No matter if our clients are planning a wedding, corporate event, or personal social gathering, there’s one thing they consistently ask our Orlando catering team:
How can I take my event from ‘good’ to ‘great?’
You may be surprised to find that the answer isn’t to go over-the-top in every way. Bigger doesn’t always equal better. In fact, the answer we most often advise is to intentionally “surprise and delight” your guests, and our favorite way to do that is with guest engagement!
To take your event to the next level, find creative ways to get guests involved. The more interactive each element of your event design is, the more memorable it will be! This starts with your Orlando catering menu. Even though you may have been taught not to play with your food, we encourage it in order to lend a sense of whimsy and fun to your event in an unexpected way.
Take it from us, your local Orlando catering experts, here at John Michael Events. Engaging your guests with the menu will leave guests talking long after they depart! The unique interaction paired with the deliciousness of the food truly makes for an unforgettable experience.
Let’s dig into our top ways to engage guests with your Orlando catering menu!
Add a Theme
A great event doesn’t just happen. It is created by meticulous planning well before the day-of alongside our team of Event Managers. It’s true we are your go-to Orlando catering company, but we do more than just catering! Our seasoned event professionals can assist with venue recommendations, timeline planning, vendor communication, and overarching event guidance. We’re happy to lend our expertise to you in addition to offering formal event planning and coordination services.
Adding a theme to your event is a surefire way to engage your guests from the moment they receive their invitation! A theme builds excitement, encouraging guests to dress up and creating a buzz long before the event day. No matter if the theme is as simple as a “black & white gala” or as whimsical as “Alice in Wonderland,” it will allow guests to immerse themselves into the event experience.
At John Michael Events, we love taking your event theme and running with it by theming the menu! We help you select food & beverage options that make the most sense for your theme and guests’ preferences. If you select a buffet meal, we will rename each dish to fit the theme and create corresponding tent cards.
Our staff will even happily dress in costume! From our servers to bartenders to managers, we all strive to go above and beyond to create a true experiential event for your attendees.
Make a Good First Impression
First impressions are everything, and your event is no different! The first moment of contact your guests have with your event sets the tone for the rest of the evening. That’s why we recommend starting strong with butler passed welcome drinks!
A refreshing champagne spritzer or fruit-infused mocktail will instantly bring a smile to each guest’s face and make them feel at ease from the minute they arrive. Having drinks in hand will also inherently encourage mixing and mingling, setting the bar and energy high at the outset of your event.
And what pairs better with a specialty drink than some hors d’oeuvres? Our Orlando catering team prides itself on delivering white glove service in everything we do, so our friendly staff will butler pass these appetizers to your guests. With popular options like Boursin Stuffed Mushroom Caps, Balsamic Watermelon Bites, Mini Cuban Tacos, Sweet Pear & Bacon Bruschetta and more, everyone will be delighted by the warm (and delicious!) welcome they receive.
Whether you’re hosting a corporate event or wedding, building in a cocktail hour before the main event begins is an excellent way to create an intentional moment of connection for everyone. It’s a way to ease into the festivities, allowing for stragglers to arrive and all the guests to settle in prior to the main celebration.
Say Yes to Action Stations
Action stations are the quintessential way to engage guests. These are interactive food stations that provide good food and a show! One of our Orlando catering Chefs will attend the station, serving up a custom dish to each guest. Not only is this a source of personalized interaction, but guests can also customize their plate to their liking.
Choose one of our carving stations with selections from hanger steak, flank steak, beef brisket, pernil, prime rib, and pork or beef tenderloin, or a station like our Pasta Saute. This is an action station where our Chef will saute each guest’s pasta dish in front of them. They’ll be able to choose their preferred type of pasta, sauce, and toppings for a meal that’s all their own!
For a little more dramatic flair, you might consider one of our “flaming” stations! Our Chef will saute then flambee either our classic Bananas Foster or Donut Holes in 151 rum, creating a burst of flame reminiscent of what you would see on The Food Network.
The Chef Flambeed Bananas Foster is served with a smooth sauce of brown sugar, butter, lemon, orange and cinnamon, and topped with vanilla bean ice cream. The Chef Prepared Flaming Donuts are coated in brown sugar and butter and then guests are welcome to choose their own toppings, like chocolate, raspberry, and caramel sauces, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, coconut, sprinkles, crushed Oreos and more.
Guests will love snapping photos of this one-of-a-kind treat experience!
Offer More with S’mores
As you’re seeing, your Orlando catering menu can double as a source of entertainment throughout your event! This doesn’t have to end with the meal service though. We can provide your guests with a creative activity like a S’mores Station after dinner to keep the fun going with a sweet treat.
Our sister company, Celebration Gardens, is an outdoor Orlando event venue that features a fire pit within its lush botanical gardens. A venue like this is the perfect place for guests to mix, mingle, and relax after dinner, enjoying s’mores and drinks around the fire. These don’t have to be your ordinary s’mores either! Let’s put a twist on the classic s’mores with a peanut butter cup or salted caramel version. There are endless ways to have fun with flavors here!
(Self) Serve Up the Fun
Another fun way to provide entertainment with food is through stunning self-service displays. The candy bar, for example, started as a wedding trend where guests can fill their own treat bags with an assortment of candies, but ended up withstanding the test of time and is now considered a timeless classic!
Our Candy Bar option includes 8 different kinds of candies either focusing on type or color of candy, all presented beautifully in various glass jars and containers of varying heights and shapes. This display is both delicious and interactive, and will create a picture-worthy moment for your guests! Plus, with upgrades like personalized candy bags and gourmet candy choices, it makes the perfect take-home favor.
Similarly, our Ice Cream Bar allows everyone’s inner child to come out with 3 different kinds of ice cream, 7 different toppings, and of course, waffle cones! Sometimes, the most effective ways of making people happy are the simplest.
Want More Orlando Catering Tips?
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 or need more guidance on top Orlando wedding venues? Contact our team by hitting the button below. We would love to chat with you!
