Caterers - How Much Food Will You Need?

If you're in the business of event planning or you are simply throwing a one time event, one of the most important concepts to become familiar with is figuring out how much food is enough. Nothing can ruin a party more quickly than realizing the caterers didn't bring enough to feed everyone. On the flip side of that, you don't want to spend money on food that is just going to be thrown away at the end of the night. Keep in mind that a general rule of thumb isn't necessarily going to be helpful for every occasion. A business lunch event is going to require a very different amount of food than a banquet. A wedding reception will require different amounts than a wine tasting party. Here are some tips you can use to make the right decision.

As a starting point, 1 ½ pounds per guest is not the worst estimate. Most caterers will agree that this should be plenty to leave your guests feeling satisfied. Appetizers, desserts, and various side dishes will all be factored into this number. If you are not going to be providing some of these extra courses, you can begin bringing down that number incrementally. Stay in close contact with your catering company and trust their decision. If you've hired a good company, they should have people on staff with the requisite experience to help you make the right choice.

Don't leave time of day out of your equations. While some countries place their meal emphasis on breakfast or lunch, America has always been very supper-oriented. Or dinner, if you prefer. In any case, the final meal of the day is where Americans tend to require the largest amounts of food. While breakfast for many people is coffee and a muffin (or less), a breakfast event typically requires more food than a lunch event would. Lunch is usually where you can get away with providing the least amount of food. Also calculate the temperature. People don't tend to want to gorge themselves on a hot day.

Finally, take the type of event you are planning into account. If you're planning a small bachelorette party, for example, or a gathering of your book club, you probably don't need to go crazy when it comes to the amount of food. The same goes for events where the main thrust of the gathering is to conduct business. The food is a necessary component of the culture, but it is almost to be regarded as a necessary evil in these circumstances. On the other hand, there are plenty of events where eating the food is largely the point, and you may need to make sure your caterers bring enough.