This season is more than just gift-giving and festive decorations. During the holidays, many companies seize the opportunity to boost morale and show their team how much they’re appreciated by hosting a corporate holiday party. You may find, however, that catering for a gathering on this scale requires a bit more forethought and planning than your average business meeting. Lucky for you, we’ve created this step-by-step guide to planning your company’s upcoming holiday party menu. 

Know Your Event

It may be challenging to know where to start when booking your company’s next holiday party, but this will get you off on the right foot. Before booking your event catering, take the time to know your event. Here are a few key considerations to keep in mind when planning your catering. 

1 | Who will be in attendance?

Knowing who you are inviting and what guests they may bring can help you in creating a menu that delights. 

2 |How many people will be in attendance?

The number of guests you’ll have will guide you in your decision-making. Passed hors d’oeuvres might work for a midday affair with a few hundred people, but a happy hour and seated lunch could be your best bet for a smaller crowd.

3 | How formal will the event be?

Whether your event is formal or not will determine whether a plated meal is expected from guests.

4 | What is your budget?

Everything lands on the budget. Having your headcount and cost per guest in mind, you can work alongside your caterer to create the perfect menu for you.

5 | What’s the venue?

Venues such as The Centre offer a variety of spaces to accommodate your event’s dining needs, and your event venue’s team can help you learn which types of meals work best in your specific space. 

Select a Catering Style

Selecting a catering style is one of our favorite processes. When you work through the list with your chef, you will be deciding between buffet-style, plated, appetizers, happy hour, hors d’oeuvres, and other creative options, and these styles can really help set the mood for your event.  

Buffet-style dining is often less expensive than plated dining. It requires fewer staff members to manage the service. Buffets are also ideal for large groups as they offer variety and flexibility for your guests. 

Plated meals are most suitable for formal occasions and for events where portion control is desired. Guests will often consume more food when offered a buffet as opposed to plated service. 

Passed hors d’oeuvres can be a stand-alone option for mixers and networking events, or they can be added to buffet or plated dining during a pre-meal cocktail hour for longer events. This option is beneficial for an event where you encourage mingling, since the types of food are usually eaten in one or two bites.

Another fun option for a casual party is to rent a food truck. Just make sure that your venue can accommodate your vendor’s needs.

Design Your Menu

Now it’s time to design your menu. This is where knowing your crowd comes in handy. Knowing your guests will not only help you cater to their respective palates but also their dietary restrictions. After all, you want all your guests to feel welcome and considered. It would also be a shame to be left with a ton of food waste at the end of your event. Try to pick foods that appeal to a wide array of tastes. There’s a reason most events feature a red meat option, a fish/poultry option, and a vegetarian option for their main course. 

Considering that you’re specifically searching for holiday menu ideas, it may also be fun to consider catering holiday treats. If you’re celebrating a particular holiday, it can be fun to provide foods associated with that holiday, like turkey for a Thanksgiving party. On the other hand, if you’re entertaining a crowd of mixed nationalities, ethnicities, or religious backgrounds, you can opt for goodies that simply evoke the time of year, like winter-themed desserts. 

It may be helpful to take a poll or ask your guests to list any dietary restrictions they have on their RSVP. Common dietary restrictions to consider when planning out your menu include nut allergies, gluten intolerance, diets limited by religious beliefs, and veganism/vegetarianism. 

Select a Drink Plan

An often-overlooked aspect of catering is selecting a drink plan. Be careful, drinks add up quickly, especially if you choose to serve alcohol at your event. While dry corporate events are not uncommon, alcohol service is often expected, especially at events like holiday parties. You should also keep in mind that an open bar is usually significantly more expensive than offering a limited selection of wine and beer. Remember, mixed drinks require a bartender and additional supplies, which may require a bigger budget.

Another important consideration is the time of day your holiday party is scheduled to take place. Consider prioritizing coffee, tea, and morning cocktails, such as mimosas, for a brunch party, and wine, champagne, and beer for dinner parties. 

Be sure to check in with your venue about any on-site rules and regulations regarding alcohol service and consumption. Some venues may require you to purchase alcohol through a specific vendor and may also require additional staffing.  

Vet and Hire Reliable Caters

Now’s the time to log into that Yelp account and do some research on potential vendors. Try to select a vendor with either strong recommendations or reliable online reviews, preferably both. 

Ensure that your vendor has experience catering to parties of your size and scale. While some caterers excel at more intimate parties, their offerings may not be suitable for large-scale events.

Another thing to consider is that some venues require that you cater either directly through them or through a trusted vendor. Even if it is not a requirement, it may be helpful to ask your venue for vendor recommendations. After all, they’ll be able to vouch for caterers that have worked well in their space. Some venues, such as The Centre, offer the option of hiring outside caterers or in-house caterers, with their in-house catering ranging from modern fine dining at Vintana to fresh baked goods from Culture Craft.

Lastly, don’t forget to read the fine print and consider any necessary licensing or liability insurance. You want to make sure that you and your vendors are covered and on the same page in the event of an emergency or if you’re unsatisfied with your vendor’s services. 

Confirm Set-Up and Logistics

Once you have your menu and vendors set, be sure to communicate any necessary set-up information to both your caterers and your venue. Also, ensure that your vendors have the contact information of the person designated to handle coordination on the day of the event. That way, if there are any hiccups or questions, they know who to contact. 

Catering for big corporate parties is a big task, but you’ve got this. Holiday parties are more than just a way for companies to celebrate the end of another year. They’re reinforcing a positive company culture by giving your team a space to connect and feel appreciated. With a bit of creativity, an eye for details, and of course, this article, catering your next holiday party will be entirely worth it!