How Much Food Should You Order?

Ordering the right amount of food comes down to matching the menu format to your guest count and the length of the gathering — there’s no single ratio that works for every event, which is why this is worth a short conversation rather than a rule of thumb.

Per-person menus, like a catering package or a hot meal, are the most straightforward: you’re ordering roughly one serving per guest, adjusted slightly upward if the gathering runs long or includes a wide age range. Platters and canapés are different — they’re usually priced by a platter size (a “medium” or “large” serving a stated range of people) or by the piece, with a minimum order per item type.

A gathering that runs several hours, or one where people arrive at staggered times, generally benefits from a slightly larger order than a tightly scheduled one-hour reception, simply because food sits out longer and more people end up returning for seconds.

It’s also worth separating “how much food” from “how many different things.” A smaller number of well-sized platters is often easier to manage than a large number of small ones, especially in a venue with limited table space.

If you’re not sure where to start, give us your guest count, the venue, and roughly how long the gathering will run, and we’ll suggest a menu and quantity based on that — it’s a normal part of the conversation, not something you need to work out alone first.