When designing the perfect menu for an event, there are five key things to keep in mind:

The Budget

This is the first thing you need to know when you begin planning. Don’t waste the caterer’s time if you aren’t sure of the budget because that will determine what you can serve. Knowing whether you can spend $10 or $100 per person is the major factor in how creative you can get with the menu and what options are available to you.

The Guests

Are your guests world-travellers and foodies? Do they prefer a simpler, less sophisticated event? Are they coming from an international destination or of a certain age group (let’s say they’re all under 21)? Based on this information, your menu choices will change dramatically. The world-travelling foodies will expect a more sophisticated menu while those looking for a simpler experience will probably want the same in the choice of foods.

Your Event’s Goal

If the event is a two-hour reception you won’t want to serve food that requires a fork and knife; it’s just a matter of timing. If it’s a formal rewards ceremony, a sit down multi-course meal will be more appropriate. Understanding the goal of the event and the timeframe will help guide your choices on the menu.

The Venue

Outdoor spaces allow for large BBQ smokers, grill stations and casual selections. (A formal dinner under the stars is nice too!) But, let’s say your venue is a museum – due to the lack of space you’ll want a bit different menu. It is probably best in this scenario to serve finger foods and bite sized portions. Not sure how to choose the perfect venue for your guests? Read this.

The Time of Day

The type of food (breakfast, lunch or dinner foods) and the portion size of the food will be determined by when the event occurs. The general rule of thumb here is that if the event falls into a typical meal time, the portions should be meal sized for every guest. If the budget doesn’t call for full meal portions, the best thing to do is to change the time of the event in order to prevent hungry/angry guests! Need some help on how to serve? Read our tips here.

In order to select the proper menu, it’s imperative you take a look at all five of these things.

You don’t want to run into the mistake of serving stir-fry and pasta at a rodeo when a BBQ is the best fit.

What was served at your last event and what kind of event was that? We’re curious! Let us know in the comments.

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