Hiring a caterer for the first time can be overwhelming…we get it! What’s included in the proposal? Do I have to provide my own paper plates? What about rentals? I’d rather not ask my friends to help restock platters, do you have someone for that? How much is this all going to cost me?
At Whitney Fredin Events, our only goal is for you to relax and enjoy your guests. We will handle anything remotely stressful…our flexible service options are designed to create a memorable event, especially for you.
i’m in charge of planning…(insert type of party)…how does this work? how do I hire you?
Yay! So glad you found us…we gotchu! We invite you to peruse our menus, scroll the website, and check out our Instagram to whet your appetite for the possibilities. Once you have an idea of guest count, date, venue, and budget, fill out our contact form and we will get in touch with you. We can talk on the phone or we can meet at our kitchen on Emerald and Maple Grove and discuss details. At our complimentary consultation, we will decide if we need to visit the venue. You will leave our consultation with a clear idea of what we can take off your plate (and what we will put on yours!). Next, we will email you a pretty proposal and you can save your date with a 50% deposit. We love Venmo (@whitneyfredin), cash, check, and card (3% fee applies). Then you get to fuhgeddaboudit until your final guest count and balance is due, two weeks before your event. You put out some new potpourri, we show up, and bahdahbing bahdahboom, next thing you know, it’s midnight and everyone’s doing the Macarena.
do you provide Disposables?
Yes! We offer several types of disposables and compostables. Our most popular option is Bagasse (sugarcane), which feels like a heavy-duty paper plate. Classy and natural, bagasse is recyclable and pairs with a variety of decor styles. We also offer compostable banana leaf plates, which are eco-friendly and beautiful. We can provide eco-friendly cutlery, napkins, and cups. Our most economical disposables package includes square bagasse plates, heavy duty plastic cutlery, white paper (absorbent!) napkins, and clear plastic cups. Ask us about custom napkins, paper boats, and other creative serving ideas.
Do you handle Rentals? can i rent linens from you?
While we don’t have the space to stock twenty colors of tablecloths in every size and hundreds of sets of silverware, we partner with good friends in the industry who do. We can refer you to the best vendors who ensure your event goes off without a hitch. Let them handle the heavy lifting while you focus on your dance moves.
i would rather my guests enjoy the party than work it. do you have servers?
Many clients say our servers are the best part of hiring a caterer. We bring smiling, helpful people who have experience providing the highest level of service. From setup to takedown and every platter refill in between, our familiarity working as an orchestrated team allows you to focus on what matters most without inconveniencing your friends and family. Since we exist to make you look good, we are sensitive to our professionalism and presentation. We will be dressed in black shirts and black pants, with our signature “Food is Art” apron. We are happy to come in clown costumes if the party requires it.
i’m terrible at decor—will you make my table look pretty or do i have to do that?
Pretty is what we do. We have curated a beautiful selection of boards and platters, bowls, levels, dispensers, and signage to create a tablescape that sets the party’s tone before guests even start to eat. When you book a delivery with setup, or full-service catering with waitstaff, we bring the decor and serveware to create a beautifully functional spread. During your consultation, we will ask for inspiration images or an invite to your Pinterest board to get the full vision of your style. We are constantly updating our inventory of new and vintage pieces that will complement your perfect buffet table.
I want to do it all myself, can i just order food from you?
Yes! We love pickup orders! We’ll cook the food and you make sure the party favors have the right shade of blue ribbon. You’ll come to our kitchen on the day of or day before your event, and we’ll hand off food in disposable aluminum containers with reheating instructions. Consider it done!
what’s this service fee i see on my proposal? is there a gratuity?
A 20% service fee on labor, food, beverage will be added to your final bill. The catering service fee is a standard charge in the catering service world that covers the backend of the business - staff, utilities, office supplies, day to day operations, etc. So while a catering contract shows the breakdown of the event elements and their costs, the service charge helps cover the cost of the hours needed to prep and plan the event. The service fee is NOT a gratuity. One way to think about it is catering is like bringing a restaurant to your venue (or backyard), with many hands packing food, making sure it stays hot during travel, loading the van, driving the van, schlepping everything you need to provide the service, making sure the food stays at the right temperature from setup to service, and all this happens off-site, often without electricity or running water. Just like you'd expect to pay a service fee to eat in a restaurant, a similar service is happening with catering. You can read more about catering service fees here and here. For amazing service, feel free to give additional gratuity directly to your serving staff or catering team lead.