When it comes to party planning arrangements for a child's birthday party, you can save yourself a lot of additional work on the day by hiring a professional caterer to provide the food.

Here’s a brief guide on how to choose a suitable caterer.

Decide on your budget and the type of food you want

The first thing to do is to decide on how much you have available in your budget to spend on catering. A nice idea is to provide finger food catering as a buffet; kids will probably be so busy playing party games that the formality of seating simply won’t happen!

If the party has a theme, this could also be incorporated into the menu, so be prepared to get imaginative and remember to include the theme on your party invitations too.

Ask for recommendations

If possible, ask for recommendations for a catering firm from people that you know. Sometimes it can be helpful to ask your friends or the guests’ parents for details of catering firms that they have used themselves in the past.

If you decide to Google caterers or look through your local paper’s classified section, be sure to also check for reviews and references for these companies on the internet. If other users have experienced good or poor service, you’re sure to find details online.

Compile a shortlist

Once you’ve completed your search, compile a shortlist of suitable companies. If you can find someone local, this can remove logistical worries and avoid the possibility of the caterer being delayed due to traffic.

Contact each prospect and explain the nature of the event you require catering for. It’s helpful if you can find someone who caters regularly for kids’ parties, as they may be able to make some useful suggestions in regards to format and menu. Ask for a sample of a finger food menu based on your budget, and remember to request vegetarian content too so that all your guests are accommodated.

The company you choose should provide you with a contract detailing exactly what they will be providing you with and when. Make sure that you read the contract carefully, as this will be your only comeback if things are not satisfactory on the day.

Once you’ve organised your caterer, you must sort out party invitations. For a great selection of personalised party invitations, contact the helpful team at Putty Print.