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Catering & eventsEDITORIAL BRIEF

How Much Food Should You Order for a Catered Event?

A useful catering estimate starts with the people and the schedule, rather than a fixed amount for every event.

Photo accompanying How Much Food Should You Order for a Catered Event?
FROM THE VIGA JOURNAL · 2026

A brief edition of this story from the Viga archive.

01

Match the meal to the moment

Confirm attendance, then decide whether guests expect a full meal or something lighter. A brief breakfast meeting and an afternoon celebration need different menus. Longer events may also need refreshments between meals.

02

Build a balanced order

Combine mains with complementary sides and account for dietary requests. Share your headcount, event length and preferred dishes with the catering team so they can help with portions and avoid unnecessary excess.

Originally published October 15, 2026More stories
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