As an event planning and full-service catering company, All Things Catered thoroughly considers the characteristics of the event and the guests before planning a menu. Event planning can be simple if you keep a few rules in mind:

• Think of food for the majority, not the minority. If you have a higher percentage of guests that enjoy dishes with meat and only one or two guests that are vegetarians, then plan your entrée accordingly. A meat entrée with vegetables for a side dish will satisfy the meat lovers and the veggie eaters.
  
  
• Who are you serving? Consider characteristics such as if your guests are made up of more men than women. Overall, men will eat more than women. Plan extra -- if you are serving children or a more mature group, be careful of dishes that are too heavy in spices.
  
  
• What time of day is your event? Time of day can determine how much and what types of food to serve. If you are planning a party right after working hours, count on having extra hors d’oeuvres as your guests will be ready for dinner.
  
  
• Alcohol -- when serving alcohol it is wise to have plenty to eat for your guests. A few dishes with staying power are good, such as meat or cheese-type dishes. Breads with dipping oils are also filling and may help your guests not to ingest too much bubbly!
  
  
• Have a general idea of foods or themes you are considering and a budget you want to work with. When given a reasonable budget, a caterer will provide the ideal menu proposal for your unique event.
  
  
• Plan ahead of time. If possible, plan 4 weeks prior to your scheduled event. This gives you time to provide a guest count to your caterer.