The holidays are almost upon us. If you’re starting to think about your holiday party and how to pull it off during one of the busiest times of the year, Sardi’s is here to help! Not only do we have a delicious catering menu to help you plan the food, but we also have a quick guide to planning your next catering event. Make this year’s holiday party the best yet - start planning now!
Whether you’re planning a holiday party for family, friends, or employees, it’s important to run through a catering event checklist to ensure success. Here’s what we recommend.
#1: Nail down your budget.
How much are you planning to spend on this particular catering event? At this point in the process, you should have an idea of how much you want to spend in total as well as a rough headcount of how many guests you think you want to invite. This will help you determine what you want on your catering menu, as well as the service style you prefer for your holiday party.
#2: Decide how many guests you’ll have.
Once you’ve set your budget, it’s time to draw up the guest list and send out invitations as quickly as possible so you can collect your RSVPs and finalize how many guests are coming to your catering event. However, you should add a buffer of about 5-10 people to your final count - this way, you have enough food if guests turn up unexpectedly to your holiday party.
#3: Finalize what service style you want.
After you’ve finalized who’s coming and you know your budget, you can decide what service style you want at your holiday party. Will you serve plated food, have a buffet, or go family-style and let people just serve themselves? If you opt for plated food with table service, be sure to find servers ahead of time and determine that the server/guest ratio is high enough - you don’t want your guests to have to hunt down food and drinks.
Also, keep in mind that with a large number of guests, a buffet can take a long time. It might be better to have the main dishes offered buffet-style and have the sides warmed and placed on the guests’ tables for them to serve themselves and cut down on time spent waiting in line.
#4: Consider your guests’ preferences and any dietary restrictions.
Once you know who’s coming to your holiday party, you can plan your menu around them. What kind of vibe will your catering event have? Will it be elegant and formal, or laid-back and fun? Should it have a corporate feel, or do you want your guests to feel like they’re family? Plan the food accordingly and also take any dietary restrictions that guests have into account.
#5: Determine your schedule.
You also need to consider what type of schedule you’re working with when it comes to your next holiday party. Do you have time for a sit-down dinner or will a quick buffet with light finger food work better? Can you have a cocktail hour with appetizers before dinner, or is there only enough time allotted for the main meal? Decide on your time frame and also be sure to check with your venue if you’re hosting a holiday party away from home. Your schedule will also help you plan your menu and your service style.
Once you’ve nailed down the specifics, it’s time to take action and contact the caterer that you want for your holiday party. Don’t wait too long, as many caterers will be booked through the holidays and you don’t want to miss out on the perfect menu for your guests.
Whether you’re planning a holiday party at home for family or hosting a corporate catering event, Sardi’s can accommodate your needs. Let us provide your guests with a delicious, hearty authentic Peruvian meal - visit a location near you to learn more about our catering menu or view it online. Happy holidays from our family to yours!
