Successful events take a great deal of time, effort, and attention to detail to plan and execute. To assist you in this challenging endeavor, the team at Sardella’s catering has identified 5 tips to help you host a successful conference or customer event.
1. Identify Your Goals
The first and most important step in planning a successful event is to think carefully about the end goals of the event. Why do you want to host this event? Who is the primary audience? What is your budget? How will you track the success of the event? Asking these questions of yourself and your planning team will help you to identify the event goals, which will act as a guide when planning and making event decisions. You may want to spend some time researching corporate catering ideas in AZ for ideas and alternative perspectives that you may not have thought of.
2. Stick to Your Budget
Large events can easily cost thousands of dollars even on the strictest budget. Without a well-estimated budget, even with some ‘cushion’ for unplanned expenses, costs can easily spiral out of control. Before signing any contracts with vendors determine how much you can afford to spend, on this event, and work to achieve your objectives within this amount.
3. Visualize the Experience
The selected venue should be a representation of your brand, target market, and event goals. The event’s time, decorations, entertainment, and food will all make a big impact on the vibe of the event. When selecting these details, consider each option from the guests’ perspective. Make sure that the selected venue is safe, well-lit, and has plenty of parking. Speak with the manager of the venue to determine if they can provide a list of suggested vendors, including those that offer full-service Italian catering in Phoenix.
4. Choosing the Menu
When selecting food to serve at your event, consider the theme, formality, and audience, and determine the menu options that fit your goals. Review the caterer’s menu, select several items that are personally appealing (and within budget). The menu is a simple yet complete way to reflect your sense of style and add a personal touch. Sardella’s catering offers 5 complete meal options, or you can customize your own menu.
When serving food at any event, pay careful attention to respecting cultural and religious variations. Offering gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options to accommodate those with special dietary requirements is a great way to show your attention to detail. To help plan ahead, ask guests to indicate their preferences when they RSVP and don’t forget to share this information with your AZ caterer.
5. Have a Plan B for EVERYTHING
The DJ may arrive late; the flowers may not arrive at all. You can generally expect at least one mini-crisis per hour. Anticipate which aspects of the event are the most significant and create back up plans to minimize the impact on the flow of the event if something goes wrong.
Event planning is not rocket science, but it requires a significant organization and constant attention to detail. If everything goes off without a hitch, it often goes without notice, but if something goes awry, it’s a public display of failure. The key to any successful event is keeping the experience of your guests the number one priority, ensuring their needs are met and preferences are taken into consideration.
If you are planning a corporate catered event in AZ, consider the catering services of Sardella’s Pizza and Wings. View our menu online, and call 623-561-6000 x 3 to speak with the Catering Manager.