Should You Pick the Caterer or Venue First? Questions to Ask

Are you at the beginning stages of planning an event like a wedding, company party or reunion? If so, there may be a lot of questions you're trying to answer. How can you be sure to come to the right conclusions?

It will require time, research and thinking ahead. Here are a few commonly asked questions.

How Early Should I Book My Caterer and Venue?

You'll want to book both your venue and caterer early. That could mean scheduling your caterer and venue at least nine to twelve months ahead of time. How soon you'll need to plan ahead will depend on the popularity of your venue and caterer. It'll also depend on the time of year your event will take place. For instance, certain times of the year like summer or holidays can quickly book up far ahead of time.

Should I Schedule My Caterer or Venue First?

Your first move will be to contact your caterer and venue to coordinate the dates. This is especially important if you have your heart set on a specific venue and caterer. When booking your venue and caterer, be sure to provide accurate information about how many guests you expect. You don't want to pay for too much room or have too little food.

As soon as you've booked your venue and caterer, you'll be able to start planning the menu and schedule of events for your gathering. Planning early is always a good idea.

If you're unsure what a caterer needs in a venue, contact them and talk through what they need to be able to provide you with the best they have to offer. You'll probably receive a few venue recommendations from your caterer if you ask as well. After all, few others can give you such firsthand and unbiased venue advice like a caterer can.

Could Your Rochester, New York Event Benefit from Catering Services?

The more you begin to plan for your event, the more you'll realize providing food is no small task. The culinary side of your event can spawn hundreds of additional questions and unknowns. Having to figure out the complexities of food planning can leave you feeling sapped of energy and stressed if you're not careful.

That's understandable—you're likely not a professional caterer, after all, and that's OK. We at Chef's Catering would love to step in and help. Catering is our expertise, and we know exactly how to get the job done with excellence. You'll rest easy knowing you don't have to fuss about the food. Would you like to learn more about our catering services? You're welcome to reach out to us!