Holding an event, whether it’s a birthday party, a wedding or a corporate event, requires thought and preparation, and one of the main features of your event will be the food served. It’s important to get the menu right, and make sure it matches your event.

Factors that will affect what menu will work best for your event include the time of day, the length of the event, the venue, and of course, your budget. If you’re having a three-hour afternoon cocktail party outside, there’s no point in catering for a three-course sit-down hot dinner. Apart from the logistics of serving hot food outside without tables, your caterer would have to negotiate keeping food warm, serving guests, and a variety of other problems.

The general rule is that informal cocktail parties will have a light menu of finger food and canapes, while a wedding caterer will suggest a full menu for a formal reception. If it’s a brunch event, a mixture of breakfast and light lunch items works best. Seasonal menus differ as well, so there’s no point in having a winter-based selection in the height of summer. And if your event is themed, matching the menu to your theme is very important.