One of the most important parts of any event is the food. Whether it’s a breakfast meeting at work, a large wedding, a Christmas brunch, or a taco party, a good caterer can make your guests happy and your event memorable.

The first thing to consider is a detailed list of what you want. Are you looking just for food catering, or do you need beverages, too? Are you more concerned with meal-specific food, like breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Or are you more particular about the cuisine, like Italian, Mexican, or BBQ? Or are you open to suggestions?

Once you have your list, you can start looking for a good match for your event. If you have a small party or have a specific food in mind, you may look for a restaurant with catering options. You may find that you can order more significant amounts of food off a standard menu. Or the restaurant may have a special catering menu. Some restaurants may have ordering available on their website. Still, you might be better served by calling or speaking to someone who specializes in catering, so you don't forget anything important. They may have good suggestions about the amounts of food, side dishes, desserts, etc.

If you need to know what you want, a caterer who only does events may be your best bet. They will likely have staff who can guide you through planning events, make suggestions and make sure you remember everything (like having options for people with food restrictions).

Some other things to consider:

• Do not leave choosing a caterer to the last minute! As soon as you have a date set for your event, it would help if you started looking into securing a catering option. This is especially true if you plan an event for a holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving. You want to make decisions based on delicious food, not on who happens to be available.
  
  
• What kind of event are you planning, and how do you want the food to fit in? You might want a cocktail party with passed hors d'oeuvres. Or are you envisioning a buffet where people can choose from multiple options and help themselves? For a more formal event, you may be considering a seated dinner where people are served by wait staff.
  
  
• Just because you are trying to plan something affordable doesn't mean you can't have excellent food. Be upfront with your caterer about your budget and your priorities. They will work with you to make the best choices for your unique situation. And most catering companies will have a wide range of options. For example, an Italian restaurant or caterer will likely have everything from affordable self-serve pizza or pasta to more expensive plated options.

BBB can help you find other vendors for your event, like event venues, event planners, a photographer, or a DJ. If you're planning a wedding, check out our wedding HQ