Starry Nights Catering & Events

Catering tips

Outside of a wedding, most people have never planned a big catered event for their friends and family. Here at Starry Nights Catering in Kirkland, we know that planning events can be intimidating and confusing. So we have compiled this simple guide to get you started planning your special event.

How much will it cost?

Most people start with this question. That's actually the wrong question, because the answer depends on how many people you're serving, how much food you want to provide, what type of service (passed appetizers, self-service buffet, table service), and most importantly, what you want to serve. Lobster and caviar for 10 will be much more expensive than cookies and punch for 100.

So where do I start?

First off, what kind of food do you want to serve? Do you want appetizers, a plated meal, a dessert buffet, or something of your own creation? Never fear, Chef Matt will consult with you one-on-one to help decide what your special meal will be. Once the food type is decided, we can figure out how to put that food into your menu's budget. For example, if you want salmon, a big budget would provide a plated salmon dinner. But a budget menu might offer salmon mousse with crackers.

What should I spend?

Imagine if you were to take out your entire party for dinner. What would you expect to spend, including food, drinks, tax, and tip? The price will be about the same with catering. Your budget will reflect whether you're looking to take your party out to an expensive restaurant meal, or to a happy hour. You should pick the highest budget point you're willing to spend, and work down from there. Now, while Starry Nights needs to pay its bills too, we absolutely promise never ever to force an expensive menu on you to run up costs. We understand the importance of balancing your menu with your budget, while still producing your dream event!

Will my event require waitstaff?

Most people forget to factor the cost of wait staff and labor into their catering budget. The labor cost of your event will depend on several factors:

A self-service buffet will not require wait staff. However, if your buffet has a carving or omelette station, it will need to be staffed.

Passed appetizer buffets require wait staff to circulate with the food. Plan on 1 wait staff per 20 guests.

Table service events require wait staff. Plan on 1 server for every 2 tables, or per 12-15 guests.

If your event includes table service with many different courses, extra kitchen staff (chefs, dishwashers, or bussers) will be hired.

Hosted and no-host bars require a bartender.

How do I know what to serve? And how much?

This is where Starry Nights can help you the most! We promise a great spread, based on what sounds good to you. Here are some planning tips:

When selecting any menu item, including appetizers and buffets, prices are per person.

If you have an early evening or lunchtime event, people will expect a full meal.

If you have a midafternoon or later evening event, people only expect snacks and/or dessert.

Lots of small items will tend to cost more per person than 1 simple item.

For appetizer buffets during mealtimes, serve between 5 and 7 different appetizers. For snack events, plan on 3 or 4.

For a good mix of food, try to have 1 protein dish, 2 vegetable dishes, 2 carbohydrate dishes, and a dessert.