Corporate and Special Event Catering Blog

5 Answers to Which Catering Place Settings to use at a Special Event

  

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Any party or gathering you’re hosting will need plates, utensils and napkins for your guests but which ones should you use?  Here are some guidelines to consider before making that decision:

1. Does your venue have any requirements? 

Some Dallas venues require only eco-friendly items or real china and glass ware. Some party places should only have plastic or paper used for areas around swimming pools, spas, recreational areas or those places where a child’s party might be held.

2. How much time is allotted for serving your guests? 

If the service time is brief and you have to hustle the guests through, consider disposable place settings. Handling china takes a bit more time and care and bartenders and professional wait staff can clear the used glasses and plates faster than if china were used.

3. What is the Special Event Menu?

For a quick snack, continental breakfast, even a light lunch or buffet appetizers work easily with disposable items and allow the guests to maneuver around more easily with the lighter weight items. 

The temperature of the items served should also be factored in. Some disposable items don’t take the heat well, or, are make that item too hot to handle (why you need a cup collar on some paper coffee cups) so ask your caterer what’s best to use for the menu you’ve selected.

4. What type of event is it?

If this is a child’s party? Wedding Reception?  VIP Board of Directors’ Dinner? You should select the appropriate place setting to coordinate with the purpose of the event.  Some of the acrylic plates being produced now, look just like china so there is a level of disposable that could dress up even the fanciest of gatherings.

5. Budget

Of course this is a decision driver. Using real china will create the need for more Professional Wait staff and more time to set up and tear down your event as well as provide proper service during the event. Since service staff is typically charged by the hour, this will impact the price of using china.

Most rental companies and caterers will charge you for loss and/or damaged place setting pieces, like a broken champagne flute, lost fork or missing plate.  Ask about these fees too before you make your decision.  Replacement costs of lost, broken or damaged item will shock you. They can be up to 200%, and even more, of typical retail prices so be sure to ask about those costs before deciding.

Using disposable place settings not only allow for the quicker set up and clean-up; it can also reduce the number of wait staff needed depending on the event and menu.  Though some patterns are not inexpensive, it still typically saves money overall. (The price of plastics is dependent upon oil prices so when you see the price of gasoline on the rise, know that any plastic anything will follow suit)