Photo courtesy of Vanessa Pike-Russell on flickr
The guest list is compiled and the theme has been selected. The entertainment is booked and you’re pretty sure the perfect party venue to showcase your event is confirmed. You’re feeling pretty good and you think you have it all covered. But wait…things can still go wrong, awfully wrong. What’s missing?
Unfortunately we sometimes learn by trial and error. And forgetting or having the wrong, or too little, food is definitely an error! It’s safe to say that one of the very most important factors in party event planning is the food.
Bad food, or not enough food, can and will ruin even the best planned party. How key is food at a party event? From simple gatherings to blockbuster party events food is the energy and centerpiece of the party. When planning food for your party, there are many factors to consider. You have to think about what type of food to serve, should it match a theme, how much and staying on budget!
Party Event Planning – What to Do, What to Do?
The $64,000 question remains… what type of food should you serve? Hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, finger food, cocktail party food, meal, non meal, buffet, sit down…And more decisions follow.
Food matching. Should you match your food to your theme? Should you match the wine with the food?
Quantity. How much food should you serve? And organizing food qualities can be equally as important as determining what type of food to serve…
And of course…cost. Determining and sticking to the budget is a crucial part of party event planning, it can make or break you, quite literally.
The possibilities really are endless.
Party Event Planning – A Solid Decision
The answer to all of those questions, and more, is to hire a catering company. Catering companies bring experience, knowledge and understanding to each and every event. A catering company will take your planning and organizing and balance your ideas with the right food fit and guest experience. They will work with you and be an extension of you and your company. Most times your guests won’t know who did what. A caterer will take on as much or as little as you want them to. They will ensure you are on the right track and make the food one of the brightest stars of the party event.
Party Event Planning – Selecting the Catering Company
When deciding on the right catering company for your party events, be sure the company you select has what you are looking for. I was just about to say to be sure they have the experience working with the type and size of party event you are throwing but I am reminded about meeting planner story.
An industry friend was planning a company event for 5,000 guests in a city she had never worked in. She granted the party contract to a catering company that she didn’t know. They hadn’t worked on any events the size of the one she was planning. The reason for her decision, she said, was because after interviewing all the companies, she liked the newest and smallest company of the group. And the other companies reminded her of the invited guests attending the party. She felt that working with a catering company that had the experience, but not the suitable personality would be a mistake. So she went with the “newer” caterer with less “big group” experience and she never regretted her decision. And after celebrating a 15 year business relationship, it continues to be the right decision.
Before making that final decision be sure to get and check references, observe the company in action during an event and sit down for a tasting. I am a big proponent of tastings; they give you the opportunity to really see the quality, of the food, service and presentation, eliminating any future surprises or disappointments.
Working and partnering with professional catering companies will make your job easier and will elevate your planning party events to a new level.
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