Top Tips For Choosing A Caterer For Any Events
- Written by Ellane Llanes
Excellent food catering at your event, even if there are small mistakes made, will undoubtedly make your guests feeling happy and satisfied. However, serving bad food will wreck all the amazing aspects of your event and make it a complete disaster.
That said, it’s important to invest some of your time in choosing a catering service for your event. Take note that not having the right caterer is a major red flag. If you are looking for a catering service, here are some tips to consider when choosing a catering vendor.
Plan
More often than not, quality catering is usually the second line item cost in a budget for an event. The amount spent on food and drinks can dramatically affect how much money will be left for other items on your list.
Of course, your event is essential to you. And it should also be the case to your catering vendor. So, before you consider the actual price list and menu options, examine and assess how quick or speedy the caterer is to your emails or phone calls.
If, for instance, they fail to return your emails or calls before you hire them, think about the type of service you will receive once you’ve paid the deposit.
Be Precise And Well-Defined
Catering vendors offer different menus and pricing levels. That said, comparing different pricing structures and menus can be a real challenge. As such, be very specific when it comes to the kind of event, the food, and drinks you’d like served, as well as your expectations regarding the service and the menu.
Caterers need to know you, your event, and ask lots of questions about your thoughts or comments on the menu. Thus, be precise and specific to what you want.
Event Size
Whoever you hire, make sure that they can handle or manage the number of guests that will attend your event. Also, it’s critical to consider what you will need from your catering vendor. Usually, you might need entrees and appetizers, or maybe one of the two. Caterers need to be able to manage the event size without second thoughts, provided with all the important details upfront.
Experience Of The Caterer
If the theme of your event is outdoor, casual barbeque, then a catering vendor that specializes or focuses in black-tie, elegant affairs might not be the right option for you. That said, when choosing a caterer, look for one that has the experience of providing service with the kind of event you’re planning.
Don’t make the mistake of hiring a catering vendor that you may have used before for a different event. Alternatively, you can talk to them about your demands. Or you can ask for proposals from other catering vendors with established and proven experience in the kind of event you’re organizing. Remember, an excellent caterer will inform you if they can’t handle the type of menu you want.
Flexibility
Catering vendors usually have fixed menu options from which you can select. Search for menus that are trendy and current in food and beverage. Talk about other menu options that might be available.
Keep in mind that flexibility is crucial and vital as you look for a catering vendor that’ll deliver based on your expectations and needs. Also, remember that you’re hiring them for service and food and beverage.
By that we mean, the service you get as the customer and your guests at the event. Although you have no authority over the staff at a restaurant, you have control or command over what kind of staff serves the food and beverage at your event. Make sure to ask about the number of servers and their experience.
Contracts
As a client, you need to safeguard yourself. You can do this by signing a contract agreement with the caterer. Ensure that the contract is aimed to secure you from the non-performance of the caterer.
Have an attorney review and assess the contract. Take note that the attorney fee will be more affordable compared to what you will lose if, for instance, the catering vendor fails to do its job properly.
Takeaway
When organizing an event, canceling it on the day of the event might not occur to your mind. Even so, things happen, and it is wise to plan ahead how a cancellation will be dealt with. The contract agreement with your caterer needs to include cancellation penalties and procedures if your catering vendor fails to deliver at the last minute.
Likewise, if you cancel your event and are forced to cancel the service of the catering vendor, make sure to clearly define the penalties for the cancellation. Make sure to include all these into the contract agreement. Another thing, it is wise to ask for sampling on the chosen menu to find out if the food is literally good.
Author Bio
Ellane Llanes is a writer and a blogger. She mainly writes about business, real estate, and home remodeling. In her free time, Ellane takes her dogs to the park.
