A banquet is defined by the Standard College Dictionary as: 1. A sumptuous feast. 2. A formal or ceremonial dinner, often followed by speeches. Indeed, banquet catering is among a league of its own in the catering industry. Generally, banquet-style functions entertain a large quantity of guests and consist of large round tables that seat eight to ten persons. Banquets are popular, but not limited to, wedding receptions and corporate events or parties.

Food service styles vary from informal buffets in which guests prepare their own plates from a large selection of food to pre-determined meals served to each guest individually by a hired wait staff. A catering company should be able to provide a consultation to help any event or party planner figure out what kind of service would be most appropriate for the occasion.

There are considerations to ponder before approaching a potential caterer for your banquet style event, namely the kitchen of your event or party location.

Examine the kitchen of your event location. The kitchen will need to provide the space and equipment to meet banquet service requirements. In banquet catering, the prep, cooking, and serving happens all at once. Depending on the size and nature of the banquet, a small 100-to 200-square-foot station for catering with the right equipment can make a huge difference and ensure that the kitchen staff remains happy, productive and efficient.

In regards to the costs of banquet catering, pricing is dependent on what type of event style is used, whether it is a formal sit-down dinner or a casual cocktail party. Typically, banquet caterers will offer a simple pricing guideline based on staffing, equipment, and menu requirements of the event, with plenty of room for creativity.

You and your caterer can be as innovative as you like when considering the many banquet catering options. A few options to consider include the amount of staff to meet the needs of the guests, the decorations, the linens, and centerpieces used. The overall objective is to host a successful event and a good caterer can assist you in planning all the details.