There are so many things, which go into planning a successful event. From getting the décor right to arranging for entertainment and food, the planning and execution activities abound. When it comes to the food all of us want to ensure that we have the best caterers to help us out. However, there are multiple things, which can go wrong when it comes to catering.
As someone who is an important part of an event, you do not want to be micromanaging every single thing. This will just make you not be a part of any of the photos or videos of the event. I am sure this is something none of us would want.
In order to ensure that you are having fun, enjoying amongst your guests, and getting clicked, you need to have the most professional and experienced catering service for your event.
In this article, we are going to look at 7 questions you need to ask a catering company before you hire them. We talk to one of the best catering services Brisbane brand to help us out in this regard.
List of 7 Questions to ask a Catering Service Company before you hire them
Question 1: Serving Options-
It is important to ask your caterer about the serving options they have on offer. While some caterers, especially the bigger ones, cater to almost all serving options, others do not. In other words, some caterers might carry serving options best suited for smaller parties and birthdays (informal settings). But they would not be able to offer serving options for weddings.
Question 2: Adult Drinks and Beverages-
You might want your catering company to possess the requisite licenses to be able to serve alcohol at the event. This is why it is important for you to ask them this question. The good catering companies always update their licenses as well as suggest drinks, which go best with the food you are thinking of serving to your guests.
Question 3: Dishes and Equipment-
It should be pointed out that catering companies might not carry all your dishes and cutlery requirements at the event. While they might have serving trays, it is best you clear this. If they do not, you will have to engage another vendor for the same. Leaving this question right to the very end can land you in a lot of problems.
Question 4: Dress and Grooming of the Servers-
The last thing you would want is servers who are impolite, borderline rude, and poorly dressed in faded jeans and hoodies. It is important that you decide on these things well-in-advance. Check up on the dress, which they are going to wear. Some companies require their servers to be clean-shaven. If you have any specific requests, make sure you raise and ask about them.
Question 5: Prices and Costs (if there are overheads)-
While you will get an estimated quotation from the catering service for your requirements, there is one thing, which you should absolutely ask about. Catering companies are notorious for waiting on the final bill and inflating them with overheads. If your guest count increases, you might be charged a bomb. This is one thing, which you should definitely question.
Question 6: Licenses and Certifications-
Catering companies have to follow the exact same protocols as eating in restaurants do. This means they need to have various food licenses and update them on a yearly basis. Asking a catering company about whether they have the license to operate or not might be something, which you might feel is too trivial. However, you don’t want to get into trouble because of that.
Question 7: Refunds and Cancellations-
With so much going around in the world thanks to the pandemic, who knows whether you will be allowed to hold the event or not in the first place. This is why you should be prepared for rescheduling the event. However, you do not want your catering company to act difficult when you are seeking a refund. This is why it is best to clear up the air about refunds and cancellations in advance.
The Final Word
By asking all the above-mentioned seven questions, you will be in a much better position to make your selection. This will also allow you to understand the kind of catering service you are signing on for. However, you can rest assured that a positive reply to all seven questions would mean that you are well on your way to working with a credible and reputable catering company.