How to Hire a Caterer
Hosting a holiday party? You might want to hire a caterer to help. Domestic CEO offers savvy tips on how to find the best one for your needs – and budget.
With the holidays just around the corner, it’s party time!
Whether you have a crowd of 30 coming for Thanksgiving, or you just want to have your best friends over for an intimate pre-Christmas celebration, chances are at some point in the next few months, you’ll be hosting an event in your home.
It doesn’t matter if you are an old pro at this, or a newlywed hosting your first dinner party – throwing a successful gathering can be daunting and overwhelming. There’s so much to think about, from the food and drink, to cleaning your home, to having enough tables and chairs, to putting up holiday decorations. With all that, your pre-party to-do list can get crazy – so maybe it’s time to think about hiring a caterer to help with your event.
When you hear the word “caterer,” you might assume it’s going to cost a fortune. But if you’ve never seriously looked into the different options that caterers can offer, you might be pleasantly surprised. In addition to serving the big-budget crowd, many reputable caterers can provide services that are surprisingly affordable.
Here are my top tips for what to consider when choosing the pefect caterer for your party needs:
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Do Your Research
The first step in finding a caterer is to ask people you know for any recommendations. Personal references are always a good indicator on whether you’ll be satisfied with a caterer’s food and service. Check online for reviews, as well.
Of course, a good caterer will have their own website with food descriptions and prices, but while this is a good starting point, you’ll always want to call them up to get some personal assistance and quotes, based on your specific needs. Most caterers are more than willing to work within your budget and make hiring them a reality for you.
Planning the Menu
Once you’ve found your caterer, there are still a number of options to consider and decisions to be made – starting with the menu.
When choosing the menu, consider all the variables. What time of day is your gathering? Buffet or plated options can work for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but if you’re having an evening gathering, an hors d’oeuvres buffet might be a good option. You can also choose to serve passed hors d’oeuvres, which means service staff will mingle throughout the room, discreetly offering food to your guests. I’ve even hosted events where wine and cheese are the main savories, followed by a fantastic array of desserts and fresh fruit.
After you have decided how the food should be served, it’s time to decide what should be served.
Here’s where you need to think about who you have invited – namely, does anyone have dietary restrictions? When I’m choosing a menu, I try to have a few meat options, as well as some vegetarian choices. If I am just hosting a dessert buffet, I like to make sure there is fresh fruit and sugar-free items, so anyone who is diabetic doesn’t feel left out. It’s also good to have some gluten-free selections available, and if you know of any food allergies that a guest may have, take that into consideration, too. Nothing will put a damper on a party like an allergic reaction!
See also:Â What to Serve Vegans at Your Next Dinner Party?
Do I Need Service Staff?
This question can be answered by two things: how much work you personally want to do and how much money you want to spend. If the budget is limited, then maybe just crossing off the food preparation help from your list and doing the cooking yourself, is enough to make things manageable. If after-party clean-up absolutely kills you, and you don’t want to be faced with a mountain of dirty dishes the next morning, maybe hiring someone to tidy up after the event will be most helpful.
The nice thing about hiring even a single service helper is that it frees you up to mingle with your guests and fully enjoy the party. You can confirm with the caterer you hire, but generally, 1 staff person should be enough to handle a group of 15, if you are serving the food buffet-style. This person will make sure food trays and bowls are replenished, that the buffet looks stunning and stays neat and tidy, that leftovers are boxed and refrigerated, and that your kitchen is left spotless – like no one was ever there. If this appeals to you, then it’s well-worth spending the little extra on having someone there to help.
In addition, having someone there from the catering company means any specific ingredient questions can be answered accurately. I have personally found this to be very helpful on more than one occasion.
As a general rule of thumb, if you are pleased with the service from your staff helper, be sure to tip him or her at the end of the night. Side note: you don’t alway have to turn to the caterer for your staffing needs. Some household assistant services – like my company, Moxie Girl – offer these same options.
What Else Can the Caterer Do?
Of course, you’ll need to specifically check with the company you hire, but most caterers also offer the following serices:
- Bar service: they can provide a a full-service bar with a bartender and all the glassware needed for your event.
- Specialty cakes: most caterers partner with a bakery or cake decorator to allow you to arrange for a specialty cake directly through the caterer
- Equipment rental: all caterers can arrange for renting anything you might need for your party, like tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, glassware, etc. This can usually be added directly into your final cost, and you should be able to choose to set up your environment yourself, or have the catering company do it for you.
- Table decorations/floral arrangements: if thinking of table and room décor gives you a headache, leave that to the professionals. Many caterers have options that you can rent directly from them, or they’ll include it in the price anyway
Think Take-Out
If, after all this information, you are still thinking that catered food is not in your price range, check with your local grocer or your favorite restaurant before ruling the idea out. Party platters and catering options from these businesses can be quite affordable, and all you need to do is go pick up the food yourself. I have found that when comparing the prices of food that’s prepared for me or doing it all myself, the cost factor comes out about the same – especially when I consider how much of my personal time will go into the food prep.
Remember, hiring a caterer isn’t just for the rich and famous. There are many affordable options available and caterers are more than willing to do what they can to earn your business. So before you get stressed about hosting a holiday party, call in some reinforcements to make the party fun for all – especially you!
Until next time, I’m the Domestic CEO, helping you love your home! Share your party planning thoughts with me on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
Photos of 2 waiters, post-party clean-up, and food spread courtesy of Shutterstock.