There are a lot of decisions and choices to make when it comes to the food at your party; organizing the catering and the meal plan for your event is a whole job in and of itself. As you begin to explore your catering options, here are ten questions you should ask before hiring a catering company.
1. Will My Initial Contact Be Overseeing My Event?
Depending on the size of the company, you might be initially meeting with someone who will not actually be present for the event. It’s good to have clear communication on who will be preparing the menu and who will be overseeing the event, especially if you’d feel more comfortable having someone oversee your event who you had previously met with.
2. Does Your Catering Company Provide Wait Staff?
Knowing in advance whether you’ll need to hire wait staff for the event can save you a lot of grief on the actual day.A catering team that has staff that they are used to using and know their procedures can make your party a well organized success. Some catering companies charge for wait staff; make sure to ask if wait staff are included in the original price or if this will cost extra.
3. What Do the Caterers and Wait Staff Wear?
If you have a certain theme or dress code for your event, finding out what the catering company’s wait staff will wear can play a part in setting the tone of your party. Ask the catering company how flexible it is on dress code; can staff dress up or down for certain events?
4. Do You Specialize in Certain Types of Food?
It’s important to get a sense of what types of food the catering company traditionally makes and how comfortable the chefs are working outside those parameters. If you’re looking for a specific type of food, it’s also good to get a sense of their experience in making it.
5. Are You Able to Accommodate Allergies and Other Dietary Restrictions?
Knowing the flexibility of the catering company on preferences and restrictions is important; you often don’t find out about these dietary restrictions until receiving event confirmation, long after you’ve already chosen your caterer.An experienced caterer can accommodate these restrictions and know how to make tasty menus that all of your guests will enjoy.
6. Do You Have a Liquor License?
Not all catering companies are licensed to provide liquor alongside food. If alcohol is going to play a part in your event, you’ll want to make sure you know in advance if your caterer will be able to provide alcohol to your guests.
7. Do You Have the Necessary Permits and Insurance?
If the company does provide liquor, it should also have liquor liability insurance. If it doesn’t, you could be on the hook for any injuries sustained while guests are under the influence of alcohol at your party. Make sure to enquire about health permits as well; catering companies should be able to providea health permit. Without the proper permits, events can get shut down and usually will forfeit deposits and blow contingency budgets.
8. Can You Provide Me with References and Examples from Previous Events?
Unwillingness or inability to provide references and examples from previous clients is a big red flag. Some companies may be great at marketing and customer service, but without solid evidence of previous successes to back it up, you could be taking a serious risk.
9. How Does Your Catering Company Handle Gratuities?
This question is necessary to avoid any unexpected unpleasantness on the day of the event. Different companies have different policies concerning gratuities, and knowing in advance what is expected of you are your guests will clear up confusion.
10. Do You Have a Leftover Policy?
Like the question of gratuities, knowing the leftover policy in advance can prevent stress and confrontation on the day of your event. Not all catering companies allow organizers to keep any leftovers from the party. This is something you’ll want to be aware of beforehand.
