Can you find a caterer to do this? Photo by Happy Buddy PhotoArt.
I find that one of the hardest things for my clients in planning events is hiring a caterer. I admit that it can be a complicated process. If you break it down into smaller steps, it gets a little easier.
One of the first things you can consider when choosing a caterer is whether to hire a big catering firm or a smaller one. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages.
A small caterer is likely to be more flexible in menus and pricing. Sometimes they can come up with a special dish just for you. You are more likely to get the personal touch from a smaller firm. There is also more variety: Small companies specialize in different things and each one is different. On the flip side, some small caterers can not handle very large crowds. They don’t always have the office staff to return calls promptly. And they aren’t on the preferred caterer list of many of the larger venues.
Large caterers often have an event coordinator/sales person on staff who is your contact from beginning to end. This person is not generally a substitute for your own event planner but is another pair of hands and another experienced professional working for you. The largest caterers also often hire extra serving staff. I just worked on a wedding with catering by Wolfgang Puck. They hired at least 20 servers for 175 guests, including one server who only looked after the bride and groom. It’s great to have extra people working at your event. But you pay for size and service. And you generally have to work with the caterer’s preset menus.
If you’re planning to hire a caterer soon, take a look at the size of the catering company. See what they have to offer. That ought to help you narrow down your choices.
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