How much does catering cost?
The cost of having an event can vary widely depending on the type of event to the menu and more. The following will provide you with a good idea of what you can expect and help you design the vision for your event. This page tries to break down all the factors, our Sample Events page tries to paint an overall picture of common events and their cost.
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Type of Event
The type of event can be the biggest determining factor in price, and also has the widest variability. Does the event require substantial service staff (i.e. a served dinner), medium staff (passed hors d'oeuvres), or light staff (a buffet)? Is the menu simple or complex? Start with the menu type as rough estimates as to what you can reasonably expect various types of menus (food) to cost.
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Type of Menu
Light Hors d'oeuvres $33 - $44
(ie Bounty & 4 hors d'oeuvres)
Heavy Hors d'oeuvres $46 - $64
(ie Bounty & 7 hors d'oeuvres)
Buffet Dinner $34 - $70 (menu)
Plated Dinner $60+ (menu)
High Tea $36 - $52 (menu)
Simple BBQ $38+ (menu)
Box Lunch $34+ (menu)
(Staff and rentals are not included in these estimates as they may vary widely) -
Time of Day
The time of day can play a significant role in the type of event you are planning. Your guests will typically expect different types and quantities of food depending on the time of day. We suggest the following as an example.
Lunch - 11am to 1pm
High Tea / Snacks - 2pm to 4pm
Dinner - 5pm to 7pm
Heavy Hors d'oeuvres - 5pm to 7pm
Light Hors d'oeuvres - 8pm +
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Time of Year
Indoor or OutdoorWill you need a tent to account for rain, wind or cold? Heaters? Lighting? We arrange for all of this along with your other rentals. The cost of these items can vary widely, but we can advise on this, your needs, weather expectation and such, during the planning process.
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Event Location
Does the site you rent provide tables and chairs? Linens? Tents? Kitchen Facilities? Is there electricity? Running water? (Yes, we sometimes cater in the woods or the middle of a vineyard.) Is there a flight of stairs separating the kitchen from the dining room? All of these may affect your bottom line. We can recommend many locations and provide information about their services.
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Rentals
Often people forget about the cost of rental items. Consider if your event can be done with paper and plastic or if you need glass and china. Do you need tables and chairs? Cloth Napkins? We will handle all the arrangements and you can expect the following prices for standard items. Glass and China $12 to $21 per person. Table and Chairs with Linen $10 to $20 per person. Cloth Napkin $1+ per person.
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Event Staff
The number and type of servers at your function depends upon the number of guests and the size of the facility. Most events, especially those with table side service, require service staff. A table service dinner will typically require one service person for every 12 to 15 guests, with an average time of 8 hours per server, including set up, clean up and travel time. A traditional buffet will need one service person per 15 to 22 guests, for as few as 4 hours, depending on the menu and location. For hors d'oeuvres stations you may need only one server per 30 guests. For weddings or extended events, the times may be longer. Additional service staff may be added to reduce service time with a higher ratio of servers to guests, and for on-site culinary staff if the menu requires it, or to provide bartending. There is no travel fee, however travel time is charged at the servers' hourly rate of $46 per hour per server. Cost may vary for culinary staff.
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Length of Event
A simple idea, which is sometimes overlooked: How long do you expect the service staff to stay? How long will you need to rent a hall? Remember that in the time you set aside for the site rental you must include time for set up and clean up. Can the catering staff start clean up while your guests are still there? Will the site charge you more if you run over your time? For a traditional wedding reception you should expect 8 hours (2 hours for set up, 5 hours for guests, and 1 hour for clean up). If you plan to party into the night, that, of course will mean more time.
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What Kind of Bar
& Beverage ServiceWill your event have only soda and water, beer and wine, or a full bar? Will it need to be served? Full service or just signature cocktails? Since PSC does not sell alcohol, you have the option to save quite bit of money by providing it yourself, or you may elect the convenience of a professional bartending service. If you provide the beverages we can provide everything else for the bar from mixers to glassware. Beverages & More published an excellent Party Planning Guide. We also like Wilibees Wine & Spirits located right next door to us, they have good prices and are happy to provide their expertise. Or contact Bartenders Unlimited for a professional bar service.