Hiring a catering service is the best way to feed a large group of people. Catering services are popular for a wide variety of events, with the catering industry employing more than 261,000 people, according to IBIS World. Because there are so many different catering companies to choose from, it's important to pick one that offers the correct type of catering for the event you are hosting. Catering services fall into four broad categories: wedding catering services, social event catering services, concession catering services, and corporate catering services.

1. Wedding Catering

Weddings often have huge guest lists, making it necessary to hire a caterer for the occasion. In addition to preparing food, caterers are frequently expected to handle some of a wedding's décor. At a formal wedding, food doesn't just need to taste good, it also needs to look good; a caterer will need to ensure proper plating and table settings.

2. Social Event Catering

While social events like birthday parties, retirement parties, and graduation parties may not be quite as large as the average wedding, they still typically have many more guests than a single person can easily cook for, making catering the obvious choice. Different events can vary in their levels of formality: some may call for a three-course meal, while others may call for a casual barbecue. It's important for a caterer to discuss a host's expectations before providing service.

3. Concession Catering

Concession catering is used for extremely large events such as sports games and concerts. Because these events can have hundreds or thousands of guests, they require much less attention to customer preferences and dietary restrictions. For these occasions, a caterer will simply provide the most popular foods that will be the biggest crowd-pleasers.

4. Corporate Catering

A corporate catering service provides food for various types of business meetings, ranging from casual gatherings at the office to large, formal parties. Unlike other event types, business functions tend to be relatively small, so a corporate catering service is expected to tailor its event menus to what a company's employees like best.

If you're holding a business party, you'll need to hire a great corporate catering company. Neighborhood Grills Catering provides delicious food and quality service to corporate events in the greater Seattle area. Let the best corporate caterers in the region help you keep your employees happy and well-fed!