This event planning blog is to offer...
Catering Tips!
 When planning an event one of the hardest parts is deciding how much food you will need for your catered event. Without the proper guidelines, you could easily run out of food and have the event turn into a disaster. The fear of running out of food or having lots of leftovers can add stress to a catered event. Whether an afternoon tea, sit-down dinner or buffet, there are guidelines for caterers and party planners to follow to ensure they end up with the right quantities of food. There are several factors you must consider when determining food portions for catering: how many people are attending, how long the evening will be, the time of the event, the timing of the courses and the type of food you are serving. And just to be safe, always round up when determining the amount of food and drinks you will need. An accurate estimate not only helps the party run smoothly, it also keeps the budget in check. An accurate RSVP list is essential to calculating food amounts. Also, any event that lasts more than two hours will involve more food. Guests will get hungry about two hours after they have first eaten.
 As for as the beverages for your event, expect that people will drink about three beverages each. If you are serving coffee, remember that the most coffee is consumed in the morning, later afternoons and after they eat their meal. Coffee drinkers will usually consume about three drinks every 4 hours. It is important to remember to bring cream and sugar substitutes for those who can't eat dairy or real sugar. Of course, in the South (where It's Your Party is located) we serve Sweet Ice Tea as a beverage choice at almost any catered event!
 Planning the portions for appetizers varies by the type of function you are catering. If you are planning an evening function with no dinner, provide enough food for 10 to 15 pieces per person. Keep in mind that people tend to eat more when appetizers are served buffet style rather than passed on trays. The amount of appetizers per person will depend on the time of day and whether or not a meal is also being served. Plan on 10 to 15 appetizers per guest for evening events with no dinner, and three to five appetizers when there is a dinner. For a midday meal with appetizers, reduce the number to one to three appetizers per guest.
 If you are having a luncheon, allot 5 oz. per person for your entrée, with two to three sides that are 4 oz. each. Remember to also allow for a vegetable, a fruit, one to two pieces of bread or a starch, and a dessert for each person. If you are serving buffet-style sandwiches, plan on each person eating 4 oz. of meat and 2 oz. of cheese per person, or one to two sandwiches each.
If it is for a dinner party, When serving dinner, you should plan to serve a 5- to 7-oz. portion as an entrée, and two to three side dishes. If you are serving a vegetable as a side dish, you should allot 4 oz., but if you are serving beans or pasta, only serve 2-oz. portions. Also serve bread and 1 oz. of salad.
 If your dessert is a pastry, such as cake or tart, plan on your guests consuming one slice per person. If you are offering a creamy dessert, such as pudding or mousse, allot 4 oz. per person.
I hope this blog answered some of your questions for planning your next catered event. If you hire a caterer, they will be able to also guide you through the process. But having information about catering guidelines will help you make an educated decision during your event planning process. Please leave a comment or other tips below to help others who are planning their very special day!
|
You need to be a member of BridalTweet Wedding Forum & Vendor Directory to add comments!
Join BridalTweet Wedding Forum & Vendor Directory