Cost Saving Tip of the Week #6

Hire a professional.

As kind and considerate as it is for a friend to offer their services for your event, many jobs are better left to professionals who have the right tools, equipment, and experience to get the job done. Cooking in large quantity for groups is not something you should try out for the first time for your friend's wedding. Caterers are skilled at what we do, and our job is to make your wedding stress- and worry-free. Our facilities are health inspected regularly, we maintain proper temperature control from preparation to presentation, and we bring the right equipment to the event to cook everything on-site for maximum freshness and quality.

While hiring a professional may not save you money, it will save you your friendships, and you can sit back and enjoy your party.

Cost Saving Tip of the Week #5

Contrary to popular belief, buffet or family style will not necessarily save you money.

When discussing your menu, your caterer will explain the finer points of the main categories of service styles - buffet, plated, family style, or stand-up. We come across many clients who lean toward buffet or family style simply because it has a reputation for being a less expensive choice. When you factor in all costs for your meal, including service, food, and rentals, the buffet will not be your inexpensive option if you are booking with a reputable caterer. A properly planned buffet will include enough food for everyone to have a little of everything. At Select, we allot enough food for everyone to have a generous portion, and to go back for seconds. Yes, this means there is more wasted food, but your other option is to run out of food, and no good caterer should ever run out of food.

The service/labour cost is the other half of the equation. While you can potentially save on the cost of service for a buffet, the food cost is higher and ultimately makes it the same cost as a plated menu, where the portions are controlled. In addition to the service cost considerations, a buffet also requires more rental items - the tables and linens for the buffet, chafing dishes, platters, decoration, and serving utensils. Consider all of your service options and the true cost of each before making your selection. If budget is a concern, talk with your caterer about ways to trim the budget without sacrificing on quality.

Cost Saving Tip of the Week #4

Limit your guest count.

If you've decided that food is an important aspect of your event, you don't need to scale back on the food quality if you limit the number of guests attending your event. Every additional person at your event requires another meal, another place setting, another portion of a table and linen, another chair, etc. We recommend for weddings and other formal events that you budget $100.00 per guest to cover food, staff, and rentals. With a smaller guest count, you can go further with your budget and perhaps add in a special late night table, or passed hors d'oeuvres during the reception.

While cutting the guest list can be tricky, it is the fastest way to reduce your event costs and stay on budget.

Gala event held at the Centre in the Square

On Saturday May 8, 2010, Select catered a sophisticated gala event on the stage at Centre in the Square fro 270 guests following a concert performance.  The event featured passed canapés, cheese and fruit displays, wrap bites, and our premium coffee and tea station.  Event decor and planning was completed by Straight Street Event Services.  

Welcome to the Hungry Olive!

We are now firmly settled in our storefront location at 35 Cherry Blossom Road in Cambridge. The Hungry Olive offers paninis, sandwiches, salads, freshly baked pastries, a daily hot meal and house-made soup, as well as drinks, coffee, and cappuccinos. Stop by to see our new place or come in for lunch!

Cost Saving Tip of the Week #3

Limit the timeline of your event.

Have you considered a brunch, formal afternoon tea, or late evening stand-up reception? There are plenty of alternatives to a traditional sit down dinner that can save you money without compromising on quality. The longer our staff are on site at an event, the higher the staff cost will be. Weddings in particular can add up quickly if your ceremony is planned for the early afternoon and your dance goes until after midnight. Our staff arrive before any guests are on site to set up tables and chairs, and we remain on site until the party winds down so we can take care of putting everything away. Trimming your wedding timeline is one of the best ways to drastically cut your costs.

First wedding at the Lang Tannery

On May 1, 2010, Select Service catered the very first wedding ever held at the Lang Tannery in Kitchener.  Located at the corner of Charles and Victoria in Kitchener, the Tannery is being completely updated and renovated to include retail shops and an event space.  The wedding featured food stations, passed canapes, and a martini bar with an ice luge. The ice luge was provided by Ice Culture Inc.

     The three food stations took the guests around the world as they sampled items from a Norwegian themed table with a mashed potato bar and gravlax platter, a Mexican table with black bean and beef quesadillas, and an Indian food station with butter chicken, basmati rice, and dhal rissoles.  The late night tables include a market stall station with freshly cut vegetables, cheeses, and sliced deli meats with breads and condiments, and a French inspired desserts and coffee station with profiteroles, petit four sec, petit four glace, biscotti, and chocolate covered strawberries.