Your Guide to Budget-Friendly Catering in Brussels
Catering is a big deal while budgeting for any event. It will be one of your largest expenses.
But with catering accounting for a significant portion of the budget (a staggering 30 to 35%), how can you ensure your guests are well-fed while managing your event costs? And more importantly, how much should you realistically allocate for budget-friendly catering?
Take a deep dive with us as we explore the catering world, from corporate shindigs to dreamy weddings. You’ll find the culinary scene is as diverse as the changing seasons.
So, if quotes from caterers have you scratching your head, keep reading! Brussels Special Venues will guide you towards affordable catering options.
Event Catering in Brussels: Styles and Budgets
Are you planning an event? Even budget-friendly catering can consume a hefty chunk of your bill.
This part of our guide explains the most popular catering styles and things to consider before choosing a caterer. As you might expect, a lavish sit-down meal will cost way more than a buffet lunch.
Traditional Catering: Popular at weddings, traditional catering features all the bells and whistles you might imagine. Think multiple courses and attentive staff. While full-catering service in Brussels depends on the complexity of the event, expect to pay premium prices.
Buffet or Family Style: Buffet-style catering is budget-friendly and versatile. Bonus: they’re perfect for larger events. They typically include setup, manning, and cleanup.
Drop-off Catering: Ideal for smaller, casual gatherings, drop-off catering delivers delicious spreads and can save you a fortune. With fewer labour costs, guests can help themselves to finger foods, which keep well at room temperature. You won’t break the budget with affordable catering options like these.
Exploring Unique Brussels Catering Options
Beyond the conventional, here are some trending catering styles to consider.
Food Truck Catering: A new contender has entered the culinary ring: food truck event catering in Brussels. Food trucks are a fun and customisable form of catering. Tacos versus steak – costs may vary depending on your cuisine. The number of trucks or pop-ups you hire influences the price.
Custom-Catering: Custom catering generally involves private chefs creating bespoke menus for unforgettable dining. This is the most expensive catering option available. If you want culinary perfection and have the budget, expect to pay a hefty price tag.
What Are Catering Cost Factors to Consider?
Don’t be surprised if the final catering bill is higher than the first cost estimate. Be aware of these hidden costs that could unexpectedly deplete your budget!
Venue
Off-site catering can sometimes be more expensive than you budgeted. To save some money, choose venues with an in-house kitchen.
Location
City events may cost more because of the higher labour cost, ingredient prices, and permit fees compared to residential areas.
Caterers may also charge you more if your destination is out of their service radius, so factor these in.
Quality and Type of Ingredients
The fancier your food is, or the more needs your guests to have, expect to pay more. This goes for anything beyond a basic meal – organic ingredients or special dietary options.
While it’s true that inexpensive meals may not necessarily affect quality, ensure you aren’t underwhelming your guest’s palates. Cutting corners might not be worth impacting your long-term reputation over bad or forgettable food.
Caterer’s Expertise and Experience
When it comes to catering, you get what you pay for. If you’re looking for unforgettable food and culinary delights, you won’t regret spending extra on seasoned cooks. Making this choice can give you the confidence that your guests are happy and well-fed.
Brussels Catering Extras
Catering goes beyond just the food menu. Here are some crucial decisions to consider as you plan for catering.
Beverages: Will you provide alcohol? If so, manage your costs with soft drinks, beers and wines.
Bar Service: Think about how you’d like to serve drinks. Will there be an open bar, cash bar, or a drink’s menu from which guests can order?
Rentals: Confirm with your caterer whether tableware, utensils, furniture, and other furnishings are included in your catering costs. If not, budget for these costs in as they’re must-haves to serve food.
Labour
Don’t skimp on staff; they’re important for your event to run smoothly. Their responsibilities include plating, bringing out meals, pouring drinks, and keeping guests happy. And that’s not to mention those working behind the scenes to ensure a well-executed event.
Here’s the thing: labour costs aren’t fixed. They vary depending on your event type. As you might have guessed, you’ll need more coordinated and skilled waiting personnel at multiple-course dinners. But, you’ll need fewer professionals lending a hand at a buffet, only requiring a small team to set up, manage the station, replenish stock, and clean afterwards.
Remember: labour costs aren’t limited to meal service. You’ll need staff for setup, cleanup, and everything else.
Duration of Event
The length of your event will affect the projected costs, especially for day-long events. Here’s why.
Hunger Levels: with all-day events, attendees are guaranteed to eat more and more frequently. Provide enough food to satisfy their hunger.
Labour costs: Meal-associated costs, like labour, will be higher with staff working longer hours.
How to Save Money on Catering
While catering might devour your budget, you can still curb your expenses. Here are some smart cost-cutting tips to ensure budget-friendly catering.
Plan Early and Save
Planning for an event in advance can lead to big benefits! Appreciating your foresight, caterers might be open to negotiating costs or offering early bird discounts. This could lead to a substantial price reduction.
Limit Food Variety
To cater for people’s different tastes and dietary requirements, you might picture a whole smorgasbord of food.
But reality means narrowing your food choices, especially with budget-friendly catering. This doesn’t mean your event will fail to satisfy your guests. Even with fewer choices, you can still provide crowd-pleasing favourites.
When making these food cuts, tailor your menu to the time of day and guests’ preferences. For example, an hour or two networking session might only require light snacks, but an evening gala may require a substantial supper with entrées and dessert.
Consider the Wider Budget
While catering is a large piece of the event budget, it’s not the only one. You’ll need to look at the bigger picture, considering not just your catering costs but your total bill for the whole event.
Knowing your maximum spending limit and how much you’ve allocated for each aspect is important. Doing so can help you make sound financial choices that won’t exceed your budget.
Understand Your Contract
Catering proposals can be tricky and open to confusion. Some include gratuity, tax and other fees, while others may leave it out. This can lead to surprising expenses if you’re not careful enough.
Read the contract and fine print to avoid being slapped with unforeseen costs. Review every detail and make sure you understand everything before committing to a contract.
Feel free to ask questions and clarify anything that doesn’t make complete sense. Reputable caterers will be happy to provide answers, ensuring there aren’t any surprises.
We make it easy: expect transparent contracts with our recommended list of caterers.
Need Help Finding Catering for Your Event?
Choosing the right caterer can make a world of difference. With the power to make or break an event, catering is your biggest and most important expense.
But how can you find a caterer who’s perfect for you? Here’s what matters most.
Budget-friendly Catering and Flexibility: Find a caterer who can work within the confines of your budget. Ideally, they should offer some degree of flexibility for unexpected diets and last-minute preferences.
It’s Not Just About the Budget: Don’t sacrifice quality for a slightly lower price – it may leave a lasting negative impression. Find someone who balances cost with quality and delivers high-quality food and service. This can be done on a budget.
Looking for top event catering in Brussels? Whether you have a limited or flexible budget, hire professional caterers through Brussels’s Special Venues. Our venues boast partnerships with many exceptional caterers to fit any style and budget.
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From catering to venue finding, we’ll connect you to the best!
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