on using a caterer, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind.
- You’ll pay for what you eat. Most caterers don’t let you keep any of the leftovers, unless you have arranged something different ahead of time. One socially conscious idea would be to find a caterer who donates the leftovers to homeless shelters or others in need.
- There are numerous food safety laws that a caterer must adhere to, so if you have a special request that doesn’t fit within those laws, know that your caterer is watching out for the best interest of all those in attendance when he or she denies your request. On the other hand, if you see some shady food handling methods happening, know your rights and how things should be taken care of.
- A caterer has a lot on his or her plate. Because of the prevalence of food at most events, the caterer might have table arrangements, decorations, and food presentation to set up. That is on top of managing a staff of servers, cooks, cleaners, and dishwashers, and making sure that the entire team is working together in order to pull it all off successfully.
Whether you are browsing a caterer’s corporate menus or you are trying to pull off the perfect surprise birthday party, you want it all to be perfect. Enlisting the help of an event planner and caterer will only increase your chances of throwing the flawless bash.