Planning an event can be an overwhelming process, especially when coordinating venues, decorators, entertainment, and catering services. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right event catering company, as food quality and service can significantly influence your guests’ overall experience. From selecting the perfect menu and service style to accommodating dietary restrictions, food allergies, and special requests, there are many factors to consider. Modern events in 2026 also place greater emphasis on interactive food stations, sustainable ingredients, customized menus, and seamless coordination between vendors. Whether you’re organizing a wedding reception, birthday celebration, corporate event, gala, or awards banquet, partnering with an experienced catering company can help ensure a memorable and stress-free event. Imperial’s event coordinators and culinary team share their top tips for getting the most value from your event catering services and creating an exceptional guest experience.

Expert Tip 1: Get Referrals

While Yelp is a great place to start (we recommend looking at the number of reviews, not just for 5-star companies; businesses with 200 reviews, as opposed to ten or 20, are likely more established and will conduct themselves more professionally), nothing beats a good old-fashioned recommendation from friends, family members, or colleagues. If the banquet hall you reserved doesn’t have in-house catering, they’ll usually have affiliate vendors they can recommend. Be cautious when taking advice from companies about other companies, though; businesses often have “kick-back” programs to incentivized recommendations, so be sure to dig in and ask about the company’s food quality, their service, their professionalism, and their willingness to make changes to suit your event’s specifications.

Expert Tip 2: Ask the Right Questions

When looking for an event catering company, there are two obvious questions on everyone’s mind: 1) Can you operate within my budget, and 2) how many people can you accommodate? These are important inquiries, of course, but to make a truly informed decisions, Imperial recommends adding the following to your list of interview questions:

Are you a full-service catering company, or do you just prepare the food and drop it off?
What food service options do you provide? (Passed tray? Buffet? Family-style? Full-service fine dining? Specialty tables?)
Do you serve alcohol? If not, can you recommend a trustworthy vendor that you are comfortable coordinating with?
What type of cuisine are you known for? What is your signature dish?
From where do you source your ingredients?
How will you transport the food (if off-site)? How do you keep hot food hot and cold food cold?
What do you do with the leftovers? How much extra will it cost to box up leftover food for guests?
Are you willing to make food “off-menu”?

Expert Tip 3: The Tasting Is Important; Don’t Pull Any Punches

Not just an excuse to get stuffed on the chef’s best, your catering company tasting is one of the most important aspects of your event planning experience. This is your opportunity to be critical and make sure the menu meets your expectations. Don’t be afraid to hurt the chef’s feelings, and don’t pull any punches; if you don’t like something, now is your time to speak, not 10 minutes before the event after all the food has already been prepared and transported. If you are serving wine at your event, the tasting should include wine pairings—just don’t let the alcohol cloud your judgement!

Expert Tip 4: Seek Out Package Deals

As we stated above, your event venue may offer in-house catering in addition to your standard reservation agreement. (Imperial, in fact, is one such venue!) If possible, we recommend opting for an in-house catering service over a completely separate, non-affiliated company. Not only will you food be fresher and hotter if prepared on-site in the banquet hall’s kitchen, but having your catering company and event venue working in concert streamlines the planning process and increases the likelihood that everything will go according to plan and schedule.

Expert Tip 5: Communication Is Key

Once you’ve hired the right catering company, communication becomes crucial. Be clear about your needs and your expectations, and if possible, coordinate with a single “contact person” that can speak, on your behalf, with the chefs, servers, and other event planners. Though you may be tempted to shoot off an email if you have a question or concern, picking up the phone can save hours, or even days. Finally, try to be flexible, but don’t make compromises because you’re worried what people at the catering company will think of you—if you don’t like something or feel that someone isn’t holding up their end of the bargain, don’t be afraid to speak up. On the same note, have realistic expectations of your catering services; you cannot expect to amend the menu or guest count hours before your event, though good catering companies can often find ways to make changes work on short notice.

For more event planning tips or information on Imperial’s affiliate catering company, Armav Catering.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when hiring an event catering company?

When hiring an event catering company, consider their experience, menu options, customer reviews, pricing transparency, and ability to accommodate dietary restrictions. Scheduling a tasting can also help you evaluate food quality before making a decision.

How far in advance should I book catering for an event?

Most events require catering to be booked at least 6 to 12 months in advance, especially weddings and large corporate gatherings. Popular dates and venues often fill up quickly, so early planning is recommended.

What services does a full-service event catering company provide?

A full-service event catering company typically handles menu planning, food preparation, delivery, setup, serving staff, beverage service, and cleanup. Some caterers also assist with event coordination and rentals.

Can an event catering company accommodate special dietary needs?

Yes, professional catering companies can usually provide vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and allergy-friendly menu options. Be sure to discuss dietary requirements during the planning process.

Is in-house catering better than hiring an outside caterer?

In-house catering can offer better coordination, simplified planning, and fresher food prepared on-site. However, the best choice depends on your venue, budget, menu preferences, and event requirements.

What questions should I ask before choosing a catering company?

Ask about menu customization, pricing, staffing, food sourcing, service styles, dietary accommodations, cancellation policies, and experience with events similar to yours. These questions can help you choose the right catering partner for your event.