Let’s face it, planning an event is stressful. And the contractors you hire for the event should make things less stressful – not more. And yet, working with inexperienced or ill-equipped caterers often create more work and provoke more headaches than you would have had if you tried to do everything yourself.
When it comes to catering, you want to choose a caterer who will pull of the job beautifully and leave you less stressed on the big day. Read on for four ways that your caterer should make your event less stressful.
1. Perfect planning
When it comes to choosing the perfect caterer, experience matters. The more clients a caterer has worked with, the more likely he or she is able to execute the perfect planning that will make your life less stressful on the day of the event. This includes knowing what questions to ask about the venue, being able to anticipate exactly how much food to prepare for an event of your size and style, and how to be prepared for unexpected changes in plans. The devil is in the details when it comes to event planning, so make sure you choose a caterer who know which details matter most!
2. Solid budgeting
When working with a reputable caterer, you should have no doubts about staying within your budget. Experienced and skilled companies usually offer written guarantees that agreements will be honored and that your guests are happy and satisfied without any surprise bills arriving in your mailbox a week after the event. Good caterers also know where to cut corners and where to splurge. It’s entirely possible to get the service you’re looking for without breaking the bank.
3. Transparent communication
This is arguably the most important qualification for an awesome caterer (ok, besides great tasting food). Planning an event can be stressful, and you don’t want to deal with the added stress of trying to nag your caterer to return calls. You don’t want to you’re your event with someone who isn’t realistic about what’s possible and how much it will cost. Unless your budget is limitless, an honest caterer should be able to tell you that something is too expensive or isn’t feasible given the scope of your event. While a caterer that says yes to everything might seem great in the moment, it can be a disaster when promises aren’t delivered.
4. Perfect execution
A caterer is only as good as the men and women who actually execute on the plan. From the food preparation to the service, catering employees should be punctual, professional, and experienced. Don’t be afraid to ask a respective caterer how long he or she has been in business and how long the average server or cook has been working with that company.
An experienced partner for planning your event
No matter how prepared you are, there is bound to be some stress as your event draws near. Avoiding as much stress as possible with an experienced and reliable caterer is worth the time it takes to find one. Make sure to put some effort into hiring a caterer who will be honest with you and facilitate the catering experience — from initial menu planning right through to the day-of-event service.