There’s no better way to satisfy your party guests than to satisfy their appetites. As such, the catering service you choose can easily be the highlight of your party. Or, it can be the cautionary tale of a party gone horribly wrong.
Okay, so maybe the stakes aren’t that high. But it’s still very unfortunate when your party catering is met with more frowns than smiles.
Luckily, we’re going to help you avoid this unfavorable fate. The following tips will teach you how to choose the right catering service for your party.
Just read this guide and follow these tips to delight all those hungry guests.
1. Know Which Type of Catering Service You Need
First, know your options. Below are the two main types of catering services. Figure out which of these you need for your event.
Full-Service
Full-service catering is essentially like renting an entire restaurant. They provide food, dishes, and silverware. They also serve the food, bus the tables, and clean up their mess when they’re done.
Full-service catering is available for plated meals you order ahead of time or as a buffet.
Drop-and-Go
Just like it sounds, drop-and-go catering means the food is delivered fully prepared and that’s all. Disposable dishes and silverware are usually provided. But serving the food and cleaning up the mess is up to you.
This is far cheaper than full-service catering. And it lets you allocate your own event staff or volunteers to take care of the serving and cleanup.
2. Know Your Budget
Next, determine exactly how much you can/want to spend on catering this event. Choosing the perfect caterer is moot if you can’t pay the bill. If the budget is tight, go with a drop-and-go caterer.
3. Know Your Guests
It would be a disaster to order a taco bar from L.A. Mex only to find out that none of your guests like Mexican food. As well as you can, get a consensus from your guests as to what kind of food they are okay with for the event. This can be included with their RSVP.
It’s also good to make sure there’s at least one vegetarian menu option available.
4. Ask Around
Ask your friends and family if they’ve hired catering services in the past. They can tell you of any they were pleased with, or who to steer clear of.
5. Read Online Reviews
Another way to get this same type of testimonial is by reading online reviews, like those on Google or Yelp. See what previous customers think of the companies you’re interested in.
6. Call the Caterer For More Information
Here’s a simple test to see how reliable the caterer you’re interested in is. Email them with your questions and see how fast they respond to you.
If they’re slow in getting back to you, beware. This is a sign of unreliability.
Follow These Tips When Choosing a Catering Service
If you need a catering service for your next party, don’t forget about this list. Follow these tips when choosing a caterer.
Hungry for more? We’ve got the advice you need. Find more valuable tips like these on our blog.
