5 Tips on Finding Affordable Catering in Philadelphia

Whether you’re hosting a wedding rehearsal dinner, a business event, or a family reunion, one of the biggest things you tend to have first and foremost on your mind is the quality of food and the budget. While most catering options will require some form of an investment (as quality and budget tend to go hand and hand), there are still plenty of ways to help cut down on the catering costs. To aid in your search for affordable catering in Philadelphia, make sure to remember these helpful tips.

Compare Catering Prices
Food is not the only part of finding the right caterer; cost and services are also a significant portion of it as well. Before picking the caterer of your choice, always take the time to compare prices. You can typically find these by visiting company websites or by calling for estimates. To ensure affordable catering in Philadelphia, always find out your catering expenses upfront. Not only will this avoid any unnecessary surprises, but it will also help you to determine if a company is too costly for your event.

Check With Your Venue
Before booking your venue, always check and see if they allow outside caterers. While a site may seem like the perfect setting, if it doesn’t approve your choice of vendor for food, you could end up spending more than you planned.

Control Your Event Duration
In most cases, the longer the event, the more guests will want to eat. By keeping your event short and sweet, you can keep your guests from going back for seconds. By utilizing proper scheduling techniques, you can provide the right amount of catering for your guests without the concern of running out of food. However, if you are unable to control the event’s duration, just set a specific time for the food to be served, eaten, and removed. For instance, bring lunch to your guests at noon, and have it cleared away by 1:00 pm.

Get Proper Headcount
While there are times when it is impossible to get an accurate headcount on the number of people attending your event, you should always have some form of registration. Even corporate and business events typically require employees to respond by a specific date or plan on not attending. This RSVP will help to get a more definitive answer on the number of people attending to ensure you don’t waste food by ordering too much.

Provide the Serving Supplies Yourself
To avoid the costs of dishes, silverware, and the additional expense for washing them, always provide the plates (even if it is plastic dishware that won’t require cleaning). Remember, plastic doesn’t have to look cheap, and there are plenty of elegant disposable dishware options available.

If you’re looking to learn more about affordable catering in Philadelphia, contact Waterfront Gourmet. Our goal is to help make your event a total success! Call us today at 267-227-1994, and we’ll discuss how to stay within your budget while getting the quality food you deserve!