Tips For Great Corporate Events

When August rolls around, it’s only a matter of time until school gets underway, the weather turns, and we all head indoors. That’s why, for many businesses, this month is a perfect time to host a company or corporate event outside.

Plan for success in your next event by incorporating these planning tips into your preparation.

Focus on what you’re celebrating

Every company gathering, party, or event should have a focus. Knowing what you’re celebrating helps guide your choices for menu, entertainment, guest list, and décor.

Planning a company event? Think about these ideas:

• Host a company picnic on your grounds
• Recognize a company anniversary or milestone with a BBQ cookout
• Honor customers with an appreciation party
• Hold a reception for staff, vendors, partners, or other VIPs at your site
• Serve sandwiches or bring in hot lunch for an outdoor team-building event
• Toast retiring employees or departing staff with an outdoor boxed lunch picnic

Whatever reasons you have to celebrate, we can help you plan for—and treat—your guests. From small company parties to large corporate celebrations, when you call us you can be assured you’re Catering with Elegance.

Know your expected headcount

Knowing how many people you plan to invite and how many people you can comfortably accommodate are the two key parameters to managing your guest list for a successful company or corporate event.

You’ll want to think about:

• Are you inviting employees’ families? Will there be children?
• Will people be seated while eating?
• If so, how—on picnic blankets, at long or round tables, or in casual seating on your grounds or a public space?
• What restrooms will your guests have access to? How many?
• What—if any—entertainment will you incorporate?

Eating, seating, and guest comfort considerations help you determine your capacity to host a successful and well-orchestrated event.

As to invited guests, the rule of thumb is that 15-20% of your list will decline your invitation. If you’re inviting a lot of people from out of town, that number could be higher—30 to 40%. To maximize the number of RSVPs you’ll receive, you’ll want to send invitations out early as well as give your guests an easy way to respond. Online invitations, such as Evite or Paperless Post, make RSVPs easy—and simplify keeping track of your expected headcount.

Plan your menu

Now comes the fun part. With your reason for celebration set, and your guidelines on headcount and RSVPs clear, you’ll want to think about what you’re serving at your outdoor event. Hot breakfast? BBQ party? Sandwiches? Mexican food? Italian catering?

That’s where we come in. We can help you customize a menu of mouthwatering delights that will delight your guests. With a tradition of excellence that stretches back over 60 years, we know how to select, personalize, and prepare mouthwatering fare.

Whether you’re looking for upscale and formal or want to make a pig roast the star of the show, we’ve got the experience and skill to help.  With our expertise in preparing, transporting, and serving, our off-site catering options make your event smooth, so you can enjoy your role as host or hostess.

Since 1959, Catering with Elegance has combined beautiful venues, mouthwatering food, and top-notch service to transform events into treasured memories. We offer full-service catering and event management at two beautiful west suburban locations as well as off-site service for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events.