If you are planning a funeral program, chances are you are in need of a good caterer. Finding a caterer who will meet your needs while staying within your budget can be a tricky process.

However, with the right amount of direction and a little preparation, presenting the perfect meal to your guests doesn’t have to give you a nervous breakdown during an already stressful time. Here are some simple things you should think about as you consider beginning to search plan your service.

During a time that is generally full of grief, the last thing you need is to encounter bumps and problems along the road. Make sure that your caterer knows the situation, and will be sensitive.

First, plan out exactly what your budget for food will be. Be sure to factor in tax, servers, and tips as you search for companies which will match your price range.

Prices will differ greatly depending upon if you want a buffet style meal, or a sit-down served meal. Which kind of food service will best fit with the mood of your program?

Be sure to speak to multiple caterers about price, so you will get an accurate idea of what is reasonable. Some companies will even price match if you give them competition to compare to.

Find out what their payment terms will be, and what kind of tax and service charges they require. If you get all of the information up front, you won’t encounter any problems when it is time to settle the bill.

One of the greatest things that factors into expense is the type of food you are serving. For example, a grilled salmon meal will end up being much more expensive than a simple chicken dish.

If you Viagra Professional are set on a certain caterer but are not happy with the cost, think about changing your menu slightly to bring the price down. Chicken dishes can be very elegant, and just Brand Cialis as satisfactory to your guests.

Make sure that you talk to the company about their quality of food. Where does it come from?

There are companies out there who use frozen or canned foods to create their meals. If this is not something that is acceptable to you, be sure to talk to them beforehand about what their plan is.

While you may not think of it, there are also companies which do not supply any kind of dishes, silverware, tablecloths, napkins, cups, or anything else to accompany the food. This may or may not be your responsibility, depending on the policy of the company.

If they do provide these services, you need to discuss with them in detail what their presentation will be. After all, you may expect an elegant setup, and they come with chafing dishes that look cheap, plain, or damaged.

If you are not happy with the look of the serving equipment, sometimes it is possible to substitute it with your own products. You can often buy inexpensive, elegant serving equipment from stores like Costco, or other home brands.

Another thing to be aware of as you shop for a caterer, is their staff. Be sure to tell them exactly how many guests will be attending your event, as this will directly determine the number of servers that are needed.

Servers are either paid by the hour, or by the entire event. A rule of thumb to follow is one server to every ten guests.

While this may seem excessive, it will ensure that your guests are well taken care of, and places are cleared away in a timely manner. You may want to find out the ages of the servers, to make sure that they fit with your event.

Since you are trying to present a serious funeral program, you may not want sixteen year old kids trying to take care of your guests. Make sure that you are going to receive the level of professionalism that you are paying for.

When it comes to leftovers, find out beforehand exactly what is done with them. Some caters have been known to throw out entire bags of good, unused meat and other food when the program is over.

Others will simply box them up and take them back. Technically, you have paid for the food, and it is yours.

You can arrange for them to box up the leftovers in your own Tupperware and save it for yourself. Don’t expect this to happen if you haven’t discussed it beforehand.

As you can see, there are lots of questions which need to be discussed with your caterer well before your service. Do your homework beforehand, come prepared, be ready to take notes, and you will have no problem finding the perfect event staff.

Author Bio: Terry Daniels has 20 years of experience in print and graphic design and has written hundreds of articles relating to funeral planning and family relationships and funeral programs.

Contact Info:
Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
http://enduringkeepsakes.com

Category: Culture and Society/Death and Dying
Keywords: funeral programs