suggests hiring a chef, a couple of waiters, and a bartender. “You get a much more personal experience.” Plus, a chef brings personality — particularly if you decide to set up cooking or action stations for him or her to interact with guests.
To satisfy varied palettes, 10 to 12 items provide a generous selection. Offer special accents such as gourmet potato chips with shrimp salad, marinated olives, or Kahlua-spice pecans instead of plain cashews or honey-roasted nuts. Make sure your meals accommodate vegetarians. “Make sure you have a few items that don’t have any meat or meat byproducts,” says Valentine.