Planning a wedding or special event is an exciting yet challenging endeavor! There are countless details to juggle, from liaising with vendors to planning the décor to coordinating logistics. As a top Orlando caterer, we have witnessed time and time again that the food and beverage experience is often one of the most memorable aspects of any celebration.
It’s the element that guests anticipate the most before the event, and the thing they’ll be talking about for weeks after the day is over! Thus, it is crucial to nail your wedding and event catering, starting from the welcome drinks all the way to the late night snacks.
Whether it’s your dream wedding, a milestone birthday, or a corporate gathering, getting the food right is crucial to ensuring your guests have a great time. However, there are common pitfalls that can quickly turn your vision into a stressful situation.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to avoid these event and wedding mistakes, including choosing the right Orlando caterer and making sure your menu fits the theme of your event.
Let’s dig into how you can make your event’s catering a smooth and successful experience!
- Choosing the Right Orlando Caterer
Catering is often one of the biggest decisions to make when planning a wedding or event. After all, what’s a celebration without food? We know that you have many options for your Orlando caterer and it’s easy to simply choose the least expensive one. However, there are many factors to consider other than price when choosing your Orlando catering! Questions to ask your potential caterers include:
- Are your menus customizable?
- Can you accommodate a wide variety of dietary restrictions?
- Do you specialize in specific cuisines?
- Do you offer all-inclusive packages?
Here at John Michael Events, we can wholeheartedly answer yes to all of the above! We offer all-inclusive packages and menus that are fully customizable to fit your specific event and guest needs. While many of our menus incorporate American cuisines, our extraordinary Chefs can create many other cultural delicacies as well! Whether your group is hoping for an Italian, Mexican, or Mediterranean feast, our team is more than happy to bring your vision to life.
For more information on how to select the right Orlando caterer for you, check out our full break down below:
The Ultimate Guide to Booking Excellent Wedding Catering
- Catering to Everyone
Every wedding or event features a diverse guest list. From vegetarians to gluten-free guests, you’re bound to have people with specific dietary needs. Failing to account for these requirements can cause a real problem when it’s time to serve the food. That’s why it’s important to ask your guests during the planning phase about any allergies or dietary restrictions they may have. Compiling a full list helps our team plan ahead and ensure that those guests with specific needs receive special meals.
A common event pitfall we see is thinking that you don’t need to collect dietary restrictions from guests, as long as you have a buffet. We can see why you may think this because a buffet meal does offer a variety of food options, from salads to pastas to meats. However, just like people are so diverse, there are many diverse dietary restrictions! In our experience as a top Orlando caterer, we’ve seen guests request meals that align with the Paleo or Keto recommendations, those who are completely dairy-free, and people who cannot have certain spices in their food.
Since food safety is our top priority, we will always recommend that you ask your guests for their dietary restrictions in advance! You can accomplish this most easily through your invitations or wedding or event website.
- Timing Is Key
Serving food and beverage at the right time is essential for an enjoyable and safe guest experience! A wedding and event pitfall we have seen is downplaying the importance of an event timeline, even if you’re hosting a small gathering.
When we work together for your Orlando catering, we collaborate on an event timeline that outlines the flow of the day. This document serves as a guide for major event activities, like guest arrival, ceremony start time, the time the bar opens, the time appetizers should be passed, and of course, the dinner service time. Planning this timeline and adhering to it on the event day is key to ensuring that the food cooks on time and stays at the right temperature for everyone to enjoy!
After providing Orlando catering for hundreds of weddings and events, our team knows though that flexibility is needed on an event day! You won’t adhere to the timeline down to the minute, and that’s okay! We work with your event coordinator to communicate about timing in real time and adjust as needed. Our staff has the necessary experience and knowledge of food safety regulations to handle timing changes smoothly and safely for everyone.
- Choosing a Menu That Doesn’t Fit the Event Theme
Good events serve delicious food and beverage, but great events have menus that align with the celebration’s theming! It may be tempting to select the least expensive menus or dishes with “safe” flavors that are guaranteed crowd pleasers. But if you’re hosting a company anniversary party with a fire and ice theme or a baby shower with an organic, garden theme, choosing a menu that aligns with that theme will make your event memorable for years to come!
Our team loves to put on a show with our food! This includes helping you select menus that align with your event vision and vibe, giving each dish a themed name, and even our Orlando catering servers dressing up in costume! We have done Alice in Wonderland themed events, various holiday themed celebrations, and beautiful garden parties. Check out the fun below and get inspiration for your next fete!
By avoiding these common event planning pitfalls and partnering with a reputable Orlando caterer, we can ensure that your wedding or event is a smashing success! With careful attention to detail, proper communication, and a little preparation, you can enjoy a seamless event with delicious food that your guests will rave about.
Happy planning, and cheers to making your next event in Orlando unforgettable!
Connect with John Michael Events:
John Michael Events is an experienced Orlando wedding and event caterer, specializing in serving all types of events, from weddings to social events to corporate events. We offer all-inclusive wedding packages that not only include event catering, but also the additional vendors you’ll need to throw the wedding of your dreams! Twice a quarter, we are proud to host “A Taste of John Michael,” a one-of-a-kind group tasting experience, where clients are invited to sample a variety of our delicacies.
Ready to book one of our Orlando catering packages? Contact our team by hitting the button below. We would love to chat with you!
