Many people have never ordered catering before and are unsure where to start when it comes to making an order. Once you’ve decided on the cuisine you want, you’ll need to view menus and decide on how much food you need. Below, Natsunoya Tea House in Honolulu, HI, shares some tips on ordering the right amount of food for your big day.

How to Determine How Much Food to Order

1. Make Informed Guesses

If you’re catering for a wedding, for example, you won’t have an exact number of attendees. There’s always a few people who get sick or otherwise can’t come, and you may have a few last minute additions to the guest list to consider. Give the catering company an informed guess of how many people you’ll need to feed and remember to round up to ensure you have enough for everyone.

2. Consider Your Food Choices

You’re not just noting how many people will be at your event. You also have to calculate what food options will be the most popular so you can have more of that dish. If you provide many choices, you’ll likely see that people take smaller portions of each item so they can try more foods. Keep this in mind as you decide portion sizes.

3. Include a Filler Item

Every catering gig should include one filler food that provides something to munch on during down times. For weddings, offering bread or appetizers during the cocktail hour and as people wait for the reception is a great idea to satiate hungry guests and provide a base for an evening of champagne.

Every catering company provides food packages based on how many people you need to serve. Speak with the chefs to understand how you can best estimate the amount of food you should order. To talk with the team at Natsunoya Tea House about ordering their classic takeout sushi or bento box catering, call (808) 595-4488. Visit their website for information about their small party, lunch, and dinner buffets.