Published On: 14 June 2021Categories: Blog, Events7.6 min read

After a turbulent year, many hosts are looking to add a sense of occasion to their home events. Typically, they consider decoration or entertainment before home catering. However, catering an event is often regarded as the most stressful part of any occasion – particularly if you are the one left in charge of all the cooking and are trying to meet everyone’s taste preferences! Hiring a professional can alleviate some of the pressure of hosting an event, leaving you to relax and enjoy socialising with your guests whilst the experienced chefs serve up delicious dishes you’re sure to love.

Today on the Vanilla Bean blog, we’re highlighting the benefits of hiring a caterer for your next private event. Whilst we often associate catering with more large-scale celebrations rather than intimate evenings, after a difficult year it’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself and guests to exquisite dining – from the comfort of your very own place!

Why choose home catering for your next event? The benefits…

Catering from the comfort of your own home, it can’t get much better! But, there are a few additional benefits to this service you probably haven’t yet thought of. We’ve rounded up our top 7 benefits for you, so before your next event, you can consider this new option and take a different route to the traditional house dinner party your guests are likely used to!

#1 You’re in control of the schedule

Home catering is unique and a completely personalised experience – there’s no one telling you when the party has to stop (except perhaps for you!). Venues often impose a noise curfew or will want you out by a certain time as they need to turn around the space in preparation for another event. Or, you may only be able to access a venue later in the day than you’d prefer perhaps cutting your event short.

When in your own residency, you control the schedule. The caterers can work to your own timetable, allowing you to have elongated breaks for entertainment intervals or perhaps delayed deserts to act as a late-night snack! There is a world of opportunity, the only limiting factor will be you – effectively, you are the venue manager and make the final decisions on when you want your guests or the caterer to vacate the premises.

Caterers will typically return the next day to collect their equipment, so you won’t have to worry about this on the evening of your event.

#2 Enjoy your own alcohol

Have you been meaning to crack into a special wine but just haven’t quite had the occasion until now? Or have a personalised cocktail inside-joke with those attending your event? Pair it perfectly with home catering; fine dining with your own beverage options on offer. Not only does this mean you’ll avoid the high markups often required in venues, but you can also ensure all attendees have their preferred drink of choice. It might be difficult to provide 5 different types of wine when in a venue, but when home this is no longer an issue.

#3 Bespoke theming

It can often seem rather limiting sticking to the constraints of a set menu. Home catering is the perfect opportunity to throw a spectacular, themed dinner party – whether it be Easter, Christmas, Halloween or entirely of your own creation. Bespoke theming is a wonderful way to make the memories from an event stand out for a long time to come.

Aren’t sure how we can theme dishes? We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves, don’t you worry! And, of course, you are welcome to suggest your own ideas and we’ll work with you to create a fully bespoke menu that you’ll love. Theming the dishes and drinks served can truly bring together an event, transforming it from one in the past. Remember, food is the first thing that pops to mind after an event, and will long be discussed both during and after the celebration has passed.

#4 Remove travel difficulties

When the event is in your home, you can eliminate travel difficulties entirely – you’ll be just a hop, skip and jump away from the action. And, if you have the capacity, you can also offer some or all of your guests the option to also stay over too. Travelling to a venue often means either a costly taxi back or assigning a designated driver who may then be unable to enjoy the evening to the fullest.

By moving the event to your home, you can focus on celebrating to the very max! All you need to do at the end of the night is walk up the stairs, falling into the comfort of your very own bed. Travel difficulties are often a major hurdle for guests, so you can aid their plans by offering this alternative venue and opening up your home where possible.

#5 Showcase your garden and home

After COVID-19, many of us took to tending to our gardens or redecorating our homes. But, how many of us have had the opportunity to showcase these new developments? When you choose home catering, you can share these new updates with your guests. And, as the venue is your own residency, it will have your personality sprinkled throughout! A home is a very intimate and very personalised environment, ideal for celebrating with those nearest and dearest to you.

Particularly if you want to utilise your outside space (an area many of us have come to love even more so!), you could consider a marquee and outside heaters to ensure your guests can focus on having a fantastic time rather than the weather! And, this can even be a treat for you as you see your hard work in a new light, sophisticated table settings provided by your caterers can completely transform your home.

#6 Exclusivity

Venues can often host several events in just one evening. Whilst you will, of course, be considered a priority, if you choose to hire a professional caterer to come to your own home, you will be exclusively served all evening. Not only will this mean you enjoy the evening without another party intruding on your event, but it also adds a sense of occasion.

Exclusivity = luxury. A private dining event is something few will have experienced in the past, so you’ll be able to offer something entirely different to your guests. Add the ‘wow’ factor so often missing from self-catered events and enjoy your evening as the host fully – out of the kitchen!

#7 You choose the elements you need

Whilst home catering tends to focus upon a three-course meal, this isn’t set in stone and can be changed to suit your event. Perhaps you would prefer to have an evening of live canapes – each made freshly in front of you, not only delicious but an exciting display to watch too! Or, you want to offer your guests a taster evening with several small courses to really tantalise their taste buds.

You can choose every element when you decide to hire a professional caterer for your home; set menus that would typically constrain you are not a concern as you can mix and match to suit your event. Whether it be an intimate dining experience or a huge celebration, the food and drink you serve will be individually selected by you to suit the desired atmosphere.

And, working with Vanilla Bean offers you additional aid. As full-service event planners, we can also assist you with other aspects of your event, be it a marquee or live entertainment. We have an excellent network of reliable, high-quality suppliers, and by opting for this service, you can ensure each element of your event goes smoothly.

Vanilla Bean: Home catering experts

As you can see, catering from the comfort of your own home has a variety of different benefits and can significantly reduce the stress you feel as the host. Catering is typically the lasting memory from an event, brought up time and again by those attending so it is vital you provide delicious dishes with a difference to stand out!

Celebrations of all shapes and sizes can be elevated through the service; whilst you may have previously only considered hiring a home caterer for a fine dining experience or a large-scale celebration, there are a variety of ways to tailor the catering, ultimately adding a sense of occasion to any home event. The difficulties surrounding a usual event such as schedule limitations and travel restrictions can be entirely eliminated, allowing for you and your guests to fully immerse yourself and enjoy the evening.

Vanilla Bean offers home catering to suit any event; our team of dedicated staff will work closely with you to create a catering experience completely tailored to your celebration. Whether you are after themed dishes or just want exquisite food and beverages, we can provide you with a personalised package that your guests will certainly not forget! To find out more about us and what we do, please visit our website by clicking here, or get in touch to discuss your upcoming event.