From large events to small, there often comes a time when everyone is expected to simply sit, be served, and eat their dinner. While this is an expected part of any catering service, often the traditional sit-down portion of dinner service can be a time where the energy of an event ebbs or wanes. This is especially true if you are hosting a social event where many guests are meeting each other for the first time. If the goal of your event is building connections or enabling networking, this period can actually be counterproductive for your desired guest experiences or outcomes.
While you can’t necessarily replace seated dinners entirely, especially depending on the nature of your event, some catering companies offer a number of innovative ideas that allow you to maintain the fun and energy of the event as a whole, even as guests gather to eat. So how can you bring a new approach to your next event, and let your catering company help you “disrupt” your dinner experience? Here are some of the best ways to do it.
Part of the reason that traditional seated dinners often lose some of the energy of an event is the waiting required for guests to file through a normal buffet line, or to wait for staff to come take orders and then deliver courses.
This is where interactive food displays and creative food stations can help – instead of having your guests wait for service or for their turn in line, an array of interesting and unique food displays and stations can make dinner service more dynamic and fun for your guests. From build your panini stations to cupcake decorating during dessert, your catering company can help you design food service that gets your guests up and moving.
Not only is this is a good way to avoid the downtime of a traditional seated dinner, but it also offers another natural opportunity for your guests to meet, mingle, and use the stations as an icebreaker for conversations.
If your event calls for seated dinner periods, especially during speeches or presentations, you may still need a more traditional option like table service or buffet stations. However, creatively scheduling your event to segment food service can avoid fixing your event attendees to a specific table for too long. There are several benefits to this strategy improving your guests’ experience:
Your catering company will often have a variety of ideas on how to work food service naturally in with your event schedule, and can be a valuable resource of information and suggestions to incorporate your food service seamlessly with the needs of the event itself. They can also provide suggestions on what has worked for similar events in the past, as well as new ideas to try out for your event.
If you want to try something truly different, and really bring some disruption to your event’s food service, here are some more ideas that might not work for a more formal occasion, but could leave your guests chatting and remembering your event long afterwards:
Once again, this is a great place to work with your catering company and let them be an active partner to help you pull off something new and exciting. Most caterers love the challenge of trying something new, and helping you make your event memorable. Simply ask and see what you both can come up with!
Need to hire a top-quality SF catering company for your next event? Contact Left Coast Catering today and discover how we can enhance your big day with elegant, interesting, and delicious foods and event management!
