Have you ever been disappointed with the food at an event? It can really make a difference on how you remember an occasion, so it’s important to get it right. With a little bit of effort, and following our simple guide, you’ll be a winner.

The first thing you’ll want to do is decide the best type of dining style for your occasion. There are usually a few options:

Banquets

This is the best way to impress, but you also want to make sure it fits with your theme and style of event. Banquets involve multi-course meals served tableside and are typically a three-course meal. So, if a sit-down dinner is suitable for your event—usually something more formal—a banquet might be for you.

Buffets

If you’re having a more casual event a buffet might be your best bet. Guests can serve themselves, so it means more options that cater to a wider range of tastes.

Casual Dinners

These are more like a cross between a banquet and a buffet and usually allows for more creativity on the menu.

Cocktail Parties

If it’s a less formal occasion and more about networking or socializing, cocktail-style food is the way to go. Guests can enjoy light fare and hors d’oeuvres or casual dishes served buffet-style and help themselves.

There are also a few other things you’ll need to take into account when deciding on a menu and what food will suit your event.

Like all things, your budget is going to be an important factor in determining the type of food you’ll have. Banquets and sit down dinners can be expensive but there’s no reason why a cocktail menu can’t be just as impressive.

To learn more about menu planning and other party planning tips download our ebook “Insider Tips For Crowd Pleasing Parties“.