When it comes to menu planning and catering, there is a lot to think about. Choosing the correct menu for your guests is vital if you want to throw a majestic event. Here are a few things to keep in mind when beginning the menu planning process.

What do you serve?

To ensure that your menu syncs up with your event, always consider:

• The type of people that will be attending. Are they well-traveled foodies or less sophisticated and not very well traveled? It is important that you serve food that fits their tastes.
• The area in which the guests will be eating. Outdoor spaces opt for BBQ smokers, grill stations, and more casual food selections. Indoor spaces work better with smaller food stations and bite-sized portions.
• Your budget. Make sure you know your budget before you begin menu planning to ensure that you won’t have to back and alter your menu later on.
• The goal or type of event. If a lot of mingling is important, provide bite-sized foods that are easier to mix and mingle with. If the event is being thrown to recognize or reward something, a sit-down dinner is more appropriate.
• The timing of the event. Make sure that you are serving appropriate selections and portions for the time of day that your event is scheduled.

How Do You Serve It?

There are typically three ways that you can serve food at an event:

• Butler passed: uniformed staff move through the crowd with platters of bite-sized appetizers and napkins for the guests.
• Buffet: guests go to food stations and select the items they would like.
• Plated or served meal: guests are served in a more formal manner with synchronized timing.

Whichever method you choose, make sure you consider the 5 points above to ensure that it bodes well with your event.

How Much Do You Serve?

Once you know how you want to serve your food, you need to decide how much to order. Hotels and caterers usually require a guaranteed guest count three to five days before your event. A word of warning: food stations that have shrimp, crab, or lobster are always extremely popular and people will eat much more than you expect. Click To Tweet

Happy Menu Planning!

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