Choosing the Right Catering Style for Your Event

Choosing the food for an event is about more than deciding what you’d like to eat. 

Because, the way that food is served can shape the atmosphere, influence how guests spend their time and help the whole occasion flow.

A room of guests enjoying canapés while they catch up over drinks feels very different to everyone gathering around the table for a three course meal. Sharing food creates something different again, bringing plenty of choice to the table but keeping things relaxed and sociable.

At Fork & Field, we cater for weddings, corporate events, parties and celebrations of all shapes and sizes. And one of the first things we look at with our clients is how they want their event to feel. From here, we can explore the different catering styles available and create a menu that works naturally with their plans.

Start with the kind of event you are planning

There’s no catering style that works best for every occasion.

A corporate networking event might call for food that guests can enjoy while moving around the room. On the other hand, a wedding breakfast gives everyone an opportunity to sit down together after the ceremony. And sharing food could be best suited for a birthday celebration with a more informal setup.

Before choosing between the different types of catering menus, think about what will actually be happening during your event. Will guests be sitting at tables for most of the evening? Is networking an important part of the occasion? Do you want food to be a focal point, or would you prefer it to arrive naturally while everything else continues around it?

These questions can quickly help narrow down the options.

Canapés for drinks, arrivals and mingling

Canapés work particularly well when you want guests to be able to move freely and socialise.

At a wedding, they can be served during the drinks reception when photographs are being taken and guests are catching up. For corporate event catering, they are suited to launches, networking evenings and drinks receptions where conversation needs to continue uninterrupted.

And, while canapés might be small, they don’t have to be predictable.

Our canapé menu includes pork belly with bourbon whiskey glaze and crushed apple, crispy Asian duck with tangy hoisin dressing, chilli and scallion, and beef fillet with rosemary and garlic, served with horseradish mayo.

There are lots of meat free choices too, including whipped goat’s cheese with thyme roasted croute, candied beetroot crisp and walnut crumb, baked feta with sun ripened tomato and pesto crostini, and chickpea falafel with pickled radish and lemon and parsley aioli.

Serving a selection means guests can experience several flavours without having to stop what they’re doing for a formal meal.

When canapés work best

At the beginning of an event canapés can get things off to a great start. They give guests something to enjoy with their first drink and bridge the gap between arrival and the main meal.

They can also be a bigger part of the menu when paired with more substantial bites or another style of catering later on.

The important thing is making sure the amount and timing of the food matches what guests will expect. A couple of light bites might be perfect before a three course dinner, but an event taking place across several hours will require something more substantial.

This is where planning your bespoke catering as a complete experience becomes valuable. Rather than looking at each element separately, we consider how the food works across the whole event.

Sharing menus for a sociable atmosphere

Sharing menus offer a different experience altogether.

Food arrives at the table for guests to serve and enjoy together, creating an atmosphere that feels generous and relaxed but still has a sense of  occasion.  

For weddings, a sharing menu can be a great alternative to traditional plated wedding breakfast catering. Guests still gather around beautifully dressed tables, but passing dishes between one another can make the meal feel more informal.

Our sharing roast is a good example. Slow cooked Cheshire beef brisket or roasted chicken breast can be served alongside crispy roasted potatoes, cauliflower cheese, honey glazed carrots and parsnips, buttered seasonal greens, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings and gravy.

It takes the familiarity and comfort of a roast and turns it into something everyone around the table can enjoy together.

Bringing different flavours to the table

Sharing food also gives you plenty of scope to move beyond a traditional roast.

Mediterranean style dining is particularly well suited to this approach. Platters filled with grilled meats, colourful salads, vegetables, warm breads and dips can be placed around the table, allowing everyone to try different combinations.

Our Mediterranean Grill includes chargrilled peppered rump steak, Moroccan spiced chicken breast, lamb and chickpea kofta with salsa verde and blackened halloumi and bell pepper kebabs.

Sides such as Horiatiki salad with feta, olives and heritage tomatoes, charred zucchini couscous and garlic and rosemary roasted potatoes bring even more variety to the table.

For couples looking for catering in Cheshire that feels relaxed without losing the sense of occasion, sharing food can work really well for a wedding breakfast. It’s equally suited to private parties and other celebrations where food is an important part of bringing everyone together.

The classic sit-down meal

Sometimes, a traditional sit-down meal is exactly right.

A three course dinner creates a clear focal point at an event and gives guests time to settle at their tables, enjoy each course and spend time with the people around them.

For weddings, it remains a classic choice for wedding breakfast catering. It can also work beautifully for awards evenings, gala dinners, Christmas parties and corporate celebrations where a more formal dining experience suits.

And a sit-down menu gives each course its own moment. From the starter through to dessert, there’s an opportunity to create a progression of flavours and make the meal a memorable part of the event.

Of course, sit-down meals do need more time within the schedule and this should be considered when planning the wider day. If speeches, presentations or entertainment are taking place too, good timings help everything work together smoothly.

Do you have to choose just one?

Not at all. Some of the best event menus combine different styles of catering as the occasion develops.

So, a wedding might begin with canapés during the drinks reception, move into a sharing wedding breakfast and finish with artisan sourdough pizzas in the evening. Or a corporate event could welcome guests with canapés before a seated dinner, and a more informal celebration might combine roaming food with street food later on.

Looking at different types of catering menus gives you the chance to create a journey through the event rather than relying on one style from beginning to end.

It also means the catering can change with the atmosphere. For example, food at the start of the occasion could be polished and delicate, while later dishes become more relaxed as the music starts and the party gets going.

Remember the practical details

The venue, guest numbers and timings will all influence which catering style works best.

A sharing menu needs enough room on the tables for platters alongside glassware, crockery and décor. Canapés require a service plan that allows food to reach guests throughout the space, while a sit-down dinner needs sufficient time built into the schedule.

Dietary requirements are another key consideration. Whichever style you choose, guests with allergies, intolerances or particular dietary requirements have to be considered from the beginning.

Working with an experienced catering Cheshire team means these practical details can be discussed alongside the more enjoyable decisions about dishes and flavours.

They might happen behind the scenes, but they make a big difference to how effortless the catering feels on the day.

Finding the right balance for your event

Ultimately, choosing between canapés, sharing plates and a sit-down meal comes back to the experience you want to create.

If you want guests moving around and talking, canapés can help keep things flowing. If bringing everyone together around the table is important but you would prefer something relaxed, sharing food is a natural choice. And, if the meal itself is going to be one of the main moments of the occasion, a traditional sit-down dinner gives it the space it deserves.

With bespoke catering, there’s also no need to fit your event into one particular format. Different styles can be combined to suit your timings, venue and guests.

Plan your event catering with Fork & Field

At Fork & Field, we work with our clients to create menus that fit naturally into their plans. From wedding breakfasts and private celebrations to corporate event catering, we consider the food, service and wider atmosphere together.

Whether you already know exactly what you’d like to serve or you’re still deciding between different options, our team can help you create a menu that feels right for your event.

Get in touch with Fork & Field to talk through your plans and explore the catering styles and dishes available.

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