Savvy event hosters know that when you provide your attendees with food, things tend to go better. Everyone appreciates a free meal, and ensuring that your guests aren’t hungry improves focus throughout the event. If you’ve been placed in charge of catering for a meeting, conference, or any other event, this is a big responsibility! There are so many different considerations to make. You want to ensure that everything goes well. Here are some helpful tips for you as you take charge of catering for your next event.

Make Sure You Know Your Headcount, and Overcompensate

This is arguably the biggest checklist item to make sure you get right when organizing catering for an event. You obviously have to know your headcount before you order. If, for some reason, you can’t know exactly how many people will be in attendance, overestimate. If you have an accurate headcount, you should still over order a little bit, just to be sure. You can always send extra food home with attendees or helpers at your event. The last thing you want to do is run out of food for attendees.

Does Your Catering Choice Match the Tone of the Meeting?

Another great question to ask yourself is, “What is the tone of this event?” Finding themed food to match the theme of your event is fun, but this tip is more about making sure you have the right food for your event. Is this meeting happening over a dinner? Do you need a light snack after breakfast? You don’t want to serve a heavy entree when the occasion calls for an orderve. This is also important when considering beverages for the event. Is this a cocktail hour, or do you need coffee to help everyone in the meeting stay on-task.

Know the Event Schedule When Planning for Catering

While catering will be the most delicious part of the event, it isn’t the only thing happening. Catering should work alongside the rest of the agenda. Make sure your food is showing up at an appropriate time. You don’t want to let food get cold because you didn’t plan around the rest of the event.

Always Look Out for Dietary Restrictions

Next to a headcount, this is the most important consideration when planning for catering. You want to make sure that guests with dietary restrictions have an option for food and drink. Being inclusive with your catering selections helps people feel taken care of, and encourages them to listen and/or share during the event. You can request dietary restriction information ahead of time, and look for ways to add inclusive options.

Dunn Brothers Coffee Will Cater Your Next Event

Dunn Brothers Coffee in Coralville is happy to cater your next event. With light, hearty options available, you can provide a meal that satisfies, without weighing your guests down. Plus, we serve a wide variety of fresh-roasted coffee to help fuel your event as well. Learn about all of our catering selections by contacting Dunn Brothers Coffee in Coralville, IA at 319-665-2020.