So your going to hire a catering services company, but your not sure what you need for your event. That is a common problem people find themselves having after they have reached out to the company & get asked “what you like to have at your event?” We’re going to help you out by providing some of the common types of set ups Atlanta catering companies can provide.
Plated Service Style
This type of set up is when each of your guest get a plated meal. This is ideal for formal events like celebrations, graduations, corporate events, etc. This is also the perfect formula for official speeches or presentations. The guests sit relatively still at the table and focus their attention on the speaker. You select this set-up if you want your guests to be able to have deeper conversations with each other and network on a smaller scale. A drawback is that you can only offer your guests a limited menu choice. You had also better select a sufficiently spacious location. Nothing can ruin a dinner like being packed like sardines in an overcrowded and hot hall. You do, however, need some space to put the tables and to give the waiters some room to move around. Also bear in mind that this is often the most expensive formula.
Buffet Style
This set up is when the caterers set up a buffet style layout where the guest can pick from a variety of food options. For bigger events on which guests arrive at different times, a buffet is the best formula. This is perfect for providing a variety of dishes and that your guests choose themselves, in accordance with their diet: vegetarian, gluten-free, low-fat… An important item is the service: make sure the queues don’t become too long. Ensure that there are sufficient buffet tables where your guests can line up along two sides. In order to improve the network, you had best provide various eating spaces: a couple of tables with chairs, combined with high chairs and several cozy lounge corners.
Hors D’oeuvres
This formula offers two advantages. Your guests don’t have to move in order to retrieve their food. They can calmly talk on while the waiters walk around to provide them their food. Also you can perfectly manage your budget, because you can decide the amount of food to serve. Depending on the timing of your event, you can provide food which fills your guests up or doesn’t. There may be types of events where you don’t want your guest to get full & start the get sleepy. This is especially the case for more formal events that have someone speaking. Also this makes sure that they can easily eat their food with one hand (only a fork or a spoon) if other interaction is required. This is the perfect formula if your participants want to network to the fullest.
Working With Event Planners Or Venues
If your working with event planners or a particular venue they may already have a relationship with the catering company & can help make your event truly special through collaborative planning. Keep these tips in mind when planning your next event & you’ll have an enjoyable time.
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