How Much Does It Cost To Have Something Catered?

By Valerie Vollmer
A Catering Department gets these calls daily, and we certainly would love to reply with just one simple answer, but the fact is that the price of catering ranges depending on many factors involved with your event. Here are a few:

The Food Served

Say you and your fiancée would like to serve a beef entrée. Will it be Beef Tenderloin, Tri Tips, Prime Rib, or New York Steak? What do you want to serve and request the price of that beef cut. Serving Shrimp? What size are they? 8/12 or 26/30. What this means is that you will get 8 to 12 per pound, they will be large. 26 to 30 per pound will be very small. A sit down dinner with one choice, say chicken, can still can have a very elegant feel and will be more economical than a lobster and tenderloin buffet, but the location must be able to accommodate everyone seated, and sit down entrees china place settings.


The Type of Service

The more service staff and kitchen staff that is required, the higher the cost. Sit down served meals require more staff for attentive and efficient service. Buffet entrees are not as demanding and less staff is often needed. Having a buffet does not mean a lesser menu, often buffet are more elaborate with a wide variety of flavors. Service is extremely important to a caterer. You can be assured that they will do an outstanding job for your and your guests. Word of mouth from satisfied customers is one of the best way to find a caterer, and the best way they can promote themselves. Ask around. Also look for a caterer whose servers are trained to anticipate the needs of your guests and provide the utmost in service.

Rental Equipment

Sit down service requires china and full place setting, but with a buffet you can use high grade disposables. Consider your table coverings… linen or plastic? You can not begin to image what is available to you!! A caterer should want you to be able to see and obtain prices from a wide variety of beautiful linens, china and flatware patterns, and all different styles of chairs that are perfect for your party. Many caterers will work with the rental companies and get the right quantity ordered for your event. Make sure they are using a well known outside rental company who is a specialist in this area. The rental company may bill you directly and you pay them directly, or the caterer may include this in their price quote so you just have to write one check. A professional caterer will coordinate anything you might need, so one call does it all.

Length of Event

Consider the timing frame of your event. The catering staff is working more hours than what you see, as they must arrive at the catering kitchen and load the vehicles, or set up the site before the guests arrive and clean up after the event, as well as possible return to the catering kitchen and unload the vehicles. Travel to and from your site is added in as well. A six-hour event will be more expensive than a four-hour event and also consider any outside vendors such as bands, DJs, photographers, etc. You will need to have everyone’s time coordinated.

 

Valerie Vollmer, CPCE, has been an off premise caterer for over 20 years. Is one of only 175 CPCE (Certified Professional Catering Executives) in the US. National Association of Catering Executives - 2nd National Vice President

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