You have a family party coming up and you’re now planning up a storm—it’s a family reunion so you want everything to go just right.
But one part of planning a family party that most people find very difficult is the catering.
Catering for a family party can be just as hard as planning a corporate dinner. You need to plan out a menu that everyone at the party will love and you need to prepare all of it yourself, if you don’t plan on calling a caterer, that is.
So let’s take a look at the many challenges of planning catering for a party by yourself and how professional caterers can come to the rescue.
What makes catering for a family party so hard?
Here’s why managing catering for family events can be so tough:
1. Accommodating Dietary Needs
Every family has picky eaters, both young and old and this can make planning catering a little tricky. For example, you might have a few vegan or vegetarian family members who don’t eat meat or some of your family members may have certain food allergies.
Catering to so many tastes and preferences can be very difficult, especially when your guest list is big.
Also, small kids are usually more interested in playing with their peers rather than sitting down and having a meal. In this case, you’ll need to come up with a menu specifically for the little ones that won’t include any heavy foods.
Another problem is finding ingredients that are right for your family—this can be challenging if you don’t know where to shop for them.
2. Budgeting
Family parties are wholesome events but this doesn’t mean they’re going to be cheap. On average, catering for a party can cost anywhere between $12-$20 per person, if you’re opting for drop-off catering.
Sometimes, you might prepare too much food because you’re not sure how much food is enough for your guests. This can lead to you going over your budget, making the party more expensive than it should be.
You may even consider going for cheaper ingredients to keep prices low, but this won’t be a very good idea, since family parties are heartfelt events and you should offer the best meal you can.
3. Portioning
Portioning can be a headache—too much food and you’ll be drowning in leftovers; too little food, and you won’t be able to feed everyone. As mentioned before, if there are small children involved, they’re not likely to eat much so you need to portion the food with this in mind too.
Don’t forget that preparing too much food will just be a major drain on your wallet, leaving you with little money for other aspects of the party, like entertainment.
4. Disappointing Your Guests
Naturally, when you’re hosting a family party, you want everything to go perfectly, especially the meal.
The problem is that some family members can be a bit nitpicky and if the food isn’t to their liking they might feel unsatisfied. But it can be very hard to prepare a high-quality meal for a family event when you’re on a tight budget and have limited access to specific ingredients.
This can lead to you overthinking about how the meal is going to go, which can be a major headache for a party host.
5. Preparing for Last-Minute Changes
Finally, last-minute changes can be one of the most frustrating parts of planning a family party. Some family members may RSVP late or may not turn up, and this could mean that you need to make changes to the menu, leaving you with more food than needed.
In addition, making last-minute changes to your party menu can be a huge burden—you might even make costly mistakes while changing things up at the last minute.
How can professional caterers help?
If planning catering for a family party feels too hectic for you, you can always hire a professional caterer instead. Here’s how they can help you out:
1. Dietary Experts
Caterers are highly experienced in creating menus that can suit all kinds of tastes. They have plenty of vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian options to choose from—you just need to tell them in advance.
Also, they’ll make sure that the meals are safe for people with food allergies by marking each dish accordingly or by using alternative ingredients.
2. Budget and Value
Many caterers offer affordable menus that include high-quality foods. These foods are prepared according to the highest standards, using the best-quality ingredients.
They can also recommend some cost-effective menu options if you’re worried about going over your budget.
3. Perfect Portioning
Professional caterers know exactly how much food to prepare for events such as family parties. They take into account the number of people that are going to be there, their ages, and the types of food they prefer.
With this information, they can create the perfect portions of food, avoiding food wastage and making sure everyone gets to eat.
4. Last-Minute Saviors
Last-minute changes aren’t a problem for caterers—they deal with problems like this all the time. Professional caterers are very flexible and will be able to make last-minute changes to your catering menu very quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some commonly asked questions and answers to consider when inquiring about family party catering:
1. What services do catering companies provide?
Catering companies offer a range of services including food preparation, delivery, setup, serving, and cleanup. Some also provide event planning, decor, and rental services.
2. How is the cost of catering determined?
The cost is typically based on the number of guests, the type of menu, the level of service, and any additional services like rentals or decor.
3. What if I need to change my menu or guest count?
Most catering companies allow changes up to a certain date before the event. Be sure to discuss this flexibility when booking.
Make catering for a family party easier
Catering for a family party can feel like an uphill battle when you’re trying to do it on your own—but you can always ask for some help. Professional caterers have experience in handling all kinds of events, even small family reunions, and they’ll make sure your family will be treated to an unforgettable dining experience!
So get in touch with a catering company with great catering menu packages today!
